Totality out-of-state: The lengths these Rhode Islanders will go to see eclipse
What goes together like baseball, hot dogs and a total solar eclipse?
For Westerly resident Mary Ellen Rusnov nothing even comes close.
So on Monday, she'll be at Cleveland’s Progressive Field for the Guardians' home opener. The team will let fans into the stadium before the total eclipse, and then delay the start of the game until after.
“We will see the eclipse inside the stadium," said Rusnov. "They’re going to make a big party out of it. It’s going to be quite the spectacular event.”
Rusnov – and her husband, Jim Fitzpatrick – are among scores of Rhode Islanders heading out of state to catch the eclipse along the path of totality, while here in the Ocean State, only 90% of the sun will be obscured in a partial eclipse.
Most Rhode Islanders will catch the beauty of that partial eclipse at home, but several plan to be anywhere from Texas to Canada come Monday afternoon, taking in the majesty of the total eclipse at a fancy hotel in Quebec, a rustic camp in Upstate New York or the ballpark in Cleveland, at a lighthouse on Lake Champlain, a steakhouse near the Canadian border or a travel trailer somewhere on the side of a Vermont highway.
Joseph Studlick booked his Vermont hotel room 6 months ago
Joseph Studlick of Portsmouth booked his Burlington hotel room six months ago after talking to friends in Austin, Texas, another city on the path of totality. “The buzz had already started,” he said.
Although he's a Houston native with friends in Austin, predictions were that a million people would descend on that area, so he and his wife, Mary, opted for Vermont.
Studlick, 71, said he's never seen a total eclipse. “It’s one of those bucket-list, once-in-a-lifetime things.”
William Marshall planned even earlier, a year ago
William Marshall of Tiverton made his hotel reservation a year ago in Burlington, Vermont, also along the path of totality.
“I know there’s some people who travel the world to look at these things, and I can understand it,” said Marshall, who went to Tennessee in 2017 to see a total eclipse there. “When the corona comes out around the completely covered sun, it’s just magical.”
Although many call it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Marshall said he just couldn't pass up a chance to see a second total eclipse, especially when it's just a drive to Vermont.
“There’s not many opportunities to do something like this,” said Marshall, 67, a retired IRS worker, who will travel with his wife, Sherry, a retired elementary school librarian. “It’s a totality and something that’s close to home, so I had to go see it. Last time, I had to go all the way to Tennessee.”
Kristina Plunkett decided on Vermont a month ago
Kristina Plunkett of East Greenwich plans to drive up Monday with a friend from Connecticut to watch the eclipse from a waterfront venue in Burlington with food trucks and a DJ. She decided to go when her friend invited her about a month ago.
Plunkett, 42, an occupational therapist, has never seen a total eclipse and doesn't want to wait around for the next one. Although they will be visible in other parts of the United States in 2044 and 2045, the next New England total eclipse will be in 2079, when all three southern New England states will be in the path of totality.
“It’s something on my bucket list,” said Plunkett. “Who knows where I’ll be in 2079.”
Janet Marcantonio is headed home to Texas
Janet Marcantonio, of East Greenwich, who went to high school in El Paso, Texas, is headed to the Lone Star state to see the eclipse from the home of a childhood friend.
“She’s having like 12 people who are coming from all over," Marcantonio said of her friend, who has 4 acres in Bulverde, Texas. “We’ll just stand out in the middle of it because we’ll have really great views,” said Marcantonio, 70, a financial adviser at UBS.
The friend set up the party a year ago to give people a chance to plan flights and accommodations before reservations got overwhelmed.
Ted Green chose Quebec for his fourth total eclipse
Ted Green, 77, of Wickford and his wife, Priscilla, are heading to the Ripplecove Hôtel & Spa, on Lac Massawippi, about 10 miles north of the border in Quebec.
“It’s right on the line of totality,” said Green.
This will be Green's third total eclipse, fourth if you count 2017, when he traveled to South Carolina, where his view of that year's eclipse was rained out.
The semi-retired construction project manager saw his first in 1970, the year he graduated from college, when his roommate suggested they go to the southernmost part of Cape Cod, which, along with the island of Nantucket, was the only spot in New England to witness that year's total eclipse. “It was just a youthful adventure,” said Green.
But the impression it made is drawing him in again this year.
“It demonstrates the power of nature," he said. "We can’t control it in any way, shape or form. It just happens, and it goes away.”
The lighthouse, the camp, the travel trailer
David Zapatka, of North Kingstown, plans to be at the Windmill Point Lighthouse on Lake Champlain with a group of photographers who are working on a nationwide project of night photos of lighthouses. After spending the night, they hope to get a bonus shot of the lighthouse with a total eclipse.
"I've never photographed a total eclipse before," said Zapatka. "It's going to be great if it's clear!"
William Clegg of Warwick has a rustic camp in the Adirondacks in South Colton, New York. "Our property is in the zone of totality, so we may have a great view," he said.
Mike Nolin of West Greenwich is heading to an Airbnb about 30 miles south of the zone of totality with family. "Hoping to get up early Monday and head to area of totality somewhere," he said. "Bringing my travel trailer in case of gridlock, so at least we have a bathroom!"
Allen Chatterton planned far ahead – with international flexibility
Allen Chatterton, 64, of Rumford owns an insurance agency in Pawtucket and has eclipse plans on both sides of the Canadian border.
He and his family – wife Bintou and children Zachariah and Laylah – booked their plans a year ago. They will spend the weekend in Montreal and have a table reserved at a steakhouse in St. Alban's, Vermont. "I suspect everyone, including the chef, will be out in the parking lot watching the eclipse," said Chatterton.
But that's if the Chattertons are even at the steakhouse.
On Monday morning, they will check the forecast to see whether Montreal or St. Alban's will have the clearer skies and bend their plans to be in the best location.
"Of course, it's all weather-dependent," said Chatterton. "Fingers crossed it's a nice day."
More: Will weather conditions improve for viewing the solar eclipse Monday?
From Texas to Canada, everyone's eying the weather forecast
The Chattertons aren't the only Rhode Islanders with travel plans watching the weather.
“Well, my fingers are crossed," said Canada-bound Green. "We keep hearing it’s going to be clear, but you never know.”
“Who knows what’s going to happen," Studlick said about his plans in Vermont. "I could be in the rain next week.”
“I’m a little nervous," said Marcantonio as she checked the forecast for Texas, "because it looks like it may be definitely cloudy or rain.”
Everything lined up for Rusnov
Rusnov, known as "Mel" for short, is from Cleveland. Her family still lives there. The retired physics teacher – after retiring as a civil engineer – was talking to her brother last year about the upcoming eclipse. He noted that the date is also Opening Day for the team. As a season-ticket holder, he has priority for single-game sales and snagged two tickets for Rusnov and her husband.
Now 66, she recalls an eclipse when she was a child. “I remember it getting so dark, which was thrilling as a little kid,” she said. “I remember how cold it got, how dark it got.”
She counts herself lucky to get an opportunity to see another one as a retiree. “This is probably my last chance,” she said.
And, celestial spectaculars aside, she also gets to watch her hometown team and is relishing having a ballpark hotdog, slathered with Cleveland's signature condiment, Bertman mustard.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Travelling for the eclipse? Here is where Rhode Islanders are headed
