January 31, 2018 partial lunar eclipse
I’ve been planning for weeks to shoot the moon, preparing as best I can, and hoping for clear skies for January 20th’s total lunar eclipse.
Almost funny how I sat around for months at home doing a whole lot of nothing except shooting my local Weaver Mountains and labeling photos taken many months ago. Then, I decided to volunteer at the local Community Center thrift store and present at Club Yarnell. Now it seems I’m busy all the time. Well not quite every day. In fact after working five hours helping with receiving, checking in donations, clean items, price and place, surprising how tired I was. It’s fun to see what is donated, from junk people should have thrown away to brand new. In fact I scored a set of new in-package flannel sheets for $6. I do love getting a deal.
Taken with phone by a friend
The presentation about Grand Canyon geology went great. About 20 people showed up and all gave positive feedback. I’ve been invited back to speak about the California Condor recovery program in Arizona. I totally loved this and almost felt like I was a Park Ranger again, but without the hat. Most of it was videoed but I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet.
Storm over the valley from Yarnell Hill SR89
Sunrise reveals snow on Antelope Peak
I’ve been driving a couple of locals to doctor appointments and shopping to help out and earn a few bucks. A trip to Wickenburg Saturday had a storm chasing us home followed by heavy rain overnight and snow on the mountains in the morning. It is winter after all, even in Arizona when living at almost 5,000 feet.
Bradshaw Mountains from Iron Springs Road to Prescott
Although I’m not much of a shopper I took a local friend to Prescott Monday and we ended up at way too many stores but didn’t have time for Costco. I’m now stocked up for a short journey.
Yet I won’t go camping without propane tanks. Sadly, the old tanks—could be original from 1998—can no longer be refitted and re-certified. I feared the time would come when nobody would fill them. Only other choice is replacement, and the damn things are not cheap being horizontal 5-gallon containers at about $150 each. They’re on order but not here yet.
I’m hoping to leave Friday. But honestly, sitting home today in front of a heater, watching pouring rain and enlarging puddles with a forecast predicting cloudy skies for Sunday, makes it difficult to get excited about this idea to go anywhere but home to shoot the moon.
But it’s a Super Blood Moon, and the last total lunar eclipse to grace Earth’s sky until May 26, 2021. And one of my 2019 challenges is to get out and shoot the night sky. Time will tell, it’s only Tuesday.