Ring of Fire (vicariously)

My husband and daughter decided months ago that they would make a road trip to view the 10/14 annular eclipse. The first-choice location was near Albuquerque NM…the backup location (in case of clouds) was San Antonio TX; both were one-day drive from where we live in Missouri. My daughter made hotel reservations in both locations. About a week before the eclipse, the forecast for Albuquerque was surprisingly cloudy so San Antonio become the preferred location. On the Wednesday before the Saturday eclipse, the forecast for San Antonio was looking cloudy too! So – we quickly searched for another location. The Midland-Odessa TX forecast was clear and the drive was about the same as it would have been to San Antonio…and there were places just off the Interstate with parks and hotels….good eclipse viewing amenities. My daughter made reservations in Odessa and cancelled the ones in Albuquerque and San Antonio. They left early Friday morning to drive to Odessa; I stayed at home to take care of the cats and be home for my sister’s weekend visit. When they got to the hotel, everyone checking in was there for the eclipse the next day.

On Saturday, they set up easily. It was clear but windy enough that my husband opted to just use his cameras rather than his solar telescope. He got his classic ‘ring of fire’ picture.

After the eclipse they drove to Carrollton TX and got food delivered as they visited with my parents. They headed home the next day and stopped at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge along the way. They haven’t shown me any wildlife pictures…just  one of “grasshopper” oil pumps that are on refuge.

It was a busy 3 days for them and for me. We’re planning to all travel to be in the path of the total eclipse on 4/8/2024. We could view it from my parents’ house in Carrollton TX…or maybe in the southeastern corner of Missouri which would be even closer!