August 21, 2017 will be marked by a solar eclipse… a rare occurrence,
“a total eclipse of the sun”… Carly
Simon called it “where you should be (all the time) ”
Gael and I, and at least three other groups of friends and
family are making the pilgrimage to the “path of totality” Here in the far
west, that path falls in Wyoming, Idaho & Oregon… Research suggests we will not be alone… rooms
and accommodations are scarce and expensive… It may be crowded. It may be crowded beyond reason.
Team 1; Tina, Stephanie and Michele are going to Salem
Oregon… sleeping on an air mattress in Tina’s cousin’s workshop… Team 2; Andrew,
Liza and the Action team will be if far eastern Oregon, near the town of Seco,
camping. Team 3; Richard, Jenny, Adam
and their dogs (Sparky & Shadow) will be in Idaho… And we, team 4; Gael and
I will be in Jackson Wyoming… we were expecting to camp in her step-mother’s yard,
but apparently have a room in the inn… A
significant upgrade…
So, all in all we are all having a grand journey… for me and
friends a journey north…
Gael and my path will take us to Nephi Utah Friday afternoon…
breaking what would otherwise be a very long drive in half… We are staying in a
Best Western… The Next Best Western of song…
(this blog post could be read listening to this song... it would make sense... ) Nephi is a Mormon town… we will likely dine in a restaurant with a garden
railroad… (and no alcohol) then on the
next day to Jackson, and Gael’s step-mother’s home.
We are expecting crowds… crowds making time in town
difficult… so we are planning on mostly hiding… out of town… fishing… we are
both learning to fly fish… That special ballet of waving fishing line suspended
above…
Ours will be a fast trip, but not an unreasonable one… We have both spent time in the area… so while
we would like to eat at the Snake River Brewery, and have a drink at the
Million Dollar Bar… maybe make a fast trip to Yellowstone, we expect crowds…
and if they make such activities unreasonable we will adjust… staying close to
home and to trout streams.
.... This is a trip to see the total eclipse of the sun… On
Monday… anything else is a bonus.. And we will travel together we will see
things… and we will have fun…
It will also be a first trip meeting her family beyond her
daughter and son… a significant escalation
in family involvement… there will be similar meetings… meeting my extended
family in Tucson in September, then more of my family in early October and
again at Thanksgiving… This is the way of a new relationship…
Tuesday we will drive home… something over 800 miles… over
11 hours… a grand slog with music to share and miles to be driven… It will be good. Wednesday we will both return to work… such
is life. A good life.
Field reports to follow...
