Hi Everyone! What started as a solar eclipse viewing trip ended up being an epic journey. Steering wheel in one hand and four wheels on the road, my husband and I set out on a 5,200-mile drive on numerous small byways. After visiting seven states and feeling the forces of tremendous winds, storms, along with snow and desert sun, I am back home again.
This is going to be an abridged version of our road trip along with a few photos of the eclipse.
We were at John Day, Oregon for the 2017 eclipse. The sky was perfectly clear. With my husband’s help, I had managed to take a full set of photos of the eclipse that time. Except, by the time I looked up, the totality was over. Since then, I wanted to experience at least one more eclipse.
Driving the lengths of California, Arizona and New Mexico, we set out for Fredericksburg, Texas.
We had a thick cloud cover, so I didn’t get to take the full set of photos ( which would have mostly been for study purposes ) that I wanted. I could have fiddled with the camera to get more photos but, unlike 2017, my goal was to do mostly visual observation this time around.
Please click on the image thumbnails to see the photos –
Luckily, the clouds cleared up enough for me to do visual observation and take at least a few photos through the telescope. The close-up photos are of solar prominences which are only visible during an eclipse.
I haven’t had the chance to go through the photos I took with my camera yet. For now, I am sharing the photos I took with my phone.
Before we got to Fredericksburg, we made one stop at the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.
The wind was fierce that day, blowing at a steady 66mph. Dust and tiny stone chips blasted the skin. I could barely stand straight, let alone take photos.
After reaching Fredericksburg, we had to unpack most of the car to get to the telescope and everything else that I needed for the eclipse. With the eclipse behind us, we packed our car once again for the next part of our journey.
Walking on the sand dunes on the Great Basin National Park, Colorado
A whole day of hiking on snow in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
From my sketchbook – A pika from the Rockies, a kindred soul.
Neither of us can stand warm weather for too long, and I learned that my allergies disappear at 7500ft onward.
Ending the day watching the sunset with a flask full of tea, and cake
Snow to sand – Landscape Arch at Arches National Park, Utah
Driving through the Utah “badlands”
Off to Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Stopping at Escalante Canyon, Utah
The least mapped region in the US
Sunset and sunrise at the Bryce Canyon National Park amphitheater, Utah
Drove on the loneliest road in the US, Hwy 50
Overnight at an old mining town in the middle of nowhere
Back home again, in California
We drove through quite a few lonely roads through a strange landscape that I did not know even existed. We walked into places that were as foreign to us as we were to them. We were made to feel welcome and at home everywhere we went. We got to know the land and the people who are very much part of it.
A feeling of extreme sadness always takes over me when I have to leave the road behind and return home. As we drove toward California, one look at my beloved Sierra Nevada mountains was all I needed to shake off that sadness, knowing that I will be out there again pretty soon.
I was missing my kitties a lot by this time. They are the pull I need to get back home again. At home, a lot of cuddle time made the homecoming that much more worthwhile.
Until next time,
-Soma
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44 thoughts on “One in Hand and Four on the Road”
Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs May 12, 2024 at 02:10
Wow, what an adventure! And such stunning captures. Tea and cake with a view sounds perfect to me. :) xx
Michelle Nature Notes May 7, 2024 at 18:08
Wow Soma…wow….The photos are amazing..all of them and I trip sounds like the best kind of road trip….Michelle
Crystal May 6, 2024 at 05:20
These are such amazing pictures. I felt like I was there with you. Thank you for sharing.
Kim Carberry May 6, 2024 at 03:26
Oh wow! What an amazing trip and photos! I am glad you got to see the eclipse, how exciting. x
RachelSwirl May 4, 2024 at 11:22
Such incredible shots and whilst it may well have been quite the effort to get the shots, it worked out and was very much well worth it! Thanks for sharing and for linking up with #MySundaySnapshot.
Debbie May 4, 2024 at 07:16
what a wonderful trip!! cell phones take amazing pictures these days, it’s a wonder anyone invests in a camera!! the eclipse pictures are outstanding…there’s where you need a good camera!! the pika is adorable, you have real talent. it must be good to be home!!
Sarah MumofThree World May 3, 2024 at 22:43
Wow! What an incredible trip. Your photos are stunning.
