Total Eclipse of the Sun... and some other exciting news :)

This was a morning so monumental, it got me out of bed at 4:30am. Today was a total solar eclipse. It's the first one to come across northern Queensland in 700 years and another one won't happen here for another thousand or so, so it was a really big deal.

The newspaper said they were anticipating an additional 50,000 visitors in north Queensland JUST for the eclipse and there were  5 charter planes that came over from Japan JUST for the eclipse. I met someone who came here from San Francisco, just for five days, just to see the eclipse. Apparently these things are a big deal and I just got damn lucky.

The only problem was that its been raining and cloudy here for the last three days or so, which has made everyone really nervous about the eclipse viewing. People were trying to avoid it by chartering boats or driving out to the country, but I decided to head down to the Esplanade this morning with the riff raff that can't afford those fancy things.


It was pretty cloudy when I got to the beach around 515. The sun was going to be rising in eclipse, starting at like 5:30. It was mostly overcast for the beginning, but the sun finally peeked out when it was about 60% eclipsed. It was incredible, like nothing I've ever seen. After that, it looked like there was no hope. The big clouds rolled in and it looked like we would miss the total eclipse.

Cloudy, cloudy, cloudy...

BUT for about 30 seconds, the clouds parted and we were able to see the sun just as it was turning into the full eclipse and it was AMAZING. Such an incredible experience. As soon as the sun eclipsed, it got so dark that you could see the stars (including Venus and Mercury!) The total eclipse lasted for two minutes and then is started getting light again... really such as surreal experience.

Partial solar eclipse taken through my sweet eclipse glasses. 

It was a really really amazing experience. I might not travel across the world to see another one, but I can absolutely see why you would want to!!!

Now... drumroll please... I've got some excellent news!!! I'm going out to the Great Barrier Reef!! TOMORROW! I got a last-minute position as a volunteer on a dive boat going out for 7 days! I'll be living, eating and diving for free, but I'll be earning my keep doing some housekeeping and helping out the staff. I'M GOING TO BE DIVING IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF! This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid and I can't even believe that it's finally happening!!! I'll be off the grid for 7 days, don't miss me too much! Hopefully I'll be back next week with some amazing stories!!