Heading out from Gallatin, TN, we made the decision to try to make it to Townsend, TN which is right on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It would take us most of the day to get us there. During the drive we phoned around for answers to questions.
Our phone conversations with brothers Bob Dunford (Naperville, IL) and Jim Dunford (Los Altos, CA) revealed some weaknesses in our effort to optimize our eclipse experience. We asked Bob: "Which is more important, maximum duration (the spot nearer to Gallatin) or maximum totality (the spot nearer Hopkinsville)?" We also asked him: "Is there advantage in an open field or hilltop?" His answer revealed a signal flaw in our planning. Turns out that neither the length of totality (Maximum Duration), completeness of sun obscuration (Maximum Totality), nor visibility to the horizon are really critical to viewing excellence. The eclipse will be long enough, and total enough for viewing anywhere along the center line, all across the country. Further, it will take place in the early afternoon when the sun is high in the sky so tree cover is not much of an issue.
Our phone conversations with brothers Bob Dunford (Naperville, IL) and Jim Dunford (Los Altos, CA) revealed some weaknesses in our effort to optimize our eclipse experience. We asked Bob: "Which is more important, maximum duration (the spot nearer to Gallatin) or maximum totality (the spot nearer Hopkinsville)?" We also asked him: "Is there advantage in an open field or hilltop?" His answer revealed a signal flaw in our planning. Turns out that neither the length of totality (Maximum Duration), completeness of sun obscuration (Maximum Totality), nor visibility to the horizon are really critical to viewing excellence. The eclipse will be long enough, and total enough for viewing anywhere along the center line, all across the country. Further, it will take place in the early afternoon when the sun is high in the sky so tree cover is not much of an issue.
Actually the single most important determinant of a successful eclipse experience is the likelihood of an absence of cloud cover along the center line of eclipse.
All we need to find is a hotel that takes reservations three years in
advance in a spot on the center line where weather data are most
promising. No wonder brother Jim was making west coast plans for the
eclipse, where a clear sky could be counted on. We could
live-photo-blog from two locations on that big day, maybe?
A
feeling of dismay crept into our jolly trip: could this whole venture
have been done online? Could we have spent the weekend hiking and
taking spectacular nature photographs rather than driving the
interstate? As the day and the desultory driving wore on, our
commitment to wholesome local (non-chain) restaurants began to waver and
Saturday night found us at Mellow Mushroom and not even enjoying the indulgence!
 |
| Dinner in Mellow Mushroom |
But
there was still time to salvage the effort: we made it to Townsend by
dark, and planned an early-morning photo shoot as soon as [the park]
opened. Phyllis had not brought her tripod and other equipment in vain.
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