12 August 2026 · England → France → Spain

Chasing the dark.
Very, very slowly.

Four men, one black convertible, two imaginary sloths and a celestial event with absolutely no interest in waiting for traffic.

5 days3 countries1 shadow0 sensible cars

The grand migration

Route, timings & solar mischief

Tap a day to isolate it. Times are working estimates, not legally binding promises from a tired sloth.

Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Totality corridor
D1
Barming→Folkestone

~1 hr

D1
Folkestone→Calais

~1 hr 35

LeShuttle, not driving
D1
Calais→Paris

~4–5 hrs

D1
Paris→Orléans

~2 hrs

D2
Orléans→Poitiers

~2 hrs 30

D2
Poitiers→Bordeaux

~2 hrs 45

D2
Bordeaux→San Sebastián

~3 hrs 15

D3
San Sebastián→Bilbao

~1 hr 15

Option A
D3
San Sebastián→Santander

~2 hrs 20

Option B
D3
San Sebastián→Burgos

~2 hrs 25

Option C
D4
Viewing area→Saintes

~5–6 hrs

D4
Saintes→Le Mans

~3 hrs 30

D5
Le Mans→Calais

~4 hrs 20

D5
Folkestone→Barming

~1 hr

🌘

The bit involving astronomy

Spain gets the shadow.
We get the weather app.

The yellow band marks the approximate path of totality across northern Spain. On Wednesday, the final viewing area stays flexible between Bilbao, Santander and Burgos so the forecast—not optimism—gets the deciding vote.

Bilbao
coastalSantander
cloud rouletteBurgos
inland fallback
Eclipse path data: NASA GSFC ↗

Important scientific protocols

01

Weather wins

The map is a plan. Clouds are an argument.

02

Book nothing blindly

Crossings and stops remain working assumptions until confirmed.

03

Protect your eyes

Use proper certified eclipse viewers. Sunglasses are decorative.

04

Respect the BMW

The boot is not a portal. Pack like evolved mammals.