My son was actually in USA for the eclipse (coincidentally, not deliberately). Unfortunately it was cloudy where he was, so he experienced it going dark, but didn’t really see the eclipse.
Divya May 3, 2024 at 11:31
Oh wow! that is an epic road trip! You guys made some great stops too. :)
And the eclipse pictures are stunning! And such treasures. <3
Thank you for sharing these sights. Looking forward to more stories from the road.
Have a good weekend, Soma.
Sharon Wagner May 3, 2024 at 06:36
We’ve been to the big five and might go back to Bryce next summer. Our April was spent between Moab and Bluff, near Monument Valley. We got to explore every nook and corner since we had three weeks there. Moab is my favorite US town. Nothing compares to the big five in my book.
Anne M Robinson May 1, 2024 at 20:50
What a terrific road trip! The photos are gorgeous. Thank you for sharing. Always my pleasure to visit blog friends and stop to say hello. Have a wonderful weekend.
Comedy Plus May 1, 2024 at 08:17
Beautiful shots. Wow. The camera loves you.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday and rest of the week. ♥
Molly of Molly’s Canopy May 1, 2024 at 06:00
An impressive road trip and some amazing photos! My personal favorite is the car, camper chairs, and tripod set up on the road. Totally captures the spirit of your road trip.
image-in-ing weekly photo linky May 1, 2024 at 04:43
Wow! What an amazing journey!!!
Thank you so much for sharing at
Lydia C. Lee April 30, 2024 at 14:05
THese are great – you captured some wonderful pics – both of the landscape and the eclipse. Well done #TravelTuesday
Eileen April 30, 2024 at 11:40
What an awesome road trip! I enjoy this kind of traveling. You went to some of my favorite parks. Bryce and Arches and the Rocky Mtns are all great.
I love your Pika sketch, well done. I just returned from a fly-drive trip to Arizona. Our country and the national parks are beautiful and so are your photos.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your day and the week ahead.
Dawn April 30, 2024 at 06:49
What a fabulous trip. I really want to get out west someday.
Blessings, Dawn
Jennifer Wise April 30, 2024 at 06:21
What an amazing trip! I loved “coming along” via your photos. Gorgeous. I grew up in southern Utah not far from all these locations–they really are amazing! And now I live in Colorado–I’m glad you got to go to Rocky Mountain National Park. Also amazing! What a fantastic road trip, with an eclipse as well. Wow. Visiting from Talking About it Tuesdays.
veronica lee April 29, 2024 at 22:36
What a wonderful trip!
Your eclipse photos are amazing!
Happy Tuesday,
Carol April 29, 2024 at 19:17
So many beautiful photos from your journey – eclipse to desert to snow – I enjoyed the trip.
Anne Sweet April 28, 2024 at 05:57
Your eclipse photos are amazing. What an amazing trip, I can’t even imagine being on the road that long, I bet you have tons of inspiration for your work.
Carola April 27, 2024 at 13:45
Your photos of the eclipse are very atmospheric, Soma, and I think this is because of the cloud cover – they are amazing. As to your travel route – I have been to all these places you mention here, some of them several times over the years, and seeing those photos really make me want to go again to some of them. I lost count how often we drove that Hwy 50 and stayed the night in one of those small towns. I completely relate to your feelings and thoughts. It looks like you drove along Hwy 12 in Utah from Capitol Reef to Bryce – isn’t that a stunning route? Especially Hell’s Backbone. One of my favorite highways. Take care – Carola
Lavender Dreams April 27, 2024 at 11:24
That really is a trip of a lifetime! WOW! How much fun you’ll have working on all of your photos. I feel a little let down after camping. I love my home…but I am drawn to the outdoors more and more!
Susan April 27, 2024 at 09:38
I am glad I can go on tour virtually with you as my husband and I could not afford to take a trip like that even though we would love to. Your photos are always so beautiful and interesting to see.
Connie Griffin April 27, 2024 at 09:27
You did get some great pictures, we were lucky and we were very close to the full totality both times were we live. Your trip is a dream one for my hubby he loves all those places, he would love to do it again. I enjoy seeing new things but always love when I come back home :)
Amy Johnson April 27, 2024 at 08:09
Wow! What a road trip. So glad you got to see the eclipse. I’ve been to some of the places you mentioned. I love the deserts! It’s so different from my forested home.
