On Sunday morning, Cindy and I drove into downtown Charleston to attend Sunday morning worship at St. Michael’s Church, a vibrant Anglican Church which worships in a beautiful building dating from the 1700s. We normally attend St. Phillip’s when in Charleston, but based on the recommendations of friends in Lakeland, we decided to visit St. Michael’s. The service was beautiful from beginning to end. What a wonderful morning!

Walking up Meeting Street to St. Michael’s for Sunday morning service.

St. Michael’s Spire.

Cindy loves these window planters filled with flowers throughout the city.

St. Michael’s Altar with an awesome St. Michael’s stained glass window in the apse.

There was a double baptism during the service. These two babies were so cute. The little boy on the left (Sebastian) “sang” at the top of his lungs during the service. 🙂

St. Michael’s Interior

Graveyard at St. Michael’s, containing two signers of the U. S. Constitution, John Rutledge and Charles Pinckney.

Swinging on a Sunday afternoon at our RV site at the Charleston KOA

On Monday, we had our good friend, Justin, over to our RV for a total solar eclipse party (Shera was visiting her daughter, Megan, in Jacksonville). The eclipse was to begin around 1:15 or so. Just five minutes before the expected start we caught the last glimpse of the sun we would have from our vantage point in North Charleston. Dark, thick clouds moved in obscuring our view of the sky. We waited for a few moments before realizing that the odds of us now seeing the eclipse were slim to none. After checking the satellite cloud cover on Accuweather, we decided to jump in the truck and drive northward as fast as allowable in an attempt to escape the coastal clouds and rain. About 40 miles later, we exited I-26 and pulled off into a weigh-station to view the eclipse. By then, the moon had covered nearly 1/2 the sun (visible, of course, only through the special eclipse glasses). We watched for a few moments before realizing the clouds were encroaching on our view at the weigh-station. So, we jumped back in the truck for another 10-mile ride, where we pulled over to watch the rest of the eclipse. How thankful we were! (We actually had to move once more — another five miles up the road.)

In the RV, ready for the eclipse! (Which never would have been visible at our location)

Cindy and Justin watching the eclipse unfold.

Cindy and I watching the eclipse.

People were parked along the sides of the road to observe this celestial phenomenon.

There was no noticeable difference in the brightness of our surroundings as the moon steadily nibbled away at the sphere of the sun; that is, until there was just a sliver of sun left. Then, weirdly, twilight began in the middle of the afternoon. Soon, totality occurred and the surreal darkness descended. It wasn’t as black as the middle of the night, but it was definitely an unnatural darkness. For the two minutes of totality, we could shed our glasses and stare at the sun, it was truly a spiritual, transcendent experience. Tears flowed as I beheld this glorious total eclipse of the sun. Although some may see it as a cosmic coincidence, I see it as a grand gift from our Creator. The odds of even the possibility of a solar eclipse visible from the surface of any planet are exceedingly small. In order for a total solar eclipse to occur, the sun and the moon (the eclipsing body) must have the exact same apparent size to a viewer on the surface of the planet. It just so happens that our sun is 400 times larger than our moon… and is also 400 times further away than the moon, meaning they have the exact same apparent size and enabling us to see this amazing astrological event. Just over two minutes after totality began, the sun peaked out from the other side of the moon. Shortly thereafter, we hopped back in the truck and drove the 50 mile-trip back to the Charleston KOA and our RV, where there was nothing but thick cloud cover, rain and thunderstorms. We were so glad we hopped in our vehicle in pursuit of blue skies and the sun! Our chase of the sun only enhanced our fun for the day.

The eclipse is underway! I took all photos other than during totality by putting an eclipse glasses lens over the camera lens.)

And it progresses…

The last sliver before totatlity.

Tailgate down for the eclipse.

Totality!!!

Darkness descended in the middle of the afternoon.

Totally blown away!

Watching the eclipse in the dark at 2:50 in the afternoon.

Totality has past and the sun begins to peek from the other side of the moon.

It’s amazing how little of the sun has to be showing to brighten the day.

Driving the 50 miles back to Charleston. If we had not decided to drive northward, we would have seen nothing but clouds and rain.

This morning, we’re packing things up for the beginning of our journey northward! Next stop: North Carolina.

Grilling steaks, corn, and asparagus in the rain after the eclipse — Our post-eclipse celebration with Justin.