Electra Yourke, 92, has turned a rare astronomical event into a lifetime pursuit: she has now travelled to witness nine total solar eclipses, visiting locations as varied as Costa Rica, eastern China and the mountains of northern Chile, according to an as‑told‑to report published by Business Insider.
From a spontaneous bus trip to a deliberate lifetime hobby
Her eclipse chasing began in 1991, when she was 57 and took a tour to Costa Rica. The tour was not organised specifically for eclipse viewing, but as Electra recounted to Business Insider, the group made an impromptu decision to chase the sky. They moved north on the bus until the clouds cleared just in time for totality. The sudden hush of birds and the dramatic drop into darkness left a lasting impression.
“Get on the bus!”
That exclamation, which she used to persuade fellow travellers to keep going in 1991, is one of several moments Electra described to Business Insider that capture the essence of why she keeps returning for eclipses. She said witnessing a total eclipse can feel like watching a distant cosmic event unfold right above you — a sensation she finds arresting and unlike everyday travel experiences.
Family, companionship and passing on a passion
This year Electra’s daughter, Kate Yourke, 64, joined her for a trip to Spain. The pair had previously driven from New York City to Vermont to see the April 2024 eclipse, a trip Kate described to Business Insider as their first time seeing one together and “phenomenal.” That shared experience helped convince Kate and her husband of the appeal of eclipse chasing after years of hearing about it from Electra.
Their story underlines how specialised travel interests often become family traditions. In Electra’s case, a curiosity sparked late in life grew into a regular form of travel that has taken her to multiple continents.
What eclipse chasing looks like
From the details provided in the Business Insider piece, a few practical aspects of eclipse travel emerge:
- Flexibility is essential — Electra’s 1991 trip relied on moving locations at short notice until the sky cleared.
- Shared enthusiasm deepens the experience — travelling with family or small groups can make the event more memorable.
- Destinations vary widely — Electra’s travels include Central America, Asia, South America and Europe, illustrating that eclipse routes can span the globe.
Business Insider also noted it had verified the cost of the trip, though specific figures were not published in the interview excerpt made available.
Why some travellers plan their lives around celestial events
Eclipse chasing sits at the intersection of travel, science and spectacle. For some, the appeal is the rarity: totality lasts only a few minutes and the path across Earth is narrow, so seeing one often requires planning and travel. For others, like Electra, the attraction is emotional and communal — the silence of nature, the shared gasp of onlookers, and the clear reminder of being part of something far larger than everyday life. Electra described that feeling to Business Insider as uniquely powerful.
The Yourke mother‑and‑daughter story is a reminder that travel need not slow with age. It also highlights how niche interests — whether birding, food pilgrimages, or astronomical events — can create long arcs of experience and family memory. In a world where many trips are measured in checklists and photos, Electra’s approach privileges the direct, almost ceremonial encounter with the natural world.
For South African travellers planning to chase eclipses or other singular events, the Yourkes’ experience offers practical cues: expect to be flexible, travel with companions if you can, and allow for the possibility that a small, unexpected move — even a bus detour — will make the moment unforgettable.
| Detail | Fact reported |
|---|---|
| Age | Electra: 92; Kate: 64 |
| Number of eclipses seen by Electra | 9 |
| Notable trips mentioned | Costa Rica (1991), eastern China, northern Chile, Vermont (April 2024), Spain (recent) |
The Business Insider piece is an as‑told‑to feature based on interviews with Electra and Kate Yourke and was edited for length and clarity, Business Insider reported.
