It's Bill, 4/6/25: Easternmost Eclipse

An Unexpected Call from a Solar Superstar

I became aware of the March 29th 6:13AM partial sunrise eclipse a couple of months ago. I got a call from a fast-talking New York denizen. He was “always quoted by The New York Times about eclipses around the world.” Undoubtedly, an undisputed expert who had been recommending West Quoddy Station as the best place to stay to see the March 29 sunrise eclipse in the Continental United States—he had just realized he had forgotten to make a reservation for himself.

I had no availability for him. Or the next 20-plus eclipse aficionados that called.

Pre-Dawn Prep and Parking Lot Theater

We set the alarm for 4:15AM. The weather report said it was snowing from 2AM to 10AM. It was not snowing, but there was a cloudy overcast with no wind. We had some tea, filled our Yeti’s. At 5:30, we completed the 1-mile drive to the lighthouse, drove through the parking lot, and parked the red Tundra at the edge of the lighthouse driveway.

Sipping Irish Breakfast tea, we watched, warm and cozy, as cars jockeyed in back of us while others—a dozen or so—drove down to the lighthouse, which had parking for 4 vehicles. Interesting to watch, many viewers carried tripods, backpacks of camera equipment. There were couples and families, some with children skipping down the hill.

The Moment Arrives

A little after 6AM, we left our warm observation post and walked downhill. There was a thin strip of orange crimson above the dark blue sea, gray sky overhead. Photographers and eclipse viewers had neatly arranged themselves for their own best views. The approaching sunrise shone crimson in the windows of the lightkeeper’s house.

We were surprised and pleased to find our friends, Melinda and Andrew, standing next to the lighthouse tower with a fine view to the sun rising beautifully in the East.

Sunrise Meets Eclipse

While we were chatting, at 6:13AM, the sun rose right on time. A fine sunrise by any measure, well worth seeing any day. Just as quickly, the eclipse started, the rising sun melting away into a pale crimson glow. Just like the sunrise, we melted away.

A Cozy West Quoddy Wrap-Up

More Irish Breakfast tea with Melinda and Andrew at my West Quoddy Station office. We also tacked on a tour of Clark’s Folly Lighthouse under construction.