While everyone else looked up in the sky, I looked down and made an amazing discovery.
When I learned the total eclipse could be experienced by traveling for under three hours to Wyoming, I mapped it out. Predicted traffic woes changed my view. I decided to stay in my own backyard. Experts explained that even with 94% of the sun blocked out, 6% would be enough to ruin the blackout effect. They were right and yet I discovered something else by looking down.
First I setup my camera since I wanted to record anything weird that happened, like a freak migration of owls or a coyote stampede. When that didn’t happen, I slacklined during the beginning of the eclipse.
I couldn’t view anything in those black lenses, so I kept my head up for once.
Note to Self: Wear blackout shades when slacklining from now on.
The scientists were right and the eclipse dimmed the light and cooled the temperature, but it wasn’t super dark.
But this discovery really excited me. I looked down and viewed thousands of eclipses. They danced upon my patio!
Click below to watch them dance:
They seemed holographic as if they hovered over the ground.
Here’s another video from Instagram. Watch them move!
In 1970, I used the pinhole technique to view the eclipse. This was so much better, don’t you think? Make sure to click on the videos get the full effect.
Did you watch the eclipse or the coverage? Do you think it would be worth traveling for the next one in April 2024 or do you live in its shadow?
Click for more adventures on the Wild Ride.
Don’t miss this blog tip post that didn’t make it into the Reader.
A day of discoveries in London with my buddy Chuck Dickens. (Another one that missed the Reader.)
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
We were supposed to get 80% coverage…didn’t get really dim here. (The light looked a little funny, but I didn’t see anything when I glanced up for two seconds without glasses.)
I was right…it was MUCH more fun to watch on television! That first time with the cheering crowds in Madras–wow! My favorite was definitely Charleston, when it looked like there was a purple corona. Pretty!
Looking forward to the lunar eclipse of 2019–the whole of North and South America has perfect coverage and we can look until our eyeballs fall out!
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Ha! I’ll enjoy that eclipse more too! Even with the glasses, my head hurt. It was so intense and we’re a mile high.
I did enjoy watching the drama of how dark it got across the shadow path. We have friends who drove up to see it. I can’t wait to hear how it went!
Thanks, Daya!
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That is amazing!! We had less than 40% totality here, but I peaked a few times through hubby’s welding helmet. The lighting was strange and beautiful all the same.
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It was very strange here and unsettling.
I’m so glad I looked down and discovered them. They were crazy! Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer!
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Reblogged this on mgshepard and commented:
Very cool
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Thanks so much for the reblog, MG!
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I liked what you wrote
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Texas didn’t have much. The light got funny but didn’t really see it. I had nothing to look at it with as well.
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it dimmed here and the wind stopped completely. A strange unsettled feeling drifted in and then, I discovered the weird patterns!
The next one starts in Texas!
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Oh good. I’ll look forward to it. 🙂
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Those pictures are the best and coolest I’ve seen about the eclipse. Thanks for sharing!!
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Thanks so much, Danny! They were unexpected and very cool! I loved how they moved.
It’s always great to “see” you!
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It is great to see you too! What did you think of the eclipse?
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We have the same level of limited sunlight too and also saw the crescent shadows. Very neat.
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Oh, cool! I had never heard of them. I should have taken a picture of my shadow! Did you take one?
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We had 100% Totality plus an approaching thunderstorm. It got real dark. The toads and the frogs started singing like at night. Then just that fast it started to lighten up again. It was pretty cool but I wish it would have lasted longer.
I thought I heard an amazing fact that the eclipse traveled coast to coast in like 90 minutes. Now that is humbling..
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That is humbling!
How cool that the frogs and toads croaked! I wish the next one was on my birthday, but it misses it by three days. GAH! Might have to celebrate for a week.
Great to “see” you!
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Yes, it got that dark that the night time animal s came out all at once and then it brightened up and they were quiet again. Happy birthday!! In case bi miss it You look and sound great Susie. All the best….
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That’s pretty cool!
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It really was cool! If I hadn’t seen the mini-eclipses, I would have said, “Meh.” I really enjoyed seeing the totality on TV!
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Did you see any Cougars while you were watching the eclipse patterns from your tree?
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No, but a few bobcats hung out on my deck this summer!
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That sounds like fun! I’m a little surprised, though. If I remember right from the last time I went through Niwot, the mascot for their High School was the cougar, so I figured those would be more common than Bobcats.
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You are in the know!
Neither cat is very common out here, across the valley from the foothills, but the numbers of foxes are up, so the cats are too. A cougar visited the back of the elementary school here in Niwot last spring. I wish I would have seen it! Bobcats are spotted and resemble humungous house cats.
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Interesting that cougars aren’t very common, yet they are the high school mascot. Funny how that works, isn’t it?
