We have been planning on watching the total eclipse in Rexburg for several months. Getting a little anxious about the potential for terrible traffic, we decided we would go to Montana the week before, and drive down to Rexburg from the north, hoping to avoid the traffic on I-15. Our plan worked, we encounter clear roads...even in Rexburg! We got to stay with Dean's sister Marianne, and her husband Davis.
Just outside of Rexburg, we saw a guy charging people to set up a tent in his field. There were only about 5 tents there when we passed at about 3 p.m. on Sunday. The traffic was MUCH lighter than we expected.
Sunday evening, there was a Storytelling festival in the Rexburg Tabernacle. Our niece Heidi was in charge of the children's choir, so we were excited to watch her. We ended up staying for the whole performance, and really enjoyed it.
Besides storytelling, there was music too!
This is how the streets in Rexburg were. Not at all what we expected!
We got up and went for a run, and found some T-shirt vendors in the park. We loaded up on t-shirts and headed home.
It's 10:15 a.m., and as predicted, the moon started covering the sun!
We had perfect conditions for watching the eclipse. Not a cloud in the sky!
Davis set up his telescope so we could view the eclipse image on a white paper. That was actually pretty cool!
Then we tried to go big, and move the image to a sheet. That was fun too, but not as sharp as when it was projected on the paper.
There is a park near Marianne's house, where other family and friends had fun viewing equipment as well.
The crescent shadows didn't disappoint.
I had done some reading on how to photograph the eclipse, which basically said, "don't, just sit back and enjoy the experience, and leave the photography up to the professionals". Great advice...but we had to try anyway!
It started to get a little chilly, not bad, and a little like dusk....and then, very suddenly,..at 11:33 a.m. . .
it went dark! There were loud cheers from all over Rexburg, and the eclipse glasses came off!
(the above photo is what I took with my phone, and the photo below is what it actually looked like. Not sure who to give credit for this photo. I got if off the internet. That is exactly what we saw, and without any glasses on!)
Absolutely amazing!
The temperature dropped 22 degrees during the total eclipse.
2 minutes, and 17 seconds later, like a switch was turned on, the sun came blasting through.
One of the coolest things I have ever experienced!
Note the tiny crescent shapes that form the words, "Solar Eclipse" above.
We stayed out and enjoyed the eclipse till it was totally over.
What a great experience!
At 12:57 p.m. it was over.
It was such a party atmosphere. Thank you so much Marianne and Davis for letting us stay at your home and for hanging out with us. You guys are awesome!
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