Eclipse watchers in Pendleton reflect on memorable experience

Apr. 8—PENDLETON — As darkness fell over Mystic Waters Campground, the strains of Simon and Garfunkel's 1965 smash hit "The Sounds of Silence" — featuring the iconic opening lyrics, "Hello, darkness, my old friend" — could be heard.

Mingled with cheers from a crowd of more than 300 campers who had gathered to witness a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon, the song captured a moving sense of community among the spectators, some of whom had traveled from as far away as Nebraska for the experience.

"It's incredible," Julie Smith said as she removed her eclipse viewing glasses after briefly watching the disk of the sun shrink as the eclipse approached totality.

"To share it with my friends and my son, it's just unbelievable. It's overwhelming. It almost makes you feel like you want to tear up, because you're doing this with so many other people across America."

The campground had been fully booked for six months prior to Monday's eclipse, according to owner Lisa Holverson. Business related to the eclipse had been brisk, with her staff members stocking eclipse-themed T-shirts and other collectibles.

Holverson hadn't heard many complaints about traffic along nearby Interstate 69, but she noted that for people leaving afterward, logistics could become complicated.

"I keep looking out the window at the interstate to see if it's slowing down, but it hasn't really been a big issue," Holverson said. "I will say that our last guests to check in last night were coming in from Chicago, and they said it took them eight hours to get here where it was a three-hour trip."

Some spectators said they were taken aback by the emotions that washed over them as the eclipse reached its apex.

"Events like this bring people together, and it's the cutest thing watching everybody react to it," said Cait Throop, who drove with friends from Indianapolis to witness the eclipse. "Humans really are so simple when you think about it. ... This was a super crazy experience, completely unreal. It was beautiful. I cried."

Other viewing sites in and around Pendleton attracted eclipse watchers as well. Authorities weren't anticipating significant problems with traffic. Pendleton Police Chief Marc Farrer noted that, since the town had not actively publicized many events, he expected a relatively smooth experience for those visiting from out of town.

"Everything really is going smoothly," Farrer said late Monday afternoon. "The amount of out-of-town traffic was minimal, and things are moving along well."

Community Sports and Wellness hosted an informal watch party, with patrons invited to use the facility's parking lot to view the eclipse. Turnout was light, but the experience, officials said, was memorable.

"Some people drove out here from New Castle to play pickleball and then stay for the view," said Skye Huff, director of marketing and memberships at Community Sports & Wellness. "It was pretty low-key, but it was also an amazing time to be able to spend together. It didn't disappoint."

Smith, like several other viewers at Mystic Waters, were moved to tears by the experience.

"I like that a lot of people across America are doing this all together," she said. "There's something powerful about being a small part of something that's so big."

Follow Andy Knight on Twitter @Andrew_J_Knight, or call 765-640-4809.