Everyone is scrambling to get gas...
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And my wife convinced me last night to join the mayhem. Went shopping for the much sought after eclipse glasses. We're planning our route this weekend, getting fuel along the way to make sure we can easily make it home, and planning country road escape routes if the interstates turn into parking lots (since there is a country road nearly every square mile where I live.)
Weather and avoiding clouds should be an interesting new twist. We're planning to bring food, liquids, camping gear, solar panel chargers, a 12x12 canopy tent, lawn chairs to escape the heat and sunburn, and lots of duct tape.
Weather and avoiding clouds should be an interesting new twist. We're planning to bring food, liquids, camping gear, solar panel chargers, a 12x12 canopy tent, lawn chairs to escape the heat and sunburn, and lots of duct tape.
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Well, even though the eclipse is missing us...ISO-New England, the organization that runs the six-state power grid, says that about 65 percent of the sun will be blocked over New England between about 1:20 and 4 p.m., cutting output by as much as 1,300 megawatts – if all conditions are just right....and I'm sittin' here like "meh".
Were expecting carmageddon here this weekend for the eclipse, as are most areas along totality I would imagine.
http://granitegeek.concordmonitor.c...pse-will-cut-new-england-solar-power-2000-mw/
North Carolina on the other hand will be hard hit since it has installed more than 3,000 MW of solar power capacity. The moon will block more than 90% of the state’s sunshine at exactly the time when these solar farms are operating at maximum capacity.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesc...-shock-of-a-total-solar-eclipse/#4cce31f367ee
I am going to be one of the masses driving through southern Illinois jamming interstate I-24, even though we could take I-65. Unfortunate we will be driving my wife's civic and not my Volt as we are going to be coming back from Florida on that day. Going to GAS (frown) up in Tennessee the night before. I am still looking for the solar eclipse glasses. They are all sold out up here in Chicago.
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Driving to Grand Island. I filled my Volt's tank on 7/31 to get $1.479 a gallon. Haven't used a drop of it yet. I'll fill up along I-80 on Sunday and then on the way back.
The fun part is if I weren't driving long distance this weekend my Volt would most likely go through EMM next Tuesday.
The fun part is if I weren't driving long distance this weekend my Volt would most likely go through EMM next Tuesday.
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I have watched solar eclipses since the early 1960's using different methods and contraptions. Looking directly at the Sun with glasses cannot compare to watching it broadcasted on a TV screen where one can study the image and count sunspots. But when the totality comes, then one can dare to look at the Sun directly and see the "Corona".
As for my 2009 Chevy Equinox, we drive it rarely. It is still running on its last tank fill up in June.
As for my 2009 Chevy Equinox, we drive it rarely. It is still running on its last tank fill up in June.
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Probably my most western destination though I'd like it to be suitable weather east of Kansas City.
I might toss the 2 gal gas can in the bed of the truck. You guys have me scared!
I'll be setting my DVR to record the "live" broadcast also.
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Coool. Please share when you finish!
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If I see a crystal red ELR, I'll assume it's you. I'm in the white diamond tricoat volt with pearlizer dipped wheels and emblems.
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I'm the one with TX conservation tags that say "LOBOC".
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I'm the one with TX conservation tags that say "LOBOC".
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I've been keeping an eye on the forecast too, still chance of being partly cloudy. If my work lets me, I'll likely drive out to the Bosselman travel center right off of I80 outside of Grand Island. You'll likely see some Tesla's there, since there's a super charger.
What are the chances of the weather being good there? I am going to be in Nashville, predicted to be sunny with 0% chance of rain... I hope the weather man is accurate for once!...and I'm sittin' here like "meh".
Were expecting carmageddon here this weekend for the eclipse, as are most areas along totality I would imagine.
Be cautious, there were a crap load of fake non-certified eclipse glasses produced. I have solar observation binoculars, but the solar eclipse glasses I ordered from Amazon didn't show up Thursday like they were scheduled for (ordered them weeks ago) and didn't arrive Friday either. I doubt they have Saturday delivery, so I will be cancelling the order at the end of today. I will share the binoculars with my wife if we don't have the glasses to use.
Biggest disappointment for me on the glasses not showing up is I was planning to use a pair (disassembled) as lens filters on my and my wife's cell phone cameras (not expecting good footage) and leave her actual camera set up on a tripod to record crowd reaction.
Keith
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Last resort - go to welding store or hardware store and get a #10 and #5 welding lenses (2X4"). Not expensive and stacked together you get the recommended #14 welding shade. The sun is really bright! I trust these a lot more than the cheapo paper things.
I'm stacking a 5 and a 9 to get the "perfect" 13 shade.
I'm stacking a 5 and a 9 to get the "perfect" 13 shade.
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