Eclipse 2024
Solar eclipses are not all that rare, even total eclipses. However, what is rare is a total eclipse that is in a convenient location. With "somewhere near Little Rock" being in the path of totality, it seemed like a trip was in order.
While not entirely purchased for the eclipse, knowing the eclipse was coming made the purchase of a Pentax 645Z a sound decision. Along the way, I picked up a screw-on solar filter, which let me get some practice in. I'm glad I did that, as I learned the 400mm with 2x teleconverter just wasn't worth it. Drop down to just the lens and get a much sharper picture. A week before, I purchased some solar viewing glasses and a direct-view slip-on solar film filter for the camera. This too was a great idea, as it made those crucial moves around totality much, much faster. I also picked up a second tripod. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do with that, but I knew it was a good idea.
Using Google Earth, I found a place near totality that was unlikely to be swamped somewhere near Malvern, Arkansas. I also found a few backup spots along the Ouachita River. I booked a hotel nearby, but a little out of the way as everything in Little Rock and along the path of totality were booked.
Time for the trip. It went by without issue until I made it to Fordyce. The front desk clerk was nowhere to be found. Now, this was not like I went in, nobody was there and I left fuming. No. This was ring bell, wait a few minutes, ring bell, wait a few minutes, call hotel, wait a few minutes, ring bell, wait a few minutes, walk around the hotel to see if here's a maintenance person or the night manager... anything. Nothing. Ended up calling their coprorate number, and they got me a room in a place where I did not want to stay. It wasn't ideal, it was a smoking room. It needed a thorough cleaning, and it was clear it wasn't one they wanted to sell under normal circumstances. I managed to get an hour of sleep.
I was highly motivated to get out of there early. I loaded up, and hit the road from White Hall to Malvern. Stopped by the first McDonald's I saw and got #1 with a large black coffee. With that, I'll be set for the whole day. If there is one advantage to The Bad Hotel, it's that it was a half hour closer to Malvern, and that extra time was nice as it turns out my first spot was a no go. That large open lot was now closed in, and the trees had grown up quite a bit. Ran to town and regrouped. I knew that the two places I wanted as alternates were listed as River Access on Google Maps. Well, my car's nav system had a different idea, and it was actually a better spot.
I got setup in the new spot, made a few test shots, and before long the phone was letting me know FIRST CONTACT. Had I not been a half hour closer to the spot, I wouldn't have been ready. There really isn't much to say, other than my spot got a little more crowded as time went by, but not too bad. There were only two other vehicles with non-locals, and one of those was actually from White Hall.
Totality rolled around. It was... That was not how I thought it would be. The eclipse is gradual, and then all of a sudden, the lights are out. There's a black hole in the sky. Even knowing the how and the why, it was something that can never be forgotten. I fully understand how throughout history a solar eclipse would often be followed by some form of major upheaval.
And then just as quick as it started, the sun came back. It's wild how such a tiny sliver of the photosphere can be so bright. I didn't stick around for fourth contact. I had a long drive ahead of me. At that point I had been standing around outside for several hours, and rain was on the way. It was time to sit and drive and drive and drive. Around 4pm I stopped at El Toro in Dumas, Ark. and had some pretty good tacos. I pushed through the rain, and eventually stopped in Louisiana for gas before hopping on I-20. The rest of the trip was wet, but uneventful.
Can't wait until 2045!
The official gallery has everything I generally consider as shareable, though I did just dump pretty much everything down below. Enjoy!
