'So lucky:' Eclipse watchers reflect from Essex County, the first in Canada to see totality

There was shock, awe and"eerie" feelings as peopleflocked to Point Pelee National Park to take in a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse in Essex County, Ont.

And the spectators said they weren't disappointed.

"Oh my gosh, that was the wildest thing I've ever seen. That is just incredible. It was better than I was expecting. Very emotional," said Andromeda Dean from Windsor.She noted her astronomical name, given to her by her dad.

"My dad was into astronomy. So this is what he was all about. I wish he was here to share this moment with me, but this is just an extraordinary event and I'm so glad that I was alive in this lifetime to experience it.

"Wow, I feel so lucky."

Much of southwestern Ontario experienced the eclipse from about 1:58 p.m. to 4:28 p.m. ET with totality taking place between 3:12 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. While Windsor wasn't in the path of totality, the city experienced about 99.5 per cent of the eclipse.

Jonah McLaren drove from Everett, Ont., to take in the ellipse from Point Pelee.

"The feeling of it is just something. It's eerie. Like, kind of scary, but like, amazing all at the same time," he said.

Crowds hoping for the best view of the eclipse flocked to southern Essex County, including Kingsville, Pelee Island and Point Pelee National Park, the first locations in Canada to be in the path of totality.

The national park reached capacity early in the day, and Ontario Provincial Police warned that traffic was expected to be heavy throughout the day as visitors and locals alike took in the eclipse.

Eclipse watchers crowd into Point Pelee National Park

6 months ago

Duration 4:18

Point Pelee National Park has hit capacity hours before the total solar eclipse is set to take place. CBC's Chris Ensing was on hand early to catch the eager spectators heading in.

Andrew Laforet is the outreach coordinator at Point Pelee for Parks Canada. He said thatwhile many people were hoping to get to the top of Point Pelee, the view was excellent from much of the park.

"I would say it is definitely a magical point in space, so it's it would be a cool spot to be," Laforet said. "I'm going to be at the visitor centre and I'm going to enjoy it every bit as much.

"Everywhere in the park is the path of totality. So anywhere along our nice, long beach, even out in the parking lot, you're going to get that show that you're looking for."

Medina Shuti woke up at 6:30 a.m. to drive from Macomb County, Mich., to Point Pelee National Park to witness totality. She and some others came prepared with badminton, pickle ball and a picnic to pass the time before the eclipse.

"[Totality is] a beautiful, natural, wonderful thing to see," Shuti told CBC Windsor while lined up to get into Point Pelee National Park. "Fingers crossed we [get in]. I hope we didn't wake up that early for nothing."

Police latersaid the park has reached capacity and are advising those headed to the national park to make alternate plans.

Tickets to board the Pelee Island ferry also sold out days ago.

Explaining the solar eclipse and where to get the best view in Essex County

6 months ago

Duration 2:23

Meg Roberts, host of CBC Windsor News at 6, breaks down what happens during the solar eclipse on April 8.

Philip Schmidt, a veteran eclipse watcher from London, Ont., said he and his wife were able to get last-minute tickets for the ferry, but will have to spend the night at a hotel on the island before returning to the mainland in the morning as they were unable to get their hands on returning ferry passes.

Though this will be Schmidt's fourth eclipse, the event never gets old for him.

"It's like God turns a dimmer switch on the world. Each time, it's a magical, wonderful moment," he said.

Health unit warns of need for eye protection

Public health officials urged that people needed to wear special eclipse glasses to protect their eyesight throughout the event.

That means safe solar eclipse viewers or filters that meet international standard ISO 12312-2.

Without protection, viewing the eclipse means serious eye damage, including including retinal burns, temporary or permanent vision loss and blurred vision, according to the health unit.

How to safely watch the total solar eclipse in Windsor-Essex

7 months ago

Duration 1:26

Tom Sobocan, public relations director for the Royal Astronomical Society's Windsor group, explains where and how to watch the eclipse on April 8.

Cheryl Lucier of Lakeshore knows that as much as anyone. She burned her retinas while watching a sunrise last November.

The brilliant red sunrise brought a smile to her face at first as she watched it but after only a few seconds, Lucier said, three tiny holes formed in her retina and she saw "black curtains start to close" over her left eye.

"I had studied diseases of the eye in school," Lucier told Windsor Morning on Monday.

"I knew that if that curtain completely closed, my retina would be detached and I would be completely blind."

Lucier was able to get to a hospital and have eye surgery within five hours of the incident, though she still suffers blindness in her left eye and has not been able to drive since. She hopes that with further surgeries her vision will be restored soon.

"I want to tell everybody never, ever look at the sun without protecting your eyes. Because vision is a gift we have, and it can be lost in just a few seconds," said Lucier.