Cosmic Camp part.2

I must admit that sleeping in the back of the Jeep was extremely uncomfortable. I was anxiously waiting to wake up, and at around 6:30 A.M., I opened my eyes to a stunning gift: one of the most beautiful sunrises I’ve ever seen reflected on the water right in front of us. I had completely forgotten that we parked right by the lake. We all woke up around the same time, feeling really cold—some more than others. For me, my lower back was more troublesome than the cold. We opened the Jeep's roof halfway to watch the sun rise and warm ourselves with its rays. I got out of the car because I couldn't stand how uncomfortable it was. I started walking along the lake, enjoying the fresh air. It felt perfect.

Sunrise in front of us as we woke up.

Little boat passing by.

After stretching my legs, I returned to the car to find the roof down and my friend Niko playing some inspiring songs on the stereo. We sat planning our day as we waited for the eclipse, debating whether to stay put or join the crowds in Burlington. We decided to discuss our plans over coffee to warm up. Mr. Jason Wolf found a diner called The Dutch Mill Family Diner, which opened at 7:00 AM, so we left the campsite at around 6:45, eager for pancakes and coffee. When we arrived, I realized I had left my boots back at the parking spot. The guys stayed at the restaurant while Sebas and I drove back to retrieve them. Sebas decided to test the Jeep's power by driving through a small patch of mud, which it handled easily. We found my boots "parked in the middle of nowhere," grabbed them, and returned to enjoy a nice breakfast.

The Squad Fueling Up

Fueled up by a good breakfast we decided to head to Burlington in order to find a place where we could clean up ourselves, and buy water, and snacks while we waited for the eclipse. As we were about to leave, Sebas decided to try show off how the Jeep could handle a little bit of mud in the back of the dinner’s parking lot. As he started driving we got stuck in the mud. We started laughing out loud because of Sebas bragging about how the Jeep could handle everything, and gotten proven wrong. Laughter ended when we realized that we were stuck, we tried to find wood that could help us out of the mud, but we then soon realized that it was going to be harder that what we imagined.

The Jeep Stuck

We tried pushing, using wood, digging, and we just couldn’t get it out.

The embarrassment of being stuck in the mud in front of both locals and tourists there for the eclipse was overwhelming. While we were laughing out loud, Sebas was in full panic mode because this wasn't his first time getting stuck in the mud, and the trauma resurfaced. As time passed, more and more cars began to surround us, leaving us with no way out. We had to go inside and ask someone to move their car so we could leave. Eventually, an old New England man volunteered to help. It was the best advertisement I’ve ever seen for the Ford Motor Company. He arrived in his 30-40 year old Ford F-Type truck and effortlessly helped us out. We were so ashamed since we were the ones with a 4x4.

After finally getting out, we thanked the grumpy old New Englander and took off with the roof down. We immediately regretted this decision as mud flew from the wheels, showering us. Laughing, we cleaned ourselves up at Burlington's Target, feeling dirty compared to the freshly showered people who had slept in beds the night before. We decided to return to the park where we had camped the previous night. When we got back, we saw that some people were already waiting for the eclipse. Though we had hoped to be alone, we embraced the idea of witnessing such an event with others and decided to wait there. Sebas fell asleep in the car since he was driving us back, while the rest of us went to find a place to play guitar and enjoy the day

Niko enjoying the view from the lake.

As the day went on, we grew increasingly excited and began making friends with the people around us. We shared stories, food, songs, and our thoughts on what we expected the eclipse to be like. An elderly couple told us about witnessing a full solar eclipse in the 1970s, sharing their excitement at seeing another one after so many years. They described how cold it was last time and how all the animals went crazy, which made us even more excited. We also met a group of young people from various places like New York, Wyoming, Mexico, and Colombia. It was amazing how we all came from different backgrounds and locations but were together for this unique experience. One group, traveling from NYC, had initially planned to go to Upstate New York but changed their plans to Vermont due to the weather. They were documenting their trip, so we took pictures of them, and they interviewed us.

