We were approximately 300 persons on a hill dominating the sea about 20 km of a lost small village, Cruz de Loreto. We reached this isolated place after having crossed a 20 meters width stream and to have fought 20 km of a rough gravel road more suitable for a 4WD instead of a Tracker I rented in Puerto Vallarta.

I thus said that this lost small village had never seen so many tourists in a so short lapse of time, and some échopes of the village had to make of bargains in this day of June 10th, 2002. This colorful crowd consisted mainly of Mexicans of the University of Guadalajara, of farmers of the neighborhood, American amateurs and some francophones including me.

The sky was cloudy at 90 % consisted of clouds of type alcocumulus. Sun turned up shyly the snout through, but we didn't see the first contact. A tiny break allowed us to confirm that the eclipse had begun, and that would be needed an incredible bit of luck to observe the annular phase.

The landscape began to take strange colours which had nothing to do with a sunset. Of the south side (Photo to the right) a hole of blue sky took a greenish hue, and gave me the impression that a thunderstorm was coming up.

By examining the horizon looking through my Celestron 5 + eyepiece, I realized that there seemed be a clearer zone. Effectively according to the expected azimuth for the position of the maximal phase, this one was in the good place.

And I was !!!! Effectively at the same moment at the predicted time for the beginning of the annularié the Sun made its appearance (not completely). A loud cheering rose in the crowd. Never I believed that one ring finger could cause so many emotions.

You can see close-up of the annular phase of the same place on Christophe Marlot's page.

My dear Quebec flag has still made its small effect. It seems that I manage well enough in the language of Cervantes to give interviews in this language to the local TV. Notice, that I don't speak Spanish fluently.

I has hard time coming bac to Puerto Vallarta while taking at dusk 20 km of very bad dirt road (in washing board) with my vehicle Tracker by following a Mexican bus which lifted tons of dust. A chance that I'm used to drive in the Quebec snowstorms.

In conclusion my batting average for eclipses is 9/14 or total 7 and 2 annular. I don't expect any change in this average before 2006 unless I win to 6-49 ( our Powerball), you will see me in Antarctica in 2003.

Please, be all very wise!!!!