Camp of Eclipse Totality

04/07/2024

Listen. Go. Enjoy Eclipse 2024!

We hosted a camp in 2017 for the last American Eclipse.

We had twenty employees hired.
14 got scare and bailed.

We did it for 1,000+ guests with six humans.

And we had the best place. We hosted the Weather Channel, DiscoveryChannel and MANY international news and scientists. We were CENTERLINE.

It was NO problem. Traffic was fine.
Electronics worked.

Roads were not congested. And we are kind of rural. A lot. lol.

Seriously. Our farm sat in the very best place. Umbrafiles from all over the world booked with us, and some even flew in a plane to follow the eclipse across the US.

Amazing things happened here.

And yet. It was spiritual. And fun.

And not a big SHTF moment.

Calm down. It’ll be fine.

I only say this because we too thought, were told, and were scared, by the “it’ll be traffic jams, no communication, ODOT will not allow left turns off the highways, Chevy Chase moments will abound..”

And it didn’t happen.

What did happen?

1,000+ humans watched as the earth grew dark. And together we gasped (you literally heard 1,000 humans gasp at the same moment across 28 acres of land..) and then compete quiet.

Suddenly, (and it still brings tears to my eyes) CHEERING broke out across our land.
I still get chills.

For one minute in time, we all stood. Glasses on. Eyes up. Cameras clicking.
Video running.
Birds quiet. Dogs laid down.
Grasses blew gently in a cooling breeze as darkness spread across the earth.
And we watched.

Together.
Hearts connected.

Calm down. Get a chair.
Grab a beer.
Go outside.
Relax.

Enjoy.

It’s Mother Nature. It’s cosmic magic.
It’s our universe doing what it should in order to keep us in order and make tomorrow “just another day”.

08/24/2018

The day we all stood as one and smiled
~ Sue Kennedy

12/25/2017

Merry Christmas to our Solar Eclipse friends!

The house has not sold yet and we are still here. We are happy and healthy.
My surgery went a bit sideways, but thankful for a fabulous surgeon with quick hands and wit. I’m now looking for Work and ready to get back at it. 😃

Tahoe was lovely. We attended the Pendleton Roundup— a tradition for us. Have made several trips to Reno to visit grandbabies.
The little redheads in the family are growing and we were blessed with another granddaughter in late August— just a week after you all went home. ❤️

Hawaii still calls.. but so does my heartstrings with my grandbabies in Reno-Tahoe area.

Wherever we land, rest assured we will be at the Eclipse in Texas.

We’ve heard from some of you and love the updates. We were so very blessed to have met each and every one of you.

As we close the year, thinking of the amazing people who visited us, the places we visited, and the wonderful memories, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
Until we meet again...
Mele Kalikimaka
~Trish, Bryan, Amelia, Brandon and the kiddos.

09/04/2017

I hope it's ok that I share this Mr Friedman... it was a suggestion by Instagram. I recognized the tents. What a fun video.

6 Likes, 0 Comments - Steve Friedman () on Instagram

09/01/2017

I'm guessing that Susan Randall took this pic of Sherry, Jim and Heidy.
What a GREAT group. Thanks for the pic Susan!

08/30/2017

Thank you Ashok Srinivasan

08/30/2017

Thank you Janine Johnson for the amazing original art work!
Her family's story was incredible. We talked throughout the month leading up to the Eclipse. They weren't sure if it would just be her or if her sister and brother in law would make it. His brother had become very ill and was not expected to make it. He came through and is on the road to recovery. 👏🏼😎👍🏼

Miraculous things do happen! The whole family gathered here and Janine (an artist) drew an amazing thank you card for our team here.

This story is just one of many, some with a very different ending... many loved ones passed before the trip and our guests found some semblance of peace and/or healing in the journeys they made to Oregon.

I hope that you recognize some of the vehicles in Janine's rendition of camp. We have "Totality or bust!" - I'm sure you all saw that awesome car!
Manfred Fink-- the man from Berlin--- in his Westfalia!
The beautiful tie dyed fabric wall hanging from the screen tent in tow..2...3? 😂 The big telescopes are represented as well.

And the ever present dust! It was dirty but we overcame and enjoyed an uneventful weekend--- except the Great Event!!

Thank you Janine, Karen and George for adding another facet to the mix.

08/25/2017

We heard from the irrigation district employee this morning about a man in Solartown who had his children loaded up and ready to leave the second Totality was over. His kids never got this moment.

I imagine that we forget as adults that we are the reason our babies find passion in something. The toddler who carries around a screwdriver and becomes a mechanic, the first Polaroid I ever took, the first time a girl ride a train and decided she wanted to be a conductor, a teenager who catches the astronomy bug when he sees Mars through a telescope for the first time.

My grandfather was a huge influence for me. He taught me what grandparents should be like.

So... my little grand babies were "forced" to look at the Eclipse. At first he fought me. But the second he saw the sun through the glasses, 1 year old Jake stopped, gasped and said "Awwww!!" He then began to sing and rock back and forth to start dancing.

He wanted to sit there and watch the whole thing!

What a wonder in this universe that even a toddler understands it IS amazing and beautiful....

Please share your kid pics enjoying the sun if you'd like. I'll make sure they're shared.

We will be in Texas for sure!

08/25/2017

Thanks Debra Rabe Patek for sharing her 13 yr old Grandson Aidan's fabulous photo of the Painted Hills near John Day Oregon. They traveled out there for a day trip while awaiting the Eclipse last weekend and we all get to share that experience now. 🤗

The painted hills are much like the Grand Canyon, in that you can truly see them in person or in a great pic and be moved by their beauty.

Great job Aidyn!

08/25/2017

Lost and found
3 pairs glasses