On August 11 2026, we made the trip down from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pampluña, then Logroño in Spain to live the eclipse on the path of the shadow of the Moon. I had selected several spots, and decided on Villamediana de Iregua, with a top terrace and an excellent view on the west and north-west. The place is on the hillside of the plateau sculpted by the Ebre and the Iregua, with bodegas burrowing everywhere.
On 12 we had booked a table at the nice (air-conditioned) restaurant La Moncloa for the afternoon at Villamediana de Iregua, and I started to unpack my things around 5pm at the promontory. Storm clouds were gathering on the distant mountains, but I had calculated that the eclipse would probably end before they could hide it. It was really satisfying to see the view matched the expectations!
With more than forty degrees and a dessicating wind that felt like a convecting oven, what a pleasant surprise to see there was music and beer planned there! The place quickly became a happy gathering eagerly waiting for the celestial event! Cameras, zooms and tripods popped around, and my equatorial mount felt less lonely!
My spanish was rusty as in not-used-for-two-decades, but the exchanges were quite friendly. Community built on the spot around the same interests!
The decrease of luminosity was impressive, as was the (slight) decrease in sun heat. Totality was a suspended instant, baked in shadowy gold tones that are unique to that moment. One minute and a half is soooo short!
With two instruments on the field, which worked nearly flawlessly, I have quite a lot of data to process yet. I should be able to produce a nice fresco until dusk.
Of course, pictures are quite important for the hobby, but living the moment was particularly moving.
Time then to pack up as we headed back directly to Saint Jean Pied de Port with so many souvenirs in the eyes and in the heads… Thanks for the (very) warm welcome Villamediana de Iregua! How unforgettable that was!
