We were just off the path of totality, and the three coolest things, were 1) the dappling of bright crescents in the shadows of the leaves (the little bits of sunlight coming through openings in the foliage that were acting like pinhole cameras) and 2) the fact that although the sunlight seemed only halved, or so, the radiant heat of the sun vanished entirely, and 3) the little ripple-bands (is there a name for these? It's the sun "twinkling" -- little bands of dark and light running across the ground.)