Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2023 19:53:24 -0800
Reply-To: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Great American Eclipse, Monday April-8-2024, mid day in Texas
In-Reply-To: <1935402317.1530077.1676387662548@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Fall, winter, and spring are good times for outdoor activity in Texas.
There are lots of "Winter Texans" for good reason. Of course, there can be
the odd deep freeze, ice storm, or snow storm in much of the state, and the
Panhandle and High Plains have a regular winter due to the elevation being
3-5K feet. I was in Dallas for a family visit recently, and got delayed in
leaving because of sleet and freezing rain, which led to my flight out
being cancelled. That then led to my still being there when I got COVID
for my birthday. Between the ice and COVID, worst birthday gifts I ever got!
On Tue, Feb 14, 2023 at 7:14 AM ddbjorkman@verizon.net <
ddbjorkman@verizon.net> wrote:
> Hi Dave.
>
> Actually I was trying to get some response from folks in my area,
> certainly not disrespect Texas. We have been there and although kind of
> hot for my New England blood, we did enjoy ourselves.
> So how about it northeast crowd. Let's get together in western New York.
> Maybe stay at Watkins Glen state park and then move towards Buffalo.
>
> Dave B.
> the Boston one
> P.S. Thanks for replying Dave. It's how i get on the list.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> To: ddbjorkman@verizon.net <ddbjorkman@verizon.net>
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
> Sent: Tue, Feb 14, 2023 9:26 am
> Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Great American Eclipse, Monday April-8-2024, mid
> day in Texas
>
> There certainly is a wide path. I speak of Texas for two main reasons.
> First, I am from Texas and have relatives and friends there, and may well
> join up with some of them for the viewing. Second, the first posts
> regarding this eclipse were from people who spoke about Texas. The eclipse
> will flow from S Texas NE across the state, across SE Oklahoma, Arkansas,
> Missouri, and on to the E Coast before exiting the continent in New
> England. Lots of viewing opportunity in that swath. Texas does offer the
> best chance of good weather in April, though severe weather also occurs
> there in that month.
>
> On Tue, Feb 14, 2023 at 3:19 AM ddbjorkman@verizon.net <
> ddbjorkman@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Why only this talk about Texas?? There is a wide path across the USA!
> I'm going to western NY to check out the eclipse. I was in SC in 2017 and
> it was something everyone should see before they die. Spectacular and
> wonderous don't come near to describing the experience. Words just don't
> do it.
>
> Dave B.
> the Boston one
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Mon, Feb 13, 2023 8:49 pm
> Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Great American Eclipse, Monday April-8-2024, mid
> day in Texas
>
> We reserved a NFS cabin in a remote location in Oregon, and had extended
> family join us there. Wonderful experience. Some (including yours truly)
> were in Vanagons at the cabin property, others slept in the cabin. Setting
> was spectacular in the Blue Mountains, remote from any other people,
> absolutely no crowds. There are some cabin accomodations operated by
> private vendors along the eclipse path for this one in Texas, but no NFS
> cabins (no NF or other national lands in the eclipse path in Texas, except
> for the Caddo National Grasslands near Bonham, TX). There may be such in
> Arkansas or Missouri, haven't checked that yet.
>
> On Mon, Feb 13, 2023 at 5:11 PM Edward Maglott <emaglott3@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > the 2017 Eclipse totality came through my yard here in western NC. It was
> > amazing to me, as a person who is enthusiastic about nature and the way
> the
> > Earth moves in relation to the Sun and Moon. I will definitely travel to
> > see future ones, though I think I have a conflict with the one this year.
> >
> > It definitely was a major event in this area. Many, many people came to
> > view it. Perhaps that was amplified because this is a beautiful natural
> > area anyway. all accommodations were full way in advance. People were
> > renting out camping spots in their yard demanding "astronomical" prices.
> > There were traffic jams like I'd never seen before, mostly after the
> > totality for several hours. that's basically all the insider info I have
> to
> > share!