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That is really cool! Thanks for sharing the view. We didn’t see much here, there was no significant indication from where we were.
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Thanks so much for stopping by!
They were a surprise. I really enjoyed watching them move.
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Wow!! 🙂 Love the shadow pictures – never seen or heard about them before – very cool! 🙂
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Thanks, Jesska, me either! It was quite a surprise. Thanks for stopping by to take a look!
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Just goes to show…. viewing anything from different angles can show a different beauty! Loved your shots!
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Thanks, Ritu! That is so true. I’m so glad I spotted them. Good thing the eclipse was a snorefest. Ha!
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Lol!!!!
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So jealous! No eclipse at all here in Scotland. But I LOVED your dancing eclipse videos. They took me back to a wonderful memory. When my children were small we made pinhole viewers but they really couldn’t use them. Then I looked at the sidewalk under our huge oak tree. And we saw thousands of perfect eclipses! It was magic shared with my children.
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That is so cool! We never looked under the trees in 1970. They must have been dancing under our elms. Thanks for the shares, Barb!
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That looks amazing, Susie. There really is something weird about the effects of an eclipse. You’ve reminded me of a blog post I shared a couple of years ago. I think it’s time to share it again – you might be interested in it (no videos, I’m afraid, but an interesting experience during the eclipse here in the UK in 1999…
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Sorry. Wrong link… https://graemecumming.net/2015/03/30/must-be-something-in-the-water/
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Very Cool! Thanks, Graeme!
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It was my first day back at school – teachers only – and we took time to go outside and see the wonders of the world at work. We even had a few students join us to observe, wonder, and be curious. It was an experience I won’t soon forget. It’s gonna be a great year! Yes it is, and it begins with one day. Have a great week.
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I bet that’s a shock to the system! Or maybe it feels like home. I’m glad you enjoyed the day, Clay! Did you know about the eclipses under the trees?
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No, had no idea. Saw someone share the photo of a colander with many eclipses! It’s much better with kids.
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Amazing patterns in the shadows! Great thing to capture 🙂
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Thanks, Shaun! I had never heard of them, but really enjoyed their “dance!”
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We had about 98%. It never got completely dark, but the street lights came on and the cicadas started up. It was like a strange dusk. I do agree that the shadows were pretty dang interesting. I wasn’t expecting it and only noticed it when we were walking around. They were my favorite part.
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Oh, cool! Where were you? I should have taken pictures of my own shadow. I had hoped for the strange dusk, but with 94% we got a storm cloud effect. It was still a lot cooler and completely, eerily still. It creeped me out!
Thanks for stopping by, Christine!
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We’re in Charlotte.
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Very nice part of the country! We visited years ago.
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I too was amazed by the shadows through the trees. So cool.
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They didn’t teach us that in school! A lot more fun than a pinhole!
I’m glad you got to experience it too, Mary!
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Wow! lovely post 🙂
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Thank you! Were you near the eclipse?
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No, but my cousin was near the eclipse. She saw Partial Solar eclipse and send some photos. You may browse through them on my Instagram page.
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Cool! Nice to meet you, Kash!
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How cool! I was looking for those patterns in the tree out front of my office – I had heard about it before. But we didn’t have any. 😦
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I wonder if it’s a specific leaf that lends itself to the orbs. My friend said she also saw it under her oaks.
Thanks for swinging by, Peg!
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That’s pretty awesome, Susie! You might want to send this clip to a Hollywood producer. I think there might be a horror movie script in waiting. I’m thinking “Attack of the Little Eclipse Thingies.”
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I should! It might be better than some of their movies like Sharknado….
Great to “see” you, Al!
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I would love to get closer next time. It was fun to check it out thru a solarscope in USVI. Also fun to be around people who were excited as well. Had to watch the news last night to see what it was like at totality. A friend was on the plane during the eclipse and got some great shots. Thanks for sharing.
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I believed it would get dark here. It darkened similar to cloud cover, but nothing dramatic. The next one is three days before my birthday, so I might try to get closer too!
Thanks for stopping by, Julia!
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That sounds like fun. A family I’m close to rented a house somewhere that experienced the total eclipse as an anniversary or birthday weekend. They all went kids, grandkids, grandparents. What a great memory. Do it!
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Wow! What a great idea, Julia!
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:>. Enjoy your day!
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I tried the colander method. I got nothing but disappointment. We were only at 80% or so anyway, but the sky got all weird for about an hour. Nothing exceptional. I suppose if I had invested in the glasses I’d have been a little more excited, but alas, I did not. Maybe next time. I did have a headache all day though. And my dog was very clingy so there must have been something wonky with it.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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I never heard about the colander. I’ll pull one out next time! There was something very eerie about the day. It got completely quiet and not one leaf rustled at full eclipse. I had more fun slacklining blind. Ha!
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