Solar eclispes happen more frequently than you might imagine – there’s usually one per year. However, they tend to only be visible in often very inaccessible places, such as the middle of the Pacific ocean, or over the polar ice-caps.
In 1999 I travelled to France, and managed to get into the zone of totality just south of Paris. We met up with my cousin and his family, who are also dedicated space and astronomy nuts. Sadly, we were clouded out right at totality, though I can still remember my amazement at this great dark shadow rushing towards me at over 1,000 miles an hour.
In 2003, I took my gang to Iceland, where the promise of an annular eclipse, a ring of fire rising over a glacier at sunrise was too tempting to refuse. Well, I say “promise”: the good weather prospects were less than 30%, and indeed I ended up seeing only murky grey cloud becoming slightly paler. But still we had a fabulous week in Rejkjavik.
In 2009 my husband and I went to China, and joy of joys were in the right place at the right time to experience 6 magical minutes of totality.
And of course had an unforgettable trip seeing other fabulous sights such as the Great Wall, the terracotta warriors, and the brash skyscrapers of Shanghai.
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Eclipses go in sequences called saros: from Wikipedia
a period of approximately 223 synodic months (approximately 6585.3211 days, or 18 years, 11 days, 8 hours), that can be used to predict eclipses of the Sun and Moon. One saros period after an eclipse, the Sun, Earth, and Moon return to approximately the same relative geometry, a near straight line, and a nearly identical eclipse will occur, in what is referred to as an eclipse cycle. A sar is one half of a saros.[1]
When my cousin and I were researching the France ’99 event, we discovered that the next one in that saros would occur on the day of their 25th wedding anniversary, and it would be in the USA.
So I’m currently well into my planning and anticipating this year’s holiday. We will fly from Dublin to Chicago, spend a few days there, before catching the California Zephyr train, which crosses the States terminating in San Francisco. Along the way we will stop off in Lincoln, Nebraska, and drive to the little town of Beatrice which is in the centre of the zone of totality. Beatrice is one of my online usernames, so it seems fitting to go to a town with my name on it.
So what should I pack? Chicago is the windy city, even in August, there might be rain, there will be fog in San Fran, and of course we have planes, trains and automobiles to catch.
One of the most valuable pieces that a traveller can carry is a versatile wrap, pashmina, shawl. It serves as a blanket when trying to get some sleep, is a stylish cover up for evening strolls, and can be folded into a cushion. I love this Ichi reversible wrap in dove grey and mustard, which I found on sale for £10 in a little boutique in Carrickfergus called Lisa’s Attic. It looks good, though the mustard side is a bit fluffy and sheds hairs over the clothes beneath.
Some companies specialise in being comfortable and stylish. I swear by my Craghoppers trousers and tops, which have features like security pockets, quick dry, and mosquito repellent. And I’ve just discovered Like Mary, an online company which makes gorgeous wraps and shawls, as well as other travel friendly clothing.
I treated myself to some cropped harem pants. I’d bought a pair of cheapie harems in Majorca and I love them for relaxing and travelling, as they take up very little room and are easy to dress up or down.
I alao bought some wrap dresses and tunics. I was very pleased at the quick delivery service. And when I had to return the wrap dress as it just didn’t suit me, the refund was also very prompt. I packed the grey patterned tunic on a recent day trip to Dublin. The sun was shining and I teamed it with leggings and a cardi for a stylish and practical outfit. The tunic is lovely and roomy, with great pockets for thrusting your hands into when the breeze picks up. It takes up little space in my bag, and washes like a ribbon, so it is destined to become a firm travel favourite. My only quibble is with the itchy scratchy label which was annoying my neck, but I was able to remove it without too much trouble.
And they are a bit marmite, but I adore my Crocs! They are lightweight and comfortable, especially when doing a lot of walking around a city. And they are waterproof – I even hooked them over my wrists while swimming in Orlando. So I’m not taking them out of my travel staples just yet.
Now, I wonder can I find a set of eclipse viewers among my souvenirs…….
Filed under: China, clothes, Eclipses, travel | Tagged: eclipse, travel wardrobe | 1 Comment »
Dancing At Lunacy 