As the partial eclipse began, we gazed intently as the moon crept over the sun. The temperature, initially a mild 60 degrees, began to plummet, the air growing colder with each passing minute. Nature itself seemed to respond to the cosmic event—birds erupted into an eerie chorus, animals scurried as if night had fallen, and dogs barked in anxious confusion. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation, and we were transfixed, our eyes locked on the heavens, bracing for the awe-inspiring moment of totality.

Niko, and Luis with the glasses they got a couple of hours prior.

Mr. Wolf witnessing the partial eclipse.

It was 3:26 P.M when totality occurred, the experience was astonishing. Suddenly, everything went dark, and we couldn't believe it. We removed our safety glasses and began gazing at the eclipse; it looked almost apocalyptic. I had never seen anything like it. We were completely mesmerized and couldn't take our eyes off it. The event left a lasting impression on me, making me appreciate the perfection of our universe and how fortunate we are to witness such moments. It was one of the most unique experiences of my life.

The boys, just before the stunning eclipse totality.

Eclipse shot from my medium format camera

As soon as the eclipse ended, we were jolted back to reality and realized it was time to head home. We wanted to get a head start, but everyone else had the same idea, making it feel like a race to leave as quickly as possible. We set off, and Google Maps estimated a 3 1/2 hour drive. Excited, we even started planning to grab a drink that night after returning the car. However, our happiness quickly faded when an accident was reported ahead, and our estimated arrival time kept increasing. It was then that we realized it was going to be a long drive home.

Traffic on our way back

After three hours, we should have been close to Boston, but we were still somewhere in Vermont, unsure of our exact location. We were exhausted, and Sebas was struggling to stay awake, so we decided to switch drivers. I wish I could have captured the perfect sunset we saw. I decided to leave the highway and drive along a river. Although the road was very curvy and poorly lit, it saved us a lot of time and allowed us to explore small towns in New Hampshire. We drove for another four hours, which felt much longer than it actually was.

Somehow we made it back to Boston pretty late at night, dropped the boys near North End, and Sebas, and I drove the car back. It took us a long time to give the car back, and ended up going back to our apartment pretty late at night. I took the greatest shower ever, and went to bed. One of the best sleeps of my life.

Next day I had Astronomy class, and of course I had to go. I was exhausted from such an adventure, but I was very happy. It is not my first time camping at all, but it was my first time going somewhere I’ve never been, with no plans at all, we just rented a car and decided to go.

After sharing all of the stories with prof. Andrade-Santos (context in the cosmic camp pt.1 blog) He invited the class to the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Prof. Felipe Andrade-Santos

Visiting this place was magical for me; it felt incredible to be somewhere so special. I can hardly believe the amazing places I've had the opportunity to visit in just a few years. It’s surreal to see a building full of people studying day and night, striving to understand our universe and how our planet works.

A very old telescope

This experience was truly special to me. Life's routine often interferes with our dreams. As a child, I dreamed of going on endless adventures when I grew up, but life has a way of getting in the way. Still, I encourage you to plan a spontaneous adventure, leaving with no set plans. Stepping out of my comfort zone was the highlight of my trip. The uncertainty of not having a place to sleep added an exciting layer to the journey, and witnessing the eclipse felt almost spiritual. It made me acutely aware of how brief our time on this planet is and reminded me of the importance of making the most of every moment we have.

I hope you enjoyed this two-part story as much as I enjoyed the adventure itself. I also hope it inspires you to embrace spontaneity in your own life. Most of the photos were captured on 35mm and 120mm film. If you're interested in prints, feel free to reach out to me at: mrjoeycamps@gmail.com

Until the next adventure

- Joey

PHOTOGRAPHY SHOT BY: JOEY CAMPS WITH A 1972 CANONET QL17GIII (KODAK PORTRA 400 +1 STOP), A MAMIYA RB67 (CINESTILL 800T) AND AN IPHONE 13