Awe-Inspiring Total Eclipse Unites Vermont Lake Community | US News

I’m at a loss for words to describe how truly awe-inspiring the moment of totality is. Watching it on television doesn’t do justice, either.

I feel an immense sense of gratitude. It surpassed all expectations, and truth be told, I wasn’t quite sure what to anticipate.

I must confess, there was a small part of me questioning if it would truly be that incredible. But my goodness, it exceeded all expectations.

“Is it going to be completely dark?” I asked my colleagues Eleanor and Michael as we hurriedly planned how to capture the moment live on Sky News with our cameras.

“Yes, I think it might be,” she replied.

All of us were eclipse novices, unaware of what awaited us.

Our day began early with a bout of what we called “cloud anxiety”. Eleanor, as the producer for this assignment, was particularly anxious.

We were originally supposed to head to Burlington in western Vermont. By 5 am, we were on the road heading north.

Eleanor seemed unsure, as the chance of clear skies looked uncertain based on the weather apps she had downloaded. What should we do?

“Forget Burlington. Let’s head to Newport,” Eleanor decided after further research on her weather app. She seemed convinced, though I’m not entirely sure. But we had to take the risk.

As the main event began to unfold on the horizon, we redirected our journey from Burlington to Newport, further but hopefully worth it.

The roads were already crowded, as the cloud cover had forced many eclipse enthusiasts to change their plans.

We were part of a collective migration across America, striving to overcome our anxiety and find the perfect skies for this celestial spectacle.

Upon arriving in Newport, we were greeted by clear skies. Despite Mother Nature threatening to spoil the show elsewhere, it was perfect here.

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‘Everyone is together’

At the Brown Cow Cafe, the queue for breakfast was out of the door – a two and a half hour wait for the bacon, the eggs, and the hash. But no one minded.

The mood everywhere was just wonderful. Honestly, it felt like just what humanity needs right now.

As one man said to me, “no one is in disagreement, everyone is together”. He was right. This wonder of nature is a true unifier.

An event that’s truly beyond anyone’s control had brought us all together physically and in spirit.

And so were all gathered. A sea of people in this small town, together on the grass by the lakeside – a natural open-air amphitheatre.

With cameras, picnic chairs, family and friends, there was a genuine togetherness for what promised to be the experience of a lifetime – maybe the greatest show on Earth.

And then it happened. On the shores of this northern American lake, we were part of a larger community experiencing the wonder of totality together, from Mexico to Newfoundland.

My question about darkness was answered as the sun’s rays shone down on us until the very last moment before totality. And then, darkness.

Natural light disappeared, plunging us into darkness for over three minutes. In rural Vermont, with no light pollution, it was a celestial experience.

Just as quickly as it vanished, light returned. A brief yet unforgettable natural phenomenon that will live on in our memories forever.