Fog lifts and Harborites get a solar show

While the partial solar eclispe did not reach totality in Grays Harbor County, it was still totally and impartially awesome.

All throughout the Grays Harbor area on Aug. 21, people lined streets, parking lots and sidewalks in an effort to get the best view possible of the partial eclipse.

While some had an adequate view of the eclipse from their homes or businesses others traveled to make sure they’d get an unobstructed look. John Henry Stanberry made his way from Westport to the parking lot at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds in Elma. Folks in beach communities and as far east as Montesano woke up to thick fog, which had burned off in most spots by around 9 a.m. Worried about visibility near Westport Marina, Stanberry decided he wasn’t taking any chances and drove until he found a spot suitable for viewing the eclipse.

“I followed the sun and drove until I got clear skies,” Stanberry said. “I called a friend at Westport and she said it was still foggy there,” he said at around 9:30 a.m.

Stanberry said he remembered the 1979 eclipse from when he was in high school. While he did not pay much attention to the ‘79 eclipse he noted he was not going to make the same mistake this time around.

“As you get older you realize the significance of it,” he said. “You only get so many eclipses in a lifetime.”

In Aberdeen, some 75 people waited outside Timberland Library for free solar glasses. The crowd was large and noticeable long before the eclipse peaked, and the library opened its doors early to hand out the eye wear.

The library had 160 pairs of solar eclipse glasses but had been passing them out all week. By Monday, many in the crowd did not receive glasses. But as the moon covered more and more of the sun, spectators shared their glasses with friends and strangers to ensure nearly everybody in the crowd had an opportunity to safely view the spectacle.

Clumps of people were huddled about on the street corners, glasses on and faces turned up at the sun. As the moon covered more of the sun, the temperature dropped slightly and the ambient light dimmed to a level that seemed about like it would be shortly before sunset. Some vehicles had their automatic headlights turn on.

The Aberdeen library was hosting an Eclipse and Eclairs event. About 10 minutes after the event began, the eclairs — 50 of them — were gone. Library staff took turns viewing the eclipse.

The Grays Harbor Community Hospital parking lot, which rims a hill overlooking Aberdeen and the harbor, was a popular viewing spot. About 75 members of the general public watched from there, and many employees popped out for a quick look.

Rich and Laurie Wyatt of Montesano and their son Nolan watched from there. Laurie works at the hospital and came out briefly to share the experience with her husband and son. Rich credited Laurie with the foresight to order 10 pairs of eclipse glasses. After sharing with others they were down to two pairs between the three and shared those with other spectators.

The fog cleared in Ocean Shores just in time to catch most of the eclipse, which was about 96 percent according to observers, with a grayish darkness covering the peninsula at the height of the phenomenon. On the hill above Bayview Estates, a group of Ocean Shores residents, John and Molly Pike and Bruce and Lisa Malloy, watched with their protective glasses and noted how quiet it became, with bird chatter suddenly ceasing.

Alex Suaraz of Ocean Shores had one of the more unique ways of photographing the eclipse — using binoculars to project an image that she then captured with a camera. “The unpromising morning fog suddenly vanished and allowed a nice projection of shadows through my tripod-mounted binoculars,” she said of photos posted on the Ocean Shores Photographers Facebook page.

Corey Morris, Travis Rains, Angelo Bruscas and Doug Barker contributed to this story.

Fog lifts and Harborites get a solar show

(Doug Barker | The Daily World) Rich and Laurie Wyatt of Montesano watched the eclipse from the parking lot at Community Hospital, where Laurie works. She came out for a quick look just before the eclipse was at its fullest. Glasses were scarce, but they shared theirs with others.

(Doug Barker | The Daily World) From left, Ella Horton, Amanda Dee, Alex Dee (black sweatshirt), Myleigh Gramson and Kain Horton, pose for posterity as the eclipse was waning Monday morning at Community Hospital. Barely visible behind Myleigh is Ary Jenkins.

(Doug Barker | The Daily World) The partial solar eclipse is going on over their shoulders as from left, Julie Orrin, Thara Teav and Teresa Simpson, watch the eclipse in selfie mode from the parking lot of Community Hospital in Aberdeen.