My 10th Solar Eclipse

My 6th successful

Total Eclipse in a row

My 5th continent on the chase

The best days of my life have been eclipse days. The rush of exotic travel - the unparalleled excitement of finally arriving in the eclipse zone - the gratification of sharing such a sublime natural event with the local families - and that post-eclipse glow that keeps me going well into the next day, and beyond. All this makes for some pretty remarkable memories. In fact, over the years, I have meditated on my eclipse experiences so frequently that I can recall the most exquisite of details even years later.

Much of the richness of the experience comes from the location you choose to observe the eclipse. Your immediate surroundings can add tremendously to the impact of the day if you choose carefully. I like to be somewhere that already has its share of magic - like a Hindu temple in India, an ancient archeological site in Turkey, or in the case of Africa, a school yard in rural Zambia full of local children.

I usually end up on the chase by myself (it’s hard to find people who can take these big trips!), but on this one I traveled with a group of mostly Canadian chasers organized by the Calgary Science Centre.

Friends celebrate the eclipse. That’s me holding the Canada flag!

Along with seeing the eclipse we took the opportunity to explore a bit of central Africa. We flew into Harare, stayed a few nights in Lusaka to do some night sky observing, visited the famed Victoria Falls, and spent a week on safari in Malawi.

My helicopter shot of the great rift that is Victoria Falls.

On safari in eastern Zambia! These jeeps can go anywhere.

I saw so many giraffes and elephants and rhinos and exotic birds I could never post all the pictures!