Cochranite goes the distance for great view of eclipse

Long-time Cochranite Tim Giese is determined to get a great view of the total solar eclipse on Apr. 8 and has travelled over 4,300 km for it.

He's already in the Maritimes, just west of Halifax, NS, and plans to travel to a point where the sun will be 91 per cent eclipsed. He'll be watching it with his daughter, who lives in the area.

"We're heading to Fredericton (NB) on Monday, which is just within the path of totality," says Tim. "Keep your fingers crossed for good weather. So far, the forecast looks very hopeful."

Tim sent a diagram explaining where he'll be positioned during the eclipse.

Tim has recently retired, and the viewing has been on his hit list for some time.

"I knew I wanted to do something for Apr. 8, so it either come here or go somewhere in Southern Ontario. I've got some friends and relatives there as well, but I thought no, I'll come this way."

He did consider travelling to the very tip of Cape Breton, NS.

"The problem is you don't know what the weather is going to be like there, and I think they're getting really nailed today (Apr. 4)."

Total eclipse time sequence in New Brunswick in Atlantic Daylight Time.

The Niagra Escarpment is expected to have one of the best views of the eclipse in Canada. Niagara Falls is expecting the largest tourist crowd in its history and has declared a state of emergency. They're holding a concert and fireworks. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen is scheduled to speak.

In Cochrane, it's a partial eclipse with 37.4 per cent of the sun being covered.

A clear sky is essential for the viewing, and frankly, Giese says it's been a challenge over the years in Cochrane.

Last fall, Tim, who is president of the Cochrane Environmental Action Committee, arranged to offer viewings of a partial eclipse at Mitford Park. Unfortunately, cloudy conditions prevailed, and he cancelled it.

"I got frustrated and I didn't do anything. I was downtown and just as it was happening, I was standing in the No Frills parking lot when the clouds parted. Sure enough, you could see it right there."

"I can almost guarantee when there's a celestial event of significance, it will be cloudy in Cochrane," says Tim. "I remember trying to see the Transit of Venus across the sun about 12-15 years ago when it was the one of the rainiest days ever in Cochrane. Of course, you couldn't see anything, and it only happens, I believe, about once every 100 years."

The Maritimes got the same snow we did on Apr. 4, but the sky is forecasted to clear by Apr. 8.

For Tim's sake, let's hope that's the case.

The website timeanddate.com will be live streaming the eclipse. Details here.