How an Eclipse Travel Experience Changed Everything

⏰ read time | 4 minutes

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Welcome to The Whipple Effect, a weekly newsletter that helps men find focus through sobriety and create a life they love through holistic productivity.

👋 Hey friend,

This is part 3/3 of my total solar eclipse (TSE) series.

In the last Letter, I shared:

• Highlights from a 2019 TSE travel experience.

• Societal chaos and alternative lifestyle pathways.

• The energy behind TSEs as a remedy to this chaos.

In this Letter, I’m sharing:

1. What it’s like to see a TSE.

2. What it’s like to travel as a family.

3. How crazy it is to live in cities today.

4. Finding what I want in life (the hard way).

It’s holistic AF. Let’s get into it.

Traveling to Texas in a tiny trailer

We were excited to start traveling again.

In a new trailer with plans to be nomads for months. Our stuff went to storage, and the drive to Texas began. Camps were made along the way in Arizona and New Mexico.

Driving through Texas is a big deal.

Cheaper gas is the only good thing.

The nomadic trailer life is tough with a child. Tracy and I traveled in a tiny trailer before, but with an infant, it’s next level. It reminds me of how hard it was for families in wagons on the Oregon Trail.

On top of this, I work remotely.

This trip was part vacation, part business as usual.

In position under the path of totality

Texas had the best chance of clear skies.

But as the big day drew closer, the forecast changed. There was an increasing chance of clouds and rain. By April 8th, we were in position, and the weather looked like it was gonna cooperate. Thank God it did.

As the moon took a bite out the Sun,

↳ we put our glasses on.

Darkness descended on us.

The glasses came off now.

As the eclipse became total, familiar feelings rushed back to me. The light played games on Earth, and time began to bend. The next four minutes were pure Nirvana. There’s nothing quite like it—maybe a DMT trip.

This is what it’s all about:

• Mystery

• Adventure

• Anticipation

• Multidimensional unity

What a total solar eclipse means to me

Ignore the fear and myth surrounding TSEs.

They’re one of the most miraculous phenomena you could ever see. Being present with the experience can be a powerful teacher (if you’re open to it). There’s a majestic purity about them that I seek to embody.

It’s like they’re a role model for me.

And remember, there are big differences between a total and a partial.

I think the same thing can be said when comparing a partial to total eclipse: The difference between a partial and total eclipse is indeed significant—it's like the difference between a candle flicker and a volcano eruption.

Or something like that 😅

Dealing with the stress of travel life

Much of the excitement is in the anticipation.

After totality, everything goes back to normal pretty quickly (just like DMT). The next day was completely overcast with heavy rain. There’s no way we would’ve seen the eclipse if it was on this day. We packed up and started driving.

But not where we thought we were gonna go.

Florida and Tennessee were originally on the itinerary.

Along the way, I realized I no longer want to live a nomadic travel life. Over the last 20 years, I’ve had many spontaneous explorations, including a few hitchhiking adventures. Now that I’m 44 with a wife and child, I’m ready to step into a new season.

A lifestyle that provides and supports:

• Stability

• Routines

• Productivity

• Peace and quiet

What I want is not found on the road.

People are getting crazier by the day. Getting in their cars and driving in a frenzy. Taking their aggression out on others. Fuel injected by the madness of urban chaos.

The cities are cheap and loud.

The cities are not for me.

It’s a dramatic contrast between city stress and the pure beauty of TSEs. Cities explode with dissonance. TSEs implode with harmony. I worry about civilization. It’s consumer-centric at hyper-speed.

Do you ever notice these things?

Gaining clarity on life goals

This eclipse trip helped me get clear.

• Live 2 miles from the nearest person

• Focus on deep work and healthy habits

• Travel only once every year or two for TSEs

We’re back in our home of Sedona now.

Just signed a lease on a house for one year. I plan on writing, making videos, working with clients, and making a ton of money. Taking care of my health is a major priority too. Besides time with family, that’s it.

The next TSE is August 12, 2026.

It’ll cross over Spain, and that’s where we’ll be.

The April 8th TSE was amazing. It helped me identify what’s essential. I want to work hard on the important things in between them. So that’s what I’m gonna do.

Keep it simple, effective, and fun.

I almost didn’t write this.

There’s been a lot of resistance coming up recently. I’m behind on my schedule, and consistency is important to me. I want to document my journey and process. I hope there’s something in these Letters you can relate to as well.

Be sure to watch the YouTube video.

It’s just cool to see the TSE for yourself.

See how we traveled in a tiny trailer with a kid. Hear our reflections on the experience. Subscribe to the channel if you like it. And share with a friend who you think might enjoy it.

Thank you for making time to read this.

Share it with your followers or a friend.

See you in the next Letter,

David.