Meteor showers of 2001
Anatomy of a Ride
Nov 17, 2001
13:00
I had to check specs on an IC for a project that I was building. When MSN site came out as the default URL, I had noticed the news about meteor showers. I was mildly interested.
14:00
I came downstairs to eat my lunch and caught TV report about meteor showers again. News people were making it a big deal. It seemed like these things don't happened too often.
14:30
I was working on my electronics project as I was toying with an idea to take a ride and watch the showers from some mountain. The best place would be Acadia, since light pollution is very low, the tourist season is over and I wanted to see sunrise from the Cadillac Mountain again. I am thinking about packing a tent and camping in the evening and watching the sunrise as I did before. Time is short however, and the peak of showers will occur at 5am.
15:00
I had to come upstairs to hookup DAQ to my computer and to see if my GSR was working. Meanwhile, I was surfing the net and trying to find out more about meteor showers. After a little while, it became a certainty that I am going to see the showers in Acadia. I also had an idea to try some night photography. I read all about it, but never tried it before. Everything was becoming clear as plans were taking shape.
15:30
I'm running around the house trying to find things. I got my Army parka, since I remember how cold it was on top of the Cadillac Mt. this spring. The wind was icy cold and it blew at an unbelievable rate. Even while wearing glasses, looking into the wind would make your eyes water in an instant. I finally found my tripod, but could not find the piece that attaches camera to the tripod. I ran into my basement and started making the piece from scraps of steel and aluminum blocks.
16:30
After several unsuccessful designs, I was able to fashion a holder that would attach camera to the tripod. Now I was in business. I hoped into my car and run into Ames to get some film, then unto the supermarket for energy bars, then into bank to get cash. Now, I realize that there is not way in hell I would make it to Acadia by midnight, so the trip had to be directly to the site without sleep. If I leave in the eve, I'd arrive in the morning just in time to take my position and get ready for the show.
18:00
I finally got home and the preparation for the second stage of the trip had begun. I was looking into finding things around my house that would go beyond mere survival. I was able to find more warm clothing, but not everything I wanted for the bike trip. I also was short on 400 film (I had none), which I thought I had and now could not find. My neck warmer was gone and so all the winter gloves.
19:00
By now I was barely able to put basic necessities together and got my bags and gear into one place, downstairs. However, I was missing all maps that I used to have. I started to cook dinner, while periodically taking a leave to check different places in my house for maps. In the process I was able to find things I was looking for earlier, which is always a bonus.
20:00
With almost all gear packed together, I was eating dinner and watching TV. As vegetative mood was taking over, couch was becoming more comfy and I started to doze off. I had very little sleep in the past three days in the row and I was not looking forward to skipping sleep tonight.
21:00
I realize that I need to leave ASAP, since it takes about 6 hours to get to Acadia. The only problem I see is that I will be cutting it short and I still don't have the route to Acadia worked out. Since I will be travelling all night, it's crucial to make sure that I go through places with gas stations open. If any leg of the trip is longer than 140-150mi without gas I'll be dead in the water. Although, this seems trivial, you would be surprised how few gas places you may find open at 2-3am.
21:30
I get all my gear to "launch position" and hang riding gear up. At this point I look over everything: things to survive (warm things), things that would accomplish the mission (camera, film), credit cards, luxury (water, food.)
22:00
I'm stuck watching a movie and suddenly get another idea. I had never gone to the Mt. Washington. I heard that one might drive there, way up to the top. It's also closer than Acadia. I figure that it be about 150mi one way trip. This suits me just fine. Besides the route is very straight forward, along 93 with rest stations. I finally find my atlas and get directions, although it's not clear where the access road is. I figure that I would take 3 to 302 and than take some no-name backroad to the mountain. I hope that there are signs nearby that would tell me further instructions. This is the type of thinking that got me into troubles many times before. 5 min spent at home to investigate a potential problem could result in 2-3 hours of detours, lost time and frustration, trying to reach the objective.
