Great American Eclipse in Madras 2017

After failing to secure lodging in the Jackson, Wyoming area for the eclipse, I grabbed the last rooms in Bend, Oregon and invited family from Michigan and New York to join me in Madras (centerline) for the display. 

We had to be in our allotted spaces in an abandoned farm field the day before and car camp for the night. Porta potties were inadequate for the huddled masses of eclipse chasers. Getting back out was miserable.

No one who endured all the indignities would have traded it for the world. I knew what to expect and the geometry of what was going to take place. When totality hit, expletives passed my lips nonetheless. I wholly understand the addiction that befalls witnesses of totality.

2017 08 Bend, Madras, and Environs

2017 08 Eclipse Shots

Eclipse Photography Link Post

General Tips from Mr. Eclipse

Detailed Tips from John Shaw of Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris

Tony Northrup (Stunning Digital Photography)

Canon Tips

Nikon Tips

Science Tourism

Today's Science Friday featured 24 minutes on science tourism. Ella Morton and Dylan Thuras, authors of Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders joined host Ira Flatow to discuss a plethora of geeky destinations.

Hidden Wonders To Hit On Your Science Road Trip

Sunscreens failing?

From NPR's Science Friday.

The guest likes products with zinc oxide (which I believe is opaque) or avobenzone (3%). Avobenzone products should have an of SPF between 30 and 50.
 

March for Science in DC 2017

Following the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017, a March for Science was organized in Washington DC for Earth Day (April 22). Other such marches were organized around the world.

2017 04 March for Science in Washington, DC

Moab to Monument with Mom 2017

For Spring Break 2017, Jean and Dean headed to Red Rock Country. Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point State Park, Fisher Towers, Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, and Capitol Reef were visited.

2017 04 Moab to Monument with Mom

Planning for 2018: Norway

I'm "laying low" in 2017 as far as international photo safaris are concerned. I wanted to have financial leeway to do things relative to The Great American Eclipse 2017, and I wasn't sure what shape that would take.

But as it is Presidents' Week 2017, it's time to assemble plans for summer, 2018. So far, I'm booked for

Wildphoto Travel's Svalbard Classic

and am eyeing

68 North's Lofoten Islands Midnight Mountains (this is the 2017 link).

Depending on schedules, I might be able to putter about on some version of

Norway in a Nutshell.

Wildphoto Travels' Svalbard Classic puts you on the ice-hardened but nimble M/S Origo out of Longyearbyen on a "hunt" for landscapes, walruses, and polar bears via a partial circumnavigation of the isolated archipelago located 10 degrees south of the north pole. Here's how that trip went for them in 2013.

Lofoten Midnight Mountains involves hiking in the picturesque Lofoten archipelago, just above the Arctic Circle on Norway's west coat.

Norway in a Nutshell is a popular tourist travel package that allows travelers to get out of Oslo and see the Norwegian countryside and coast via train, bus, and boat.

Obviously, I have time to work out logistics and details. And see if I can learn a bit of Norwegian (Bokmal) via Duolingo prior to departure.

Photo Tour of Oslo
TripAdvisor seems to like this one. I'll pin this here for future reference.

UPDATE 6/3/17: Trips to Africa and Brazil get you thinking about sunscreen and mosquitoes. You still need mosquito protection in Alaska in the summer, but no need for malaria prophylaxis.

Tromping on Norwegian terrain and on a boat, it seems it might be nice to have some grippy boots. Vibram now offers Arctic Grip for traction on wet ice. Traction on wet ice? I'll be keeping an eye on this stuff. Gear Junkie. Digital Trends.

The Art of Polar Bear Photography