This past summer I found myself on the southern coast of Oregon, fixing up a duplex. My cousin Levi and I drove out from Utah so I could bring my own tools and have an easier time moving construction materials and old carpet, etc.
As luck would have it, the duplex project took me and Levi to Oregon shortly before the solar eclipse. Our plan was to keep working on the project and, just go outside and watch the eclipse from where we were, which was about 400 miles south of the line of totality. However, a call from a friend who lives just outside Portland radically changed our plans. He had plotted a special mission with his brother, some close friends, and a helicopter. They were going to be inserted the day prior to the eclipse, deep in the mountains of Oregon, right on the path of totality.
Epic!
The group would camp out that night, watch the eclipse, and then be flown out the following afternoon and.... there were two extra seats!
Say what?!
Levi and I made the obvious decision to tag along and quickly packed our gear, and headed north to Portland. There would be plenty of time after the eclipse to come back and finish the duplex project! So, one day prior to the eclipse we arrived at the farm and began to prep our gear.