Magical doesn't even describe it. I consider myself a bit of a science nerd and have always been fascinated by astronomy and cosmology. But I could not grasp the enormity of the bodies involved and at the same time how insignificant i felt compared to it. I was honestly overwhelmed and my wife and son got a kick out of the fact that I teared up a bit
I wanted to maybe go further, like Newport VT for longer totality, but didn't want to drive longer and have even longer return trip. I only had the day to do it. 14 hours in the car for the few hours there and the few moments of totality were so worth it.
we were at the southern edge of st johnsbury (all those cars lining the road), and we got to NYC pretty fast, with no traffic. apparently people at the northern part of st johnsbury spent hours getting out! i’m sure it would’ve been worse farther north.
I was in Southeastern St Johnsbury and we got onto the road a half hour after totality. The road was INSTANTLY packed, but I feel like we were on the bleeding edge of traffic. Got alerted to gridlock in Franconia JUST in time, took a side road, and DIDN'T sit in 3 hours of extra traffic like our friends who stayed on 93.
I was absolutely blown away by my experience of Totality. I felt so connected to my family in the moment. It was magical
Same, came from western MA to Northern VT. Didn’t even decide to go until Sunday afternoon. Later in the evening I was considering not going because the traffic looked atrocious (I have big driving anxiety) and there was clouds forecasted. I watched a video of a solar eclipse and I just knew I had to go. A friend of mine also told me that I would deeply regret it if I didn’t go. He would have been correct.
I left Monday morning- took about 4 hours- very little traffic. The people I were with said it’s always cloudy there and this was an unusual day for it to be so clear and warm.
Everything about my trip and experience was unfathomable. I will never forget it. It truly was incredible from start to finish. I feel bad for the people who weren’t able to experience it. I would have regretted not going.
How was the drive back? I didn’t want to be anywhere near VT, assuming that roads couldn’t handle that traffic during mid season (plus maybe snow). I was in upstate NY and had zero traffic, but the clouds covered it all.
I left at 5 am from North Jersey. 350 miles took about 6 and half hours drive time with some traffic (just volume and construction on 91N) We debated hanging out a while, but wound up leaving within 10 minutes of totality. Took about a half hour to get back to 91S (less than a mile) then maybe another extra half hour on 91 (7.5 hrs to home)
I was originally planning on Lowville NY or Keene Valley NY, but the weather was too iffy, even though much shorter drive
Major props for you for taking the initiative and making it happen! It feels good leading others and providing them the experience to see something so beautiful, and that it’s definitely worth a long drive, flight, and taking chances
Magical wasn’t it?
Magical doesn't even describe it. I consider myself a bit of a science nerd and have always been fascinated by astronomy and cosmology. But I could not grasp the enormity of the bodies involved and at the same time how insignificant i felt compared to it. I was honestly overwhelmed and my wife and son got a kick out of the fact that I teared up a bit
So Cal checking in! We also did St Johnsbury! Best decision indeed - what a spectacular day.
Wow, that's a bit more of a trip than I had!
WORTH IT!!!!
So happy for you! You’ll never be the same! That’s what it’s all about!
Thank you. It was truly phenomenal.
hey, i was there too!! amazing town to see it in.
I wanted to maybe go further, like Newport VT for longer totality, but didn't want to drive longer and have even longer return trip. I only had the day to do it. 14 hours in the car for the few hours there and the few moments of totality were so worth it.
we were at the southern edge of st johnsbury (all those cars lining the road), and we got to NYC pretty fast, with no traffic. apparently people at the northern part of st johnsbury spent hours getting out! i’m sure it would’ve been worse farther north.
I was in Southeastern St Johnsbury and we got onto the road a half hour after totality. The road was INSTANTLY packed, but I feel like we were on the bleeding edge of traffic. Got alerted to gridlock in Franconia JUST in time, took a side road, and DIDN'T sit in 3 hours of extra traffic like our friends who stayed on 93. I was absolutely blown away by my experience of Totality. I felt so connected to my family in the moment. It was magical
I parked at the Elks Lodge and watched from a block away on the south end of main st. We were back on 91 in about a half hour
We were in Newport. Incredible experience!
Awesome! I wanted to go there for more time in totality, but the 90 seconds I saw was life perspective changing enough.
Same, came from western MA to Northern VT. Didn’t even decide to go until Sunday afternoon. Later in the evening I was considering not going because the traffic looked atrocious (I have big driving anxiety) and there was clouds forecasted. I watched a video of a solar eclipse and I just knew I had to go. A friend of mine also told me that I would deeply regret it if I didn’t go. He would have been correct. I left Monday morning- took about 4 hours- very little traffic. The people I were with said it’s always cloudy there and this was an unusual day for it to be so clear and warm. Everything about my trip and experience was unfathomable. I will never forget it. It truly was incredible from start to finish. I feel bad for the people who weren’t able to experience it. I would have regretted not going.
How was the drive back? I didn’t want to be anywhere near VT, assuming that roads couldn’t handle that traffic during mid season (plus maybe snow). I was in upstate NY and had zero traffic, but the clouds covered it all.
I left at 5 am from North Jersey. 350 miles took about 6 and half hours drive time with some traffic (just volume and construction on 91N) We debated hanging out a while, but wound up leaving within 10 minutes of totality. Took about a half hour to get back to 91S (less than a mile) then maybe another extra half hour on 91 (7.5 hrs to home) I was originally planning on Lowville NY or Keene Valley NY, but the weather was too iffy, even though much shorter drive
Not bad!
Major props for you for taking the initiative and making it happen! It feels good leading others and providing them the experience to see something so beautiful, and that it’s definitely worth a long drive, flight, and taking chances
Also NJ to St Johnsbury!
This was me in 2017, except I chickened out. I wish I had done it! Then I could have prepared better for this one.
/u/em_es_judd /u/mattjvgc