Weather is the hot topic as eclipse spectators stake out their spots in US, Mexico and Canada
solar eclipse for 21 years, prompting the weekend's worry and mad rush.
Monday's extravaganza stretches from Mexico's Pacific beaches to Canada's rugged Atlantic shores, with 15 US states in between.
«I have arrived in the path of totality!» Ian Kluft announced Sunday afternoon after pulling into Mesquite from Portland, Oregon, a 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) drive.
A total eclipse happens when the moon lines up perfectly between Earth and the sun, blotting out the sunlight. That means a little over four minutes of daytime darkness east of Dallas in Mesquite, where locals like Jorge Martinez have the day off. The land surveyor plans to «witness history» from home with his wife and their 3-year-old daughter, Nati.
«Hopefully, she'll remember. She's excited, too,» he said following breakfast at Dos Panchas Mexican Restaurant.
Inside the jammed restaurant, manager Adrian Martinez figured on staying open Monday.
«Wish it was going to be sunny like today,» he said. «But cloudiness? Hopefully, it still looks pretty good.»
Near Ennis, Texas, to the south, the Range Vintage Trailer Resort was also packed, selling out of spots more than a year ago.
«I booked it instantly, then I told my wife, We're going to Texas,'» Gotham, England's Chris Lomas said from the trailer resort Sunday. Even if clouds obscure the covered-up sun, «it will still go dark. It's just about sharing the experience with other people,» he added.
In Cleveland, the eclipse persuaded women's
