At 5.45 the truck hooter sounded – a call to the camp to load up and move out to the observing site. Telescopes, binoculars, cameras in all shapes and sizes were loaded aboard, as well as some creature comforts. For those who preferred luxury to the camaraderie of the truck, there was of course the option of going to the site in their own cars, so the road to the border was soon much busier than usual. Led by the blue army bakkie, the truck moved off. In the bakkie were many of the base personnel, plus water and cold drink, fruit and bread and butter for those who needed a snack before the celebratory brunch at 11 o'clock. The clouds scudded across the sky, and the mood of the camp wavered between despair and hope that the clouds would co-operate.
The observing site buzzed with activity. Telescope positions were chosen with care, and heaven help anyone careless enough to bump someone else's equipment. Anxious eyes seemed to go from watches to clouds and back again. Looking along the road brought no cheer – clouds from east to west as far as the eye could see! Only in the north was it clear, and north was over the border in Zimbabwe. Our chosen spot was within spitting distance of the electric fence which forms our northern national boundary.
Time for first contact came, and the sun seemed to tease us, shining through the clouds for a few seconds, then ducking away for a long time. Decision time – move or stay? Looking along the road, which stretched for thirty kilometers, and was empty except for ourselves, the decision was made to stay put and hope for the best. The wind grew stronger, and the eyes watching the clouds searched anxiously for thin patches. Nail biting was definitely the order of the day!
The moment of totality approached, and so did a gap in the clouds. Would we be in luck, or would the timing be just infuriatingly out? Then – the clouds thinned to nothing, just in time to see the diamond ring! The crowd cheered, and cameras clicked away. A couple of wisps of cloud crossed the sun, but the clouds stayed away until after the second diamond ring was gone, then closed in again, to tell us the show was over.
Peeping out of the clouds now and again, the sun teased the watchers until the eclipse was over, and it was time to prepare for brunch. All the base personnel had been with us in the truck, except for two, armed with their eclipse glasses, who had been left to man the base, so it was all hands on deck to get the brunch going.
Smiles were visible all round – we had been blessed with an amazing view of the eclipse, and everyone was euphoric. A few of the folk had to leave immediately for engagements in Jo'burg, but the rest now had time to relax and have fun.
Gill Stewart