Eclipse

[Don McDowell]

I was surprised it didn't get as dark as they said it would. Altho it did kick on the neighbors yard lights. Did see some stars but nothing like I thought we might. The crickets started singing, the temps dropped about 10 degrees. The amazing part was the blue hue in what light there was, and the 360 degree sunset . There was a couple of airliners flying over and you could see their lights, and their bellies were lit up all bright and silver.
I don't know if the craziness they predicted happened else where, but here out side of the thousands of people it wasn't to bad.
There was trespass complaint, a bunch of folks parked on the county road and climbed a butte. The deputies came up and told the folks on the butte to get down and get their vehicles back on to the county rightofway. All but two of them did, those 2 replied that the deputies should go F them selves they weren't coming down. Those 2 folks now reside in the county jail, and their vehicles have been impounded... They did have to tell one overly intelligent person that he would have to take his tent out of the middle of the county road, couldn't spend the night there...
Some of the NASA folks came rushing into the yard trying to figure out how to get down to Garnett hill, a couple of their high altitude balloons had come down some where on it. Told them how to get there, but don't know if they were able to find them before dark or not.
Recent report from folks traveling from here indicates that hi way 85 is plugged and complete standstill about 20 miles south of Torrington.
All and all I'm glad I got to experience it, and now understand a bit more why folks travel to see the "total" eclipse.