Rain Frances April 27, 2024 at 08:00
The photos from Utah are gorgeous. What a lovely trip you took! I saw the eclipse too, but not directly. I was looking out my window at the woods and watching the day quickly turn to night and back again. It was quite something!!
Alison Hall April 27, 2024 at 00:18
Your photos are amazing Soma, thanks for sharing them. What a wonderful trip it must have been.
I love your little sketch of the Pika. These creatures were featured on David Attenborough’s programme Mammals last Sunday. So sweet and busy as they gathered their food for winter.
Have a lovely weekend.
Alison
Mary April 26, 2024 at 18:00
You hit so many of our favorite spots! It sounds and looks like an incredible journey. It will pull you back again!! I’m sure the kitties were as thrilled to see you as you were to see them. Welcome home!
Louise (Fundy Blue) April 26, 2024 at 17:46
Soma, your photos are amazing. Wow! I love the photo that shows the surface of the moon as it’s covering the sun. I wish Terry and I had been able to experience this eclipse. I’ve seen a number of eclipses in the past. I’m hoping for Luxor, Egypt or Sydney, Australia in the next few years! Thanks for sharing your amazing images. Happy weekend!
A ShutterBug Explores April 26, 2024 at 15:04
Wow! What a journey of the roads and viewing the eclipse besides ~ Gorgeous photos ~ Bet your kitties were happy to see you ~ hugs,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
John's Island April 26, 2024 at 13:56
Hi Soma, Thanks for sharing your journey with us. I love all the photos taken along the way. The map showing your travels is especially neat. Take care and be well! John
The Joyful Quilter April 26, 2024 at 05:22
What a fabulous adventure, Soma!! Your gorgeous photos filled me with longing. My family visited many of those locations when I was young. Thank you for sharing!
Erika N April 26, 2024 at 05:10
That looks like an amazing trip, and your eclipse photos came out fantastic. I only drove a few hours to see it, but it was really an amazing thing to see, wasn’t it? Glad you shared these with us.
(I can’t get my website to paste into the box below this comment, so not sure how that will show up on your blog.)
Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life April 26, 2024 at 04:28
Absolutely beautiful. What an adventure!! And cake and tea at sunset sounds lovely. :) Thanks for sharing with us!
tomthebackroadstraveller April 26, 2024 at 04:12
…thanks for taking me along on this epic journey!
Gillena Cox April 26, 2024 at 04:06
Impressive art and photos. Soma thsnks gor linking to Art Gor Fun Friday
much♡love
Bill April 26, 2024 at 00:41
Wow that was some road trip and some stunning photos as well. I love those arches in Utah and the badlands in fact I’m very envious they are places I will never see so thank you. I did see solar eclipse years ago when I was at work I used my welding helmet to watch it through. I would love to have taken photos. Out of interest what filter did you use to get the photos/
Christine April 25, 2024 at 20:04
Gorgeous photos!
Kathleen Kingsbury April 25, 2024 at 16:49
Your photos are fantastic!! Spectacular landscapes. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Debra She Who Seeks April 25, 2024 at 10:42
Your photos are so awesome! Love your pika sketch too!
Joanne April 25, 2024 at 10:15
Your photos are just lovely! It looks like you had a wonderful trip.
Dixie April 25, 2024 at 09:58
Absolutely wonderful photos, Soma. Fabulous eclipse photos!
Love this epic adventure, and your drawing of the sweet pika too.
Thank you for sharing your adventure.
Karen April 25, 2024 at 07:18
as I scrolled through the photos I was saying yes I’ve been there, and there and there – we have been the same route on numerous times and love the southwest so much – the isolation and the arches etc are so beautiful. Some don’t think so but they are a different kind of beauty aren’t they. We love the mountains too and also say the sand dunes in Colorado and climbed and I slid down some of them too when the walking got to be too hard! I’m glad you were able to enjoy all of this beautiful country
Linda at Texas Quilt Gal April 25, 2024 at 05:05
Soma your photos are amazing! I love every single one. And I read your 2017 trip, and those eclipse photos are spectacular – magazine quality. What a great journey, and you went through landscapes that speak to me. My soul is in the canyons and mesas of New Mexico and Utah (although my heart belongs to my home state of Oklahoma), so your photos thrilled me. I “get” that pull to stay on the road along with the comfort of being home. Thank you for sharing your journey.