Why "chase" eclipses?

Total solar eclipses have proven to be very emotional experiences. It is not uncommon for people to be reduced to tears, even those seeing it for the first time. I have no idea why this should happen and I guess we will just have to keep bringing new people along on each eclipse trip to enable us to study this phenomonen. It has been reported from many other eclipse groups as well so it is not just something unique to the Irish!

These trips bring us to places we might not normally consider traveling to for a holiday. Bulgaria in 1999 was a relatively easy country to travel to and meant we could bring a large group of 60 people. However in the second week of the trip we experienced the earthquake which cost such a grave loss of life in Turkey. We even managed to travel to Cairo and visit the Museum and the Pyramids.

Madagascar was a different matter. Difficult travel over non existent roads in 4x4's meant only a small group of 12 could travel. The country was astonishing in its beauty, both landscape and people leaving an indelible mark on us all. Seeing the Indri, the largest lemur in the world and hearing its eerie call travel through the rainforest was an experience we will never forget. As I pointed out to the group, less people have seen and heard the Indri than have seen total solar eclipses, so it was a genuinely rare event to witness.

South Africa with all its game parks was stunning. We even managed to see a Leopard in daytime on our first drive in Kruger National Park. Some South Africans pointed out to us that even though they have spent all their lives in the country they have never seen a Leopard in the wild. One of the group commented that the Leopard experience lasted longer than all the eclipses we had seen to date. To top it all off some of the group were charged by a Black Rhino when on a game walk and it was only stopped by one of the wardens firing a shot in the air when the rhino was only 30 metres away.

Our next total solar eclipse trip brought us to Libya. In 1999 I had stood on the edge of the Sahara and promised myself that I would return some day and drive through the Sahara. The eclipse of March 2006 offered the perfect chance of fulfilling that dream.

Libya was spectacular.

Quite simply, it took our breath away. For the first time the eclipse was totally ( no pun intended ) overshadowed (no pun intended here either! ) by the country. I have only one piece of advice to give to everyone about Libya, and that is, go now , before it changes. An absolutely unique experience. No mobile phones, no internet, barely enough water each day, eating goats and camels............ and absolute solitude, oh and only 3 hours flight from Heathrow!
Once you arrive in Libya and head a few hours south, a minutes walk in any direction and you were on your own. A big, big shock to us all. So close to mainland Europe and yet so remote.

It is important when choosing where to watch an eclipse that the country we travel to has something else to offer In each of the four trips so far we have learned a lot about each of the countries we traveled to and have made friends whom we try to stay in touch with. This is one of the great side effects of viewing eclipses. The friends we make have all shared the unique eclipse experience with us and a bond has developed among people who might not normally either meet each other or indeed cross paths in their normal day-to-day lives.

Also in Libya it was the first time we all used digital cameras to any great extent. The hundreds of excellent photos we all brought back are a great example of the current digital revolution. Without the worry of the developing costs or relying on someone else to process your photos, everyone just took photos, just like they were free for the first time ever. I hope the resulting selection of photos is pleasing as we have tried our best to portray our memories of this eventful trip.

Also for the first time the Ecliptomaniacs went international ( or at least European! ) We had, what can only be described as, a very resilient group of Dutch, English and Swedish eclipse chasers. Personally I was humbled by the fact that these much more experienced eclipse chasers chose to join us. I thank them all for their companionship.

As for the actual eclipse memories themselves, well I think the following sums it all up so far.

In Bulgaria there was an elderly cleaning lady in our hotel who was seeing a total eclipse for the third time in her life, from the same place in her own country and it did not cost her a penny! She was not in the least bit excited about it.

In Madagascar the locals hid from the eclipse, thinking that it would bring them ill fortune.

In South Africa everyone watched.

In Libya there was a special prayer, the Salat al-kusoof, which is only recited during a total solar eclipse. It thanks God/Allah for the beauty of the eclipse. It did not matter whether we were Muslim or Christian or whatever. We all shared this wonderful natural event together.

BRIAN SEALES

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