Total Eclipse Ride

[troy]

So I'll be heading a bit North and East with my family on Monday to get closer to the center of totality, where over 2 minutes of total eclipse can be viewed.

Could make for a great dualsport idea, though! Pick a remote location along the epicenter, and plan a ride.

Interactive map to see where the best places to view are:
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/sites/defa ... index.html

Everything else you need to know about the eclipse:
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-wh ... en-and-how

[bird man]

Thanks for posting this map Troy. It puts my place in around 97% eclipse.

[ajayhawkfan]

I'm going to take the day off and ride to view the eclipse. I hope to be somewhere on a dirt road along the main path.

If you were like me and waited until the last minute to get viewing glasses, I found some at Brookside Toy and Hobby.

[troy]

If I wasn't going to be with a full family crowd, I'd love to join you on the ride, Eddie!

So one of the things my wife read yesterday said something to look forward to during the totality is a 360 degree "sunset". That is, as you look full circle to the horizon, you will see the colors of sunset. Experts expect the temperature to drop about 10 degrees during the event.

I'm thinking it would be better to be at a high point to view the horizon. I will look at topo maps to find multiple places where I think the viewing could be good. Like you, I'm thinking just to find a gravel road in timbuktu rather than a legitimate park or public area since I expect those places to be very crowded....and I pretty much despise crowds.

If you run into us out there, Eddie, stop by for a sandwich.

[bird man]

So one of the things my wife read yesterday said something to look forward to during the totality is a 360 degree "sunset". That is, as you look full circle to the horizon, you will see the colors of sunset. Experts expect the temperature to drop about 10 degrees during the event.

I'm thinking it would be better to be at a high point to view the horizon. I will look at topo maps to find multiple places where I think the viewing could be good. Like you, I'm thinking just to find a gravel road in timbuktu rather than a legitimate park or public area since I expect those places to be very crowded....and I pretty much despise crowds.

I agree with you Troy about the crowds and finding a remote gravel road is what I have been thinking also. I hadn't thought of the 360 degree sunset that could be interesting. So maybe I will try to go somewhere after all ...well maybe will see. I think a welding helmet ,if you have one, would work for viewing also.

[ajayhawkfan]

If I wasn't going to be with a full family crowd, I'd love to join you on the ride, Eddie!

So one of the things my wife read yesterday said something to look forward to during the totality is a 360 degree "sunset". That is, as you look full circle to the horizon, you will see the colors of sunset. Experts expect the temperature to drop about 10 degrees during the event.

I'm thinking it would be better to be at a high point to view the horizon. I will look at topo maps to find multiple places where I think the viewing could be good. Like you, I'm thinking just to find a gravel road in timbuktu rather than a legitimate park or public area since I expect those places to be very crowded....and I pretty much despise crowds.

If you run into us out there, Eddie, stop by for a sandwich.

Here is some high ground: https://www.google.com/maps/place/McLin ... 94.8382812 I might go there. My concern, if true about the number of people going to view, it might be tough getting across the river. I was thinking of heading east towards Arrow Rock.

[troy]

Here is some high ground: https://www.google.com/maps/place/McLin ... 94.8382812 I might go there. My concern, if true about the number of people going to view, it might be tough getting across the river. I was thinking of heading east towards Arrow Rock.

I don't like that location because the totality there is only 1 minutes 44 seconds. Closer to the centerline, it will be almost a full minute longer.

Arrow Rock will be in the center, but that park there will be SLAMMED most likely. I am thinking to head mostly due East to get way out of the metro before heading North. However, this would mean using Hwy 13 to get North of the Missouri River....and like you say, those river bridges are going to be choke points.

[ajayhawkfan]

I know Arrow Rock park will be slammed.

Tentatively I plan to go here: N39° 01.968' W93° 00.445' It is the historic Sappington Cemetery near Arrow Rock. The Arrow Rock Cemetery maybe a good place as well.

