There was something else that happened on top of that bald that was just as remarkable as the eclipse. Difficult to explain—we started up the trail early and after a four mile hike in the woods, we turned from the AT onto a field which lead to Silers bald. Before us was a United-Nations/Woodstock-like-science-convention-summit-rivival-meeting-jamboree-family-picnic where dreadlocked dudes, doctors, dweebs, dorks and the good ole boy found common ground. Yesterday, we lived where divides, sides and opinions were as important as a spec of dust. That was just as refreshing and awe-inspriing as the eclipse.