Day in the Life

Total Solar Eclipse in Maine on 4/8/2024

A once in a lifetime event. Sounds like a cliché or perhaps the beginning of a car sales commercial. But on Apr 8, 2024 at 3:29pm that is what I experienced. Something magical, awe inspiring, and yes truly a once-in-a-lifetime event… It was a rare moment of our moon being in perfect alignment with the sun for a total solar eclipse. July 20, 1963 was the last total solar eclipse viewed from Maine. I was only a toddler and would have been oblivious of that moment of darkness. 

The long-awaited 2024 total eclipse of the sun cut a 100-mile-wide path from Mexico to Canada, including a swath here of western and northern Maine. For us Mainers, that meant viewing in places like Houlton, Jackman, and Rangeley Plantation, the latter was my viewing destination. Nowhere along the entire eclipse route is as remote or as typically cloudy as our Pine Tree State. According to the National Eclipse website, “This stretch of eclipse track is perhaps the most prone to cloudy conditions in the entire U.S.”  This is why my decision for a road trip north hinged on the possibility of overcast skies for the day. Rainy days and cloudy skies are typical for April days here in Maine. Not to mention that we had just experienced back to back spring snowstorms leaving many residents, including myself for both storms, without power for days. Most fortuitously, the day dawned with clear-cloudless-bright-blue skies and my adventure began. 

I was joined by 2 friends, Lindsay and Shannon. As we embarked on our journey, we didn’t know our exact destination, but we were wary of being caught in the traffic jams along any route to Houlton or Kingfield. Heading instead towards Rangeley Plantation, we found the perfect spot at Height of Land to pull over for an impromptu picnic and our eclipse viewing. Perched beside Route 17 in western Maine, the Height of Land offered an expansive look at the sprawling Rangeley Lakes region and the mountains beyond. This viewpoint, on the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway has been declared one of the finest in the state, if not New England. We were not alone. Hundreds of other cars were lined alongside the road, in spite of the warnings issued by the Maine State Police. There was still plenty of space for the passing logging trucks that were using this route for business. 

We had the perfect spot to set up our camping chairs and table in the space between our car and the one behind, protected against the road traffic. The field along the road was covered in deep snow from the recent snowstorm and wasn’t suitable for our alfresco dining as none of us were wearing our tallest L.L. Bean boots. I had prepared an array of snacks like my muffuletta sandwiches, curried chicken salad, baked brie with fig topping served with crackers and sliced granny smith apples, and a strawberry spinach salad with balsamic dressing to name just a few of the treats. You know… typical picnic fare. Folks that were just walking up and down the stretch of road waiting for the eclipse marveled at our lunch joking they only had chips and salsa. Relaxing in our chairs and basking in the warm rays of this 60 degree day, we enjoyed watching others building snowmen in the field, with each Frosty dutifully wearing their eclipse glasses. Or watching the countless snowball throwing competitions and snowball fights being waged around us. We were meeting folks from all parts of Maine and lots from Massachusetts. It was a carnival atmosphere. 

As we watched the moon slowly cross over the sun, the temperature suddenly dropped, prompting jackets being put on along with our eclipse glasses. The birds were quiet. Car lights were coming on for passing motorists, the wind picked up, and there was a coolness to what had been a rather warm day for early April. As if orchestrated, the exact peak moment of the total eclipse elicited oohs and ahhs from all watching along the roadway. For those 2.5 minutes of total darkness, we were all sharing being in the moment. The three of us raised our glasses of mimosas in a toast. Yes it was a once-in-a-lifetime event. 

FYI: Did you know your used eclipse glasses can be recycled? GoGo Refill, located in South Portland and Brunswick, is collecting glasses to send to Eclipse Glasses USA, which in turn distributes them to people throughout the world to use at future events. GoGo Refill owner Laura Marston said they're collecting glasses at both locations through Sunday and already have more than 250 pairs.