Hi all! We found ourselves in Vermont to view the solar eclipse and man, it was so worth it! We drove 700+ miles (14 hours in the car,) and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Let me set the scene…

At a rest stop outside of Newport, Vermont. Cars surround the little patch of rest area. The sky is blue with not a cloud in sight, and the sun beats down with such warmth that you don’t mind the lingering patches of snow on the ground or the cool breeze that smells like pine trees. Some people are there with telescopes, too, and there are a few dogs. Others spread blankets out on the grass and people sit around in chairs under trees or near their cars. A dad and a son play Frisbee while waiting. An older woman walks by. “What a day to be alive!” she says.

Across the way, someone is cooking bacon. There are a few scientists nearby, throwing words around like ‘progression’ and someone asks, “is this your first totality?” Several people are wearing black ‘2024 Solar Eclipse’ t-shirts. On the highway, cars trickle by, as well as some large trucks; the sound of plastic flapping loudly on wrapped cargo as it barrels down the hill. Some trucks honk at the people at the rest stop. In solidarity of the eclipse, perhaps, or maybe they’re annoyed there’s no room for them to stop…too rest…

A few people wander over to Michael at his telescope; curious about the equipment he’s using and at what setting…clearly he must have a camera mounted to that large telescope. (He doesn’t. He used his phone.) Someone starts to play music, but it isn’t intrusive; the light rock just feels like part of the experience; relaxing and playful.

Then, the light disappears completely, and your breath catches. The sun is gone and you’re surrounded by a three-hundred-sixty degree view of what looks like a sunset. Two planets appear in the sky suddenly. They’ve been there this whole time, but you’re so surprised…and the light that glows around the moon feels otherworldly and transformative.

There have been a few sights in my lifetime that have made me cry. Some of the landscapes in Zion, Utah, as well as seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. This was also one of them. #10/10. #wouldrecommend.

I hope many of you were able to enjoy the eclipse, and if not…I hope you catch the next one. Happy Thursday!