Total solar eclipse draws far-away visitors to Headlands Beach State Park - News-Herald
Lisa Barnes recalls that after waking up from a nap in the early 1960s in Akron, it was dark outside.
“There was an eclipse and it just seemed so surreal,” said the Akron native, who relived the experience all over again with her husband, Chuck Babbitt, at Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor on April 8.
The couple traveled from Philadelphia to view the total solar eclipse, which won’t occur in Cleveland, Akron and other parts of Northeast Ohio until 2444, according to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
“I haven’t been to Lake Erie since I was 5,” Barnes said. “It’s just awesome to be here.”
People within a 124-mile-wide band in Ohio were able to experience the total solar eclipse, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Only having been to Ohio once briefly, the much anticipated event not only allowed for Babbitt to see a total solar eclipse for the first time, but also allowed him to make a first-time visit to Lake Erie.
I’ve been a photographer my whole life,” he said as he stood next to his Nikon Z9, which had an 800 millimeter lens on it. “I’m a wildlife photographer primarily, but this is perfect. I’ve never seen one before.”
Prior to the eclipse, the couple relocated to Philly from Hawaii to take care of Barnes’ mother. The two met each other in high school.
“My mom went to Case Western Reserve and my dad went to Ohio State,” Barnes said. “I met him (Babbitt) in high school and then I moved to New York City. He was in Hawaii. I stalked him online because I had a crush on him in high school. I moved to Hawaii to be with him, then he came with me to go to Pennsylvania to take care of mom.”
When Babbitt wanted to travel to Ohio for the eclipse, Barnes jumped on board.
“He knew that this would be one of the best places to be — over the lake because the cloud coverage wouldn’t be that bad,” she said. “When he said he wanted to go to Ohio, I was like yes. I really wanted to come back.”
Additionally, two brothers who reside near the Pittsburgh area decided to venture to Headlands for the eclipse.
“We came here because we live close by,” said Aaron McNry, who was in attendance with Mark McNry. “We wanted to go somewhere that’s a big landmark to experience the solar eclipse.”
The McNrys had in tow with them a Celestron Inspire 90AZ.
“This is my dad’s telescope he’s had for about five years,” Aaron said. “I attached a solar filter and my DSLR to take shots with it. I’ve taken pictures of the moon before and I’ve tried to look for that green comet we’ve had a couple years ago. It’s a hit or miss whenever it comes to celestial viewing. Regardless if it was cloudy or not, we were going to make it here anyways.”
Astro photography has always been an interest of Aaron’s, having taken photos of stars and the Milky Way previously, but this was the first solar eclipse he’s ever witnessed.
For Mark, he described himself as being his brother’s “equipment guy.” He has always liked Lake Erie and was excited to get out to the area to experience something that’s phenomenal, he said.
“Get it while it’s here,” Mark said.