O M G It's a HUGGEEEE solar storm tonight!!!

Thinking of going out later tonight with cameras at the ready. I have never seen RED in the aurora activity maps ever before!!! Below are screen captures off my S5 of the app I use to determine whether we go/don't go to attempt "seeing" any auroras that might be floating around.

WE were in this area earlier this year!

It was here we watched the simmering night sky from a cabin

Upon arrival, this was my initial focusing image with light pillars at right

Second pix of the night with more light pillars

The smartphone app screen capture below shows the aurora map that we didn't see till we were nearly home at about 3am, Sunday morning (1 Sept). We had NO idea we had just departed our viewing area with another HOT red "excellent" (excellent being VERY dependent on your location!) zone of the aurora heading right to left and closer to where we were last night! Hours earlier, the red displayed below was even LARGER than pictured! Unfortunately, these areas most go to see/snap auroras are dead of data and/or phone service. While we were in the upper peninsular area of Michigan, we were basically without both data and cell reception within an hour of departing to the upper Peninsular, and within an hour and a half of returning to the greater Grand Rapids, Michigan from the upper Peninsular (UP), and it's a 3hour+ drive from where we were just to get to the bridge leading to the UP! 

I must say that in all of my few years of hunting the aurora and viewing such aurora data and pages displaying aurora maps like this below, I have NEVER seen RED at all! Really!

 

At least, we DID see the light pillars, which we have never seen previously! How was your luck if you are in a higher latitude area, and ventured out to try your luck?

Memories of Clouds and Sunset Heaven!

So we have returned earlier this afternoon from our latest trip, and it has been quite a trip! A lot of surprises, sadness, shock and sunsets....  say that quickly ten times! We are of course happy to be back, since there is no place like Home, but on the other hand, we are saddened by some revelations which has brought sadness to our hearts, minds and souls.

We will survive, but still, it's quite disappointing to know of these revelations, of which I will speak of no longer.....

On the other hand, we've met some people on the trip who brought a smile to our faces and a jump to our walk, while waiting for the departures of Tall Ships (olden-days sailing vessels) at Erie, PA. With no details of the vessels departing, nor even time of departure, we arrived very early in the morning to witness the lovely grand old ships, and were disappointed yet again to see one large sailing vessel had already departed!

We sat around watching several Eagles, a few Ospreys which we thought to be the same each time, and a variety of other birds! Turns out that only after six hours did we finally see a sailing vessel, then another, and finally followed by a few more. We were sad to see not even the host ship, the Brig Niagara of Erie didn't even bother to come out with the departing ships, but on the other hand, it costs time and money each time these ships leave and enter a port. We forgave them quickly!

I'll post a few pixs later but will leave these moments for you to enjoy now! It's been a looong three days on the road without a shower, plus the bed is calling!

THESE are signs I'd like to see MORE hanging everywhere!!

Odd sight of traveling horses on the WNY highways!

The lighthouse and sunset at Port Clinton, Ohio

Cloudy set at a Presque Isle State Park beach

Clouds as seen from the passenger side at 60mph

Clouds Clouds and clouds!

Valley of the Clouds!!

Through the windshield and not a drop - yet!

Can you tell it's sunset burning the clouds orange?