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ernie · 08-21-2017, 07:02 PM

had the kids miss the first day of school today. Drove up to the Lake of the Ozarks yesterday for some family fun then this morning made our way to California, MO and their lovely town park which was nice afternoon church picnic type busy but not overrun at all with tourists. Laid out the blankets, picnic etc and waited. California mayor goes around welcoming everyone who came from out of town.

Kids weren't too enthused but we knew at some point they'd appreciate it at some point and they got to run around with other kids for a few hours. For us totality was 1:13:28 to 1:14:38 according to the internet. We grab the kids around 1:05 to settle down and watch. They were somewhat grumpy but acquiesced.

Around 1:08 it starts to get dusk like and the secedas start up. Odd to hear them in the middle of the day and they were in full force! Then totality happens and my kids have to pick their jaws up off the ground. The streetlights turn on. You can see Venus, Mars and I believe mercury. The moon is a black disc with sun rays coming out around it. It was spectacular. We didn't see Jupiter though I think we were supposed to be able to. Clouds in the area so maybe that's why to internet lies. The difference between 99% to 100% is astounding. Nice thing was we had beautiful weather the entire time and ant cloud cover was light enough that you could still see everything with the glasses on.

Well worth the three hour drive that's for sure. I now understand how people become total eclipse chasers. Argentina 2019 here we come.....

08-21-2017, 07:02 PM	#282
ernie Franchise Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Exp:	had the kids miss the first day of school today. Drove up to the Lake of the Ozarks yesterday for some family fun then this morning made our way to California, MO and their lovely town park which was nice afternoon church picnic type busy but not overrun at all with tourists. Laid out the blankets, picnic etc and waited. California mayor goes around welcoming everyone who came from out of town. Kids weren't too enthused but we knew at some point they'd appreciate it at some point and they got to run around with other kids for a few hours. For us totality was 1:13:28 to 1:14:38 according to the internet. We grab the kids around 1:05 to settle down and watch. They were somewhat grumpy but acquiesced. Around 1:08 it starts to get dusk like and the secedas start up. Odd to hear them in the middle of the day and they were in full force! Then totality happens and my kids have to pick their jaws up off the ground. The streetlights turn on. You can see Venus, Mars and I believe mercury. The moon is a black disc with sun rays coming out around it. It was spectacular. We didn't see Jupiter though I think we were supposed to be able to. Clouds in the area so maybe that's why to internet lies. The difference between 99% to 100% is astounding. Nice thing was we had beautiful weather the entire time and ant cloud cover was light enough that you could still see everything with the glasses on. Well worth the three hour drive that's for sure. I now understand how people become total eclipse chasers. Argentina 2019 here we come..... Last edited by ernie; 08-21-2017 at 07:10 PM.