Clouds ruined Canada trip to see solar eclipse
‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY’ TURNED INTO ‘HOLIDAY FROM HELL’
A GROUP of Nottingham friends were left shaking their fists at the clouds over Niagara Falls after they ruined their “once in a lifetime” view of the solar eclipse.
Arthur Dury, a Sherwood resident who said he forked out £2,500 on the trip, described it as a “holiday from hell”.
“I came here pretty much exclusively for it and I didn’t see a single thing,” said the nurse and amateur stargazer. A total solar eclipse was seen across North America on Monday, April 8, from Mexico to the eastern tip of Canada.
However Arthur, along with his wife, close friends and thousands of other spectators, were only given a momentary glimpse at Niagara Falls. “It was cloudy, I saw the totality for about five seconds,” said the 27-year-old.
“We saw the place go dark, which was an interesting sensation, otherwise it was a bit of a disappointment.
“It was a nice atmosphere when it peeked through the clouds but when you see all the clips from places like Texas where it was clear blue sky it makes you green with envy.”
Arthur said he had been saving up for the holiday for a year and a half.
When you’ve travelled 3,000 miles and it doesn’t materialise it’s quite disappointing
Arthur Dury
“The prospect of seeing the solar eclipse was so exciting, it was a once-in-alifetime opportunity. “When you’ve travelled 3,000 miles and it doesn’t materialise it’s quite disappointing. I thought it would be the best day but it’s been the holiday from hell.”
Due to the world famous waterfalls being rammed with people, he said it then took hours to wait for a bus. “Every man and his dog was there. You have these big expectations but it always goes up the gutter.”
Arthur, who said the clouds had “put a dampener on the day” for the whole group, said they had other plans to help get over the disappointment. “We’re going to Montreal so it’s not all doom and gloom, it’s just a shame when these things happen.”