> > Edward
> >
> > On Mon, Feb 13, 2023 at 4:42 PM OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Worked just fine for Me & it looks like a very nice place ~
> > >
> > > Also the 2 spots that McNeely pointed to look great but suspect that
> any
> > > nice
> > >
> > > Campgrounds that close to SanAnton & Austin may be packed but then
> again
> > >
> > > 28Apr2024 being MidWeek might help ~
> > >
> > > But since I’m not big on CampGrounds,,, Prefer to camp Away From
> > It
> > > All
> > >
> > > If @all possible, I have looked to find the closest spot to ABQ that is
> > on
> > > the Path
> > >
> > > & found this > Link was bad,,, Try this >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I have an old USAF friend that lives in Austin & I’m going to
> see
> > > if He would
> > >
> > > be willing to go out to this spot & check it out ~
> > >
> > >
> > > > On 13 Feb , 2023, at 12:14 PM, Kris Seago <kseago@AUSTINCC.EDU>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hey all,
> > > >
> > > > Take a look at
> > > >
> > > > https://eclipseutopia.com/
> > > >
> > > > I’ve been to a number of events at the Four Sisters Ranch. REALLY
> > > pretty. The music is typically well curated.
> > > >
> > > > My two cents worth.
> > > >
> > > > Kris S. Seago
> > > >
> > > >> On Feb 12, 2023, at 2:32 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET
> >
> > > wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >> I tend to agree with you about FULL campgrounds. One strategy I am
> > > considering is to camp a few hours away from path of totality. That
> > would
> > > give me time to get up early, drive to some lonely spot, park on the
> side
> > > of the road or in some vacant space for viewing. But definitely South
> > > Texas, somewhere.
> > > >>
> > > >> On Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 12:10:48 PM PST, David McNeely <
> > > davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >> Another point is that unlike in some other localities, in Texas the
> > > eclipse
> > > >> path is near and over the major cities and large towns. About 20M
> > > people
> > > >> live within 50 miles of totality. All public campgrounds and parks
> > > will be
> > > >> absolutely crammed with people. Anyone who wants to use a public
> > camping
> > > >> facility better take heed to get things set up well ahead of time.
> > > >>
> > > >> On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 11:57 AM David McNeely <
> > davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> > > >> wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>> Here is the list of all Texas towns showing eclipse times,
> durations
> > of
> > > >>> totality, start, finish, and so on.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> https://eclipse2024.org/communities/USA/states/Texas/
> > > >>>
> > > >>> With the list, a map, and various camping lists, one should be able
> > to
> > > >>> come up with a planned locality to visit. I have lots of relatives
> > in
> > > the
> > > >>> path of totality, and have already received offers of hosting in
> > their
> > > >>> homes. I will figure out by this summer what I plan to do, but
> > > camping is
> > > >>> definitely a preference right now, and a meetup with Vanagon owners
> > > sounds
> > > >>> good. "Off the grid" camping is not as easy in Texas as in most
> > > places,
> > > >>> due to lack of BLM and FS lands. State parks, Corps of Engineers
> > > sites,
> > > >>> Caddo National Grasslands near Bonham are possibilities. Private
> > > >>> landholders are likely to open up for a fee, of course.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> mcneely
> > > >>>
> > > >>> On Fri, Feb 10, 2023 at 12:24 PM Tom Neal <tneal4242@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > >>>
> > > >>>> The Total Solar Eclipse in Madras Oregon was the fastest most
> > > interesting
> > > >>>> 3 minutes of my life. Completely weird and completely worth it.
> > > Spooky.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Vanagon camped at a nice lady’s farm she set up for about 50
> people
> > on
> > > >>>> top of a rounded hill.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Before and after, a white plate on the shade side of a bush will
> > show
> > > >>>> crescents made by the pin holes in the bush. We set up a telescope
> > to
> > > >>>> project the crescent onto people’s shirts and took lots pictures
> on
> > > their
> > > >>>> cameras.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Live in CA, but grew up in Austin so have friends who want to do
> it
> > on
> > > >>>> April 8, 2024. Enchanted Rock, Guadalupe Bend State Park, and
> > Canyon
> > > of
> > > >>>> the Eagles look right on the track. The closer to the track
> center,
> > > the
> > > >>>> better.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> If someone comes up with a good campground, would be fun to hang
> out
> > > >>>> Sunday to Tuesday.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Tom
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>
> > >
> >
>
>
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