Written by Jared Whichard
My favorite place to relax and watch the sunset and stars come out is by the fireplace next to the lake. There are countless reasons why, but I can’t imagine anywhere more peaceful than looking out across McWain. This spring, we were lucky to witness two incredible events in the sky. On April 8th, we saw over 98% coverage during the eclipse, and on May 10th, the Aurora Borealis put on a stunning light show! I’m already looking forward to more starry nights and celestial wonders by the lake.
Even though total eclipse viewing was less than an hour away, I couldn’t resist the chance to experience almost-total coverage right in our own backyard. After building a tiny 6-inch snowman with the last patches of snow, we put on welding helmets and launched a canoe onto the lake. Watching me paddle while wearing a welding helmet was probably more entertaining than the eclipse photos I managed to take from the unsteady boat. Still, it was an unforgettable experience. If you saw it, you know—the sky went dark! The afternoon light dimmed to dusk, the air cooled, and the crickets began to chirp.
The second event was even more magical for me. I started a campfire early, hoping to return later and catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights after 11 pm. As the sun set behind Rice Hill, we began to see movement in the sky. With friends gathered around the fire, we compared views and took pictures of the stunning greens, blues, and pinks that lit up the night.
Can’t wait for more star-filled nights and sky shows by the lake!
