ESSEX JUNCTION — Andy Hayden and Ikue Suzuki watched the eclipse together in Hayden’s backyard in Essex Junction, expressing lots of “wows” as the sun disappeared and then slid back out.
Hayden noted that the temperature changed rapidly, from about 17 to 13 degrees Celsius. At totality, their solar lights flicked on, creating shadows, and their dogs began shivering.
“It’s worth taking the afternoon off, that’s for sure,” Hayden said. “It made Monday feel like a Friday.”
His brother, Douglas, came up from Danbury, Connecticut, for the backyard viewing party.
“I’m glad I came. I’ve never seen a total solar eclipse so I thought why not,” he said.
Just after totality ended, he streamed the Bonnie Taylor classic “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”
