Path Of Partiality: Portlanders Celebrate Solar Eclipse

By Kristian Foden-Vencil (OPB)
Portland, Oregon Aug. 21, 2017 12:47 p.m.

Librarian Matt Stefanik decided to enjoy the eclipse from the comfort of his inner tube in downtown Portland.

The Human Access Project organized an eclipse viewing on the Willamette River.

Shawn First blows up her friend's water float before the start of the eclipse.

Portlanders sit along the Tom McCall Waterfront Park to enjoy the eclipse.

Eclipse watchers turn their heads to the sky during 99 percent totality.

Portlanders gathered at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park to watch the eclipse.

Hundreds of people lined the waterfront to watch the eclipse.

Portlanders enjoy the partial eclipse while jamming to eclipse playlists.

Eclipse watchers take selfies at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Thousands of people gathered Monday along Portland's downtown harbor wall and in the Willamette River to see the solar eclipse.

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Perhaps 100 people took to the water for the show. They were on inner-tubes, life preservers and paddle boards to view the celestial event.

The crowd sang "You Are My Sunshine" and howled at the moon as the partial eclipse took place in Portland — adding to the confusion of many pets.

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Local costume designer Lisa Taylor said all the talk of traffic kept her in town, where she felt 99.3 percent of totality was probably good enough.

Costume designer Lisa Taylor helps her friend try and get a good picture of the solar eclipse on a dock in downtown Portland.

Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB

As the city went dark, the streetlights turned on and the air cooled noticeably.

“It’s beautiful and the light, you cannot describe the way the city looks in this light. It’s eerie," Taylor said. "It’s like in the morning just before the sun rises.”

Some people complained their eclipse glasses fell-off easily, causing them to glance at the sun.

But apart from a few temporary eye splotches, spirits were high and no one appeared to have any immediate vision damage.

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