[DirtFarmer]

Tentatively I plan to go here: N39° 01.968' W93° 00.445' It is the historic Sappington Cemetery near Arrow Rock.

Pick this up while you are in the neighborhood;

https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4 ... ry-landing

[Ed M]

Troy,
thanks for posting those maps and information.

I noticed that MODOT over the last week has put out those mobile warning signs on HWY 50 and HWY 13 cautioning travelers to expect traffic delays on the 21st as numerous people will be heading out to view the eclipse.

Small town radio stations are warning locals along the eclipse area to stock up on food and gasoline before the hordes of unprepared city dwellers descend upon these rural areas like a biblical plague ravaging all food and gasoline supplies. It's really something to hear as these radio people make it sound more like an apocalypse as opposed to a solar eclipse.

Marshall MO is a small town of about 13,000, they are expecting over 100,000 people, St Joe MO is expecting 500,000

Sounds like you are prepping to do a picnic of some sort, enjoy the day with your family and be ready for the hordes, you are right those river crossings will be huge choke points

[troy]

I rode about 200 miles RT on the F800 yesterday while scouting. It was mostly a FAIL, but talked to a few folks here and there. In Dover, MO, a lady told me she has run across folks staying in nearby motels from California and Maryland. These folks were there for the eclipse, but still did not have a place picked out to view it. I only saw one place advertising eclipse parking, and it was down in a hollow--not the best viewing in my opinion.

She told me Marshall is expecting 60,000 people. Ed says 100,000+. It's probably somewhere in there. I'm not sure how these towns really estimate it anyway. I just know I don't want to be in a town designed for 10,000 people while 100,000+ people are crammed in there! Folks be crazy.

I do plan to pack picnic lunch with the family and sneak East out of the metro and just drive. I plan to avoid interstate and major highways and not to cross the Missouri River. What's the worst that could happen?

[bird man]

I think I will opt for a place I found with plenty of food and ice cream ,free parking, no crowds (hordes of city dwellers) ,comfortable surroundings and no apocalyptic drama ,I hope......all in the comfort of HOME. Yeah it will be 98% eclipse....but a week or year from now will it really matter?

[troy]

So our little caravan of 3 cars and 10 people ended up at the Ag Power John Deere dealer in Marshall, MO--right on the center line of totality. They charged $20 per car for nice parking and had porta johns and a BBQ vendor. The kids loved playing on the combines, etc.

The little town of 13,000 was predicting massive crowds of 50,000 to 100,000. I don't know the count, but crowds and traffic were not a problem at all. I'm sure the weather forecast kept some from investing in the travel.

We had a really great eclipse experience. The weather threatened to ruin it. The cloud cover was so think for the first half of the eclipse, it was hard to even see where the sun was in the sky. However, by the totality--all 2 minutes and 41 seconds of it--the clouds had thinned so we could see the eclipse and the sun's corona. During totality, we could see clear sky to the West and a star appeared. About 1/2 a mile away in town, the grain elevator lights came on in the darkness. It got incredibly still and quiet during those 2+ minutes and the cicadas sang their song. All around we could see the colors of sunset. It was spectacular.

A few minutes after the totality, the skies cleared up completely so we could watch the back half of the eclipse in full brilliance.

On the way out to Marshall, we took minor highways until Knob Noster, where we took 50 East. It was not too busy except for the slowdown in Sedalia--which is normal. We turned N on 65 to Marshall. I expected the traffic to be heavy, but it was not.

On the way home, I took a very backroads pavement route where we had almost no other cars on the road. As we crossed over I-70, though, the west bound traffic looked terrible and very slow.

The inlaw's parents decided to take the turnpike home to Wichita that evening. BAD IDEA. A normally 3 hour drive took more than 6! The turnpike was nearly a parking lot from Emporia to Mattfield Green or so.

I hope many of you got to enjoy the eclipse and the day!