I think I will just take a few Valium and drive around I-285.
I keep running into people who have no idea this eclipse is coming. MSM coverage, I think, is woefully inadequate. Perhaps they're keeping it quiet to cover all the panic that ensues when the uninformed are surprised by the event.
I don't think people who live in the totality zone will be surprised. They'll get a heads up from all the tourists who pour into their otherwise uninteresting little towns.
I might stay that extra night and leave Wednesday just to let things die down and return to normal just a bit. My daughter works in a hospital. She's probably going to have an interesting time of it.
I did buy a new camera for my birthday and the eclipse trip. It's a Panasonic Lumix G7 with a 14-140mm lens. This is a new technology "mirrorless" camera. Still looks and acts like an SLR. Smaller than a 35mm camera this is what they call a Micro Four Thirds format. This lens performs like a 28 - 280 mm lens on a standard 35mm camera. With the small size and light weight of the system, this one lens covers all my needs. I'm long past having a bag of lenses to carry around,
Very lightweight, smallish and handles fast. Spent the weekend figuring out how to drive it. Should be a lot of fun playing with that on the trip.
I'm too old to drag around 30 pounds of camera gear anymore. I thought I'd wait until digital photography matured, recalling the great BetaMax vs VHS battle, I wanted all that settled before dropping serious funds on a camera.
I think this is just about perfect for what I want and my budget.