Expectations were low in the Chatfield Eclipse Expedition to Normandy because of the appalling weather of August 10th. The sky in England was overcast, and although it cleared a bit in mid-channel, as we headed towards Rouen conditions were even worse than back in Blighty, with waves of rain sweeping up from the south. The forecast for August 11th was pessimistic. At sunrise on the day, the sky was almost covered by altocumulus and ragged cumulus, but there were a few clear places. As we sat in a traffic jam in Rouen the sky cleared remarkably, and we were well roasted. Thanks to the jam, we missed first contact, and the eclipse had been in progress for about 10 minutes when we parked on a country road just outside Totes with a few other eclipse chasers. The weather had changed again. The Chatfields, after a little spat, set up their eclipse watching gear - telescope, camcorder, cameras, Mylar goggles -and began to watch, thinking they knew what to expect
Click here to watch La Nuit - a film about my eclipse expedition to Normandy
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