23:00
The news report tells me that the next meteor shower of this magnitude will be in 2099. This means that I'm going even if I have to push my motorcycle along. I get excited at the prospect of my ride. I get my butt off the couch and go through the gear check again. Then packing begins.
23:30
I'm only partially dressed in riding gear, to keep from sweating as I roll the bike out and attach the bags. Finally I say my last good byes and make necessary entries in my ride log. I hop on the bike and turn the key: "Gmm gmm gmmm gmmm …. " The bike is very cold. At this point temperature dropped -3 C. Battery is cold and would not start. I try again with similar results. I take off my bulky riding gloves, check high idle and get ready to start. I realize that at this temperature I don't have full battery potential. You would be surprised how easy it is to kill battery on a bike even during slightly chilly weather. My fear is that I don't have time to screw up, I need to leave now. Also in my BMW jumping a battery requires long process of taking body panel off. I'm not thrilled at a prospect of working half a dozen tiny allen screws with frozen fingers. Also jump starting the bike from the roll is not that easy, it's heavy and huge and those two cold cylinders would not cooperate. I try to start again; it fires and dies as RPMs go up. I repeat and bike does the same thing. Third time was a charm with initial RPMs low; I revved it up after firing and let it idle.
23:45
There is only one gas station near me that stays open all night. As I pull in, entire crew of attendants comes out of the warm building to check out my bike. Few guys stare with intensity at various parts, like medical examiners looking for clues at the crime scene. They say nothing and ask nothing, just blank faces of surprise and bewilderment.
23:55
I leave finally. It's a short trip down to the 95 along already deserted Main Street in Waltham. Having my riding gear on me for so long makes me sweat and I don't even turned my heated gear on. Rush of cold wind is very welcomed as I roll onto the onramp.
November 18, 2001
01:21
I stop in Laconia to gas up. I remember this place during annual Laconia rally - billions of bikes everywhere, chrome, exhaust fumes, racket of Harleys, bikes pulling in and out of gas stations. Now I feel as though I'm in the Twilight Zone, few dim lights mark an open gas station in the middle of dark wasteland.
02:18
I take exit 32 to top off shortly after Laconia. I have a feeling that this is my last opportunity to get gas. As I take exit 35 I can't find the backroad just past Fabyan that would take me directly to Mt. Washington. I continue on 302 all the way South to 16 and then up north. I am frustrated to take this detour, constantly looking at the clock. As I ride, I see meteors shooting down from the sky right in front of me. At times, it's almost scary. I see cars parked on the side of the road with people staring up above.
04:15
I finally arrive to the access road that would take me to the top. To my surprise it's closed. For a few minutes I looked for a way around the gate which is locked with a formidable chain and heavy padlock. At this time I decide to ride south until I could find a spot of my own on the side of the road.
04:30
I jump off my bike and change into my Polar gear. Then I setup my tripod and accessories. Meteors appear all over the sky. I try to guess where they come up next as I experiment with exposure. It's not easy catching a meteor on film. Some of them leave huge trail in the sky, just like a rocket with glittering tail that points into direction in which the head had disappeared.
I got a few good pictures. Here is one just before the sunrise. Actually you may see the glow of the sun that had already risen from the horizon far away. Meteor is passing near Draco's head. This is the same picture with constellations and some stars labeled.
I also experimented with light painting. The idea is to open shutter and then for a period of time turn on a flashlight to illuminate some objects. This way, there is not only sky on the background, but also something in front as well. Here I "paint" my bike with southern sky as a background. You may see Sirius, Orion's' "Greater Dog."
06:30
At this point there is nothing to photograph. I saddle up and take 112 back to 95. It's a very scenic route. I am almost embarrassed that I did not know about it before. I had to stop at info center on my way to take 5-min nap and to have sour candy to wake up before heading to Boston. Approaching Mass border, it's too late in the morning, my body helps me not to loose my mind and to stay awake.
11:00
Home sweet, home. I pass out 'til 18:00.
