Geminid Fiasco

I have yet to see a meteor shower. Tim and I tried on Wednesday night, going out late to try to see some of the Geminid meteors. We drove down Gilbert Road into the Gila River Indian Reservation, figuring we’d have a better view with fewer lights around. We found a spot to pull into off the side of the road, shut off the engine and started looking east, somewhere midway between the horizon and the zenith. A thin cloud started rolling in. At first we thought it might be inside the car, caused by our breath clouding the windshield. But no, it was a real cloud. To make matters worse, we saw a vehicle moving toward us behind a fence on the opposite side of the road. It seemed to have its brights on. We thought it would open the gate, go through it and leave, but no such luck. The driver sat in the truck, with his brights on facing toward us until we decided he wasn’t going anywhere so we left. We pulled into a different pullout and by then the cloud was thicker (and we were seeing blue spots in our eyes from the truck’s headlights). I did manage to see 2 meteors, but it wasn’t much of a shower. It was so disappointing! I’ve always wanted to see a meteor shower, and anytime there is one, either I’m not aware that one is taking place, or I’m aware and then forget the night it’s supposed to happen. But by seeing those 2 meteors I’ve at least doubled the number of meteors I’ve seen in my life. I know that should make me feel better, but I’m still disappointed. Especially since I stayed up late for nothing, was exhausted yesterday morning and for the rest of the day, and then after I came home yesterday from dinner with Tim I fell asleep almost instantly!