The build-up to the main event ...

Canadian eclipse opthalmology guru Ralph Chou, shown on the right in the left picture together with two crazy Americans (I first met on a 2005 eclipse cruise) who always bring new masks to each eclipse; in the right picture they are seen with Ed Krupp from Griffith Observatory - and there were scores more of international "eclipse celebrities" on this spot that day.

We're getting ready while the weather takes an ominous turn - with a substantial dust devil in the distance and clouds forming (instead of dissipating) right where the eclipsed Sun is expected to stand.

While Chinese (and other) TV folks are setting up, we host some local visitors - seen against the backdrop of the mostly clear sky in the other direction, East.

A quarter hour or so before totality the Sun is finally swallowed up by the broken clouds though often seen - perfectly "filtered" - through them. The question was: Would the Sun emerge at the right moment?

Waiting for a miracle - which comes here (as everyone knows by now)!