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Merged Solar Eclipse 2017!

We're staying in Portland, OR, and planning to head south first thing in the morning. I'm getting worried about traffic now.

Here's an interesting map about traffic from GreatAmericanEclipse.com :
picture.php
 
We're having a big ol family trip to Gatlinburgh TN for the festivities. We'll have to drive a bit to get into the Smokey Mountains and the path of the eclipse but it should be fun!
 
I've taken the day off and can drive up a day or two before, I have a tent but not sure if I should try for a room or camping spot--any suggestions?

Where are you located? Camping sites are likely full in most places. I did get a spot in Madras, OR at the Solarfest but it was expensive.
 
We might be able to get a room the day before if she can take a day off. Looks like there are some in Chattanooga that are not overpriced. We could get up early the day of and drive to a good spot. I just worry about traffic. Opinions?

I've looked at the maps but I'm not real familiar with the areas. Would like to find a good spot where there are good places to eat and explore.
 
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Seeing this in the news yesterday, and this kind of talk, makes me think the interest in this will be much bigger than I anticipated.
 
Seeing this in the news yesterday, and this kind of talk, makes me think the interest in this will be much bigger than I anticipated.

I am of the same frame of mind. I feel the guessed numbers of travelers to this event have been grossly underestimated. After all, it is the first U.S. eclipse to happen within the age of social media.
 
Either Knoxville, Chattanooga or Cleveland TN put you pretty close.

Chattanooga is looking like my best bet right now. Just have to find out about work. I'll go ahead and book. I've got about 8 weeks to figure out a good place to view it.
 
Taking the train from Rochester, NY to my sisters' in Richmond, VA. Then weather watching for the best chance of it being clear, drive Sunday night, Monday morning to the spot.
Cool thing is the train is only 188 dollars round trip total for both my son and I. There's a 5 hour layover in NYC from 10PM till 3AM. Anyone know if there's anything to do in Manhattan on a Friday night?
 
My Dad lives in Knoxville, I'm all set. Now I just need some gear for my camera and some luck from the gods.
 
I think I have a place to camp in totality, but it's just off I-5 in Oregon. I'm worried the weather won't cooperate and I don't have any adequate plan B if the forecast is for overcast that day.
 
I've booked a nice place in Tennessee just off the path and will ride the motorcycle the 30 miles to the centre. Since I'm going to ride the Smokies anyways it's not a loss if the weather does not behave.

I've seen one perfectly at uni in the late 60s - missed the good one in Cairns Aus as was in Canada at the time. My stepdaughter got a good view ...partner was travelling as well. One my fav beaches just north of Cairns. It was crowded and prices outrageous.

c659859d38c8.jpg


Booked this for $33 Cdn a night for a couple of nights.

69b1b9db-bd7a-47e9-8abd-005a344a9850.jpg
 
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Re: first pic

Is that what we can expect? I've only seen closeups of just the sun during eclipse. Is there really that much ambient light? Wow.
 
Remember those are photos which the cameras are trying to compensate so ambient light level deduced from them is suspect.

From vague recollection in uni ...deep twilight.

This seems about right

solar-eclipse.jpg

A total solar eclipse is seen in Longyearbyen on Svalbard March 20, 2015. On Aug. 21, a total solar eclipse will darken a large swath of the U.S. (Jon Olav Nesvold/NTB scanpix/Reuters)

Also Cairns is much closer to the equator and the US and sun that much stronger.

This is a well done site.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/australia.html
 
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