Carhenge attracts masses for solar eclipse

The small man-made tourist attraction, just north of Alliance, became the temporary stop for thousands, Monday.
Carhenge was built in 1987 by artist Jim Reinders, as a tribute to his recently passed father, according to Carhenge’s official website. The original circle structure, made of 39 classic cars coated in gray paint, offered the perfect viewing spot for those willing to bear the traffic.
Reinders, along with his fan posse, filled the parking area with travel vans and SUVs, all with markings to signify they were with “The Creator.”
When the moon first “touched” the sun, around 10:30 a.m., the still-gathering crowd cheered and clapped, building the enthusiasm and excitement for the mysterious, captivating event.
Solar eclipses are rare, but a total solar eclipse, crossing through the heart of the United States? That is a once in a lifetime event. In fact the last time it happened was nearly 100 years ago on June 8, 1918, when a solar eclipse crossed from Washington to Florida.
Never experiencing an event like this, I armed myself with a small camera, and a notepad, and a slight (major) hope that a cult of foil-headed crazies would gather in a circle and chant to an unknown overlord waiting to be raptured or abducted by an extra-terrestrial being.
To my dismay, no such groups appeared, only tripods with expensive cameras and telescopes, the occasional dancing naturalist with a hula-hoop, and a few pairs of individuals wearing costumes, making the event have a slight comic-con feel. A pair of “aliens” walking around drew the attention of the majority of smart phones looking to take the perfect selfie with the “fourth kind.”
As the eclipse progressed, a strange haze fell upon the area, creating suspense as the excited crowd waited for totality. Dogs began to grow anxious, spinning in circles and releasing the slight bark of confusion.
The brief moment of silence was quickly dissipated by the growing roar of the crowd as darkness fell upon the rusting automotive display of art.
Totality.
As I tried to capture the perfect image of the giddy onlookers, I glanced up and stared right at the glowing ring in the sky. The crowd amplified as they were encompassed in near darkness during the middle of an average August day.
Just as the noise began to fall, a faint voice from the crowd yelled, “There it is, there is the diamond.” The crowd yelled again, beholding the phase just after totality that reveals the first rays of the sun, mimicking the shine from a bright diamond ring.
The next total solar eclipse is in 2024, but will mainly cross the eastern part of the U.S. I, a previous skeptic of the events true awe effect, highly recommend at least attempting to place yourself in its path of totality.