After a while of driving, there is a tiny sliver of clear sky on the northern horizon in the direction we are heading. As we drive it ever so gradually creeps up higher into the sky, until finally the entire half of the sky in the direction we are heading is totally clear. I have a goofy grin on my face and tears in my eyes as we pass a remarkably distinct line separating the sky into totally cloudy and totally clear halves. The entire bus full of people breaks into spontaneous cheers and applause as we break into the clear skies and the Sun comes out. I think for a moment about those poor suckers back at the hotel with the clouds.
Nothing goes wrong on the ride to the centerline.
The bus does not break down. There are no wrecks blocking the road. In fact, the road is nearly deserted of traffic. There is no mass migration from California of hippies coming to see the eclipse at the last moment. After several hours of driving, we arrive at the centerline observing site.