By John Rowntree

Photos by John and Roberta Rowntree, Greg and Andrea Stidsen, Steve Perry, Beverley Fisher, Chris Currier, John Pulsifer, Paul Leone, Dan Donovan, and Nick & Robin D'Eri

SOMEHOW, SCIENTISTS KNOW YEARS IN ADVANCE when there will be a solar eclipse, what locations will be in the path of totality, and even what time that will occur. News began leaking around the summer of 2023, prompting us to Google to find the path that included Northern New England. Discussions began in August, and we quickly determined that there was interest in an event to travel north. Our chapter President, Greg Stidsen, owns a vacation home in Barlett, NH, so it made sense to make that area our target for hotels and restaurants, even though totality was to land about an hour’s drive farther north. A quick look at the NASA map showed that the southern boundary included Milan, NH. Of course, that’s where we will go!

This is New England, where we say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 20 minutes.” Planning several months in advance for a phenomenon that will last a couple of minutes? The early pessimistic weather pros advised that the Northeast is historically likely to be in cloud cover, and in fact the ten-day forecast projected an 80% cloud cover. Well, we could set a rain date … for 2044!

That made the two-day trip planning equally important. We would recommend that folks arrive on Sunday to avoid traffic, and we could gather somewhere and then grab dinner as a group. On Monday, the Stidsens would host coffee and snacks before we left as group for a scenic drive. We had advised our members by email that hotels probably would be booked in advance. Over time, we were able to communicate with 16 club members who we knew were planning to join us Sunday and/or Monday. With family members, that made a total of 34 people.

Oh, and then, four days before the eclipse, new maps were released with a revised projected path of totality. For our target, the path moved northward about five miles to exclude all of Milan! And there is more: On Thursday before our trip, a foot or two of heavy, wet snow arrived. This made mud more likely, it being mud season. This fact kept many members’ Alfas in the garage, opting to drive a lesser car, maybe for 4-wheel drive and/or higher clearance. Kudos go to Mark and Ruth, who drove their 1971 Berlina 250 miles north from Cape Cod.

So on to the good news! The short-range forecast for Eclipse Day changed completely (not unusual in New England) to clear skies and 55 degrees! Based on our advanced scouting, we chose the village of Stark, just east of Milan, as our viewing spot, and sent word to everyone with a quick email. We gathered for a short “meet & greet” at the Grand Summit Hotel in Barlett at 4:30 on Sunday, and then proceeded to dinner as a hungry group of 24 Alfisti. Restaurants in this area do not take reservations, so we just figured, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Arriving at a nearby, busy Mexican restaurant, El Reparo, we were able to squeeze everyone into the parking lot. And with a short 20-minute wait, were all seated at tables near each other, where we enjoyed a delicious meal. 

On Monday, Eclipse Day, some of us met for coffee at the Stidsens’ before heading off for the scenic ride through the snow-covered White Mountains and the village of Bretton Woods, heading west and then north to Stark. Others found their own way to Stark. Two members were coming up just for the day and, while in the epic traffic jam, decided to choose other spots to view. They were with us in spirit and have provided some pictures of their experiences. John Pulsifer decided that the Groveton Speedway with food and facilities worked for him, and Christoper Currier stopped in Lancaster, NH, providing a quicker outlet when he headed home. 

Stark was magical as a backdrop, with its picture postcard scenery of white church, municipal hall, and covered bridge along the banks of the Upper Ammonoosuc River. We gathered and waited, snacking, visiting, and viewing the partial eclipse progress using our customized eclipse viewing glasses (ISO certified, of course).

As the pictures show, we divided into the group at the bridge and the group across the road on the hill. This resulted in great pictures looking up and down at each other. There were 26 of us together in Stark.

When we all floated back down to earth after the excitement of the two minutes of totality, we hung out watching the remaining partial eclipse before packing up. We visited Milan, on our way south, stopping to get a picture of the Milan Store and again at Milan’s claim to fame – the Nansen ski jump. 

And the plan was to gather for dinner. But when we left Milan and entered Berlin, the traffic stopped and proceeded ten feet / stop / merge / stop – for 15 miles that took 3 hours. Before we reached Gorham, we realized that restaurants would be closed, so we called off the group dinner. Some of the group headed home, which was an adventure with the massive crowds on the roads of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Most of us returned to our hotels Monday night and then were able to travel home at normal highway speeds on Tuesday. 

The full eclipse was breathtaking, spectacular, awe-inspiring. And a wonderful reason to gather together club members from New England for two days in April. 

AONE Eclipse Trippers

Alfas
Mark Patterson and Ruth Slocum - 1971 Berlina
Stephen and Nancy Perry – 21st century Giulia
Greg and Andrea Stidsen – 21st century Giulia
Paul and Cheryl Leone – 21st century Giulia

Nick and Robin D’Eri – 21st century Giulia

Lesser Cars
Beverley Fisher and Tina McCurdy with Kim Tschetter and Martin Ogwang
Frank, Karen, Axel, Inez and Zoe Anigbo
Jim Thompson and Donna Small
John and Roberta Rowntree
Fred Dalrymple and Andrea Medeiros
John and Lauren DeWaele
Dan and Deb Donovan
Tom and Liane Brooks

*John Pulsifer
*Christopher Currier
*Members who arrived on Monday, chose other locations to view, but with us in spirit