Eclipse
Maybe you heard about the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. It is hard to imagine anyone missed it. The totality of the eclipse went right over Fredericksburg. And we were there.
Fredericksburg started planning for the massive influx of people coming to see the “Big Blink” almost two years ago. There were planning committees to organize, public services to rally, special rules to make for short-term rentals, and lots of suggestions to landowners on how to protect their property against unwanted hoards. Fences, No Trespassing signage, and more. Texas is a very strong property rights state.
This seems extreme but it was not uncommon.
We made our reservations at the Fredericksburg RV Park two years ago.
Ten days or more before the day of the eclipse the local weather prognosticators from Austin started in with dire warnings for significant cloud cover. Each day closer their bets were hedged with more certainty on one hand and more wishful thinking on the other. The day before the eclipse the sky was stunningly blue, temperatures comfortable, and a light breeze blew from a westerly direction. Hope springs eternal.
The day of the eclipse dawned with high thin clouds, maybe, just maybe, we would see it. The RV park was packed with people from almost every state on either side of the path of totality, most paying twice the daily rate with a four-night minimum. They were from Alaska to California, and Nova Scotia to Florida. Many from Colorado, Utah, Oregon, and Louisiana
There were tripods, cameras, and telescopes in many sites, many with more than one. And some really big ones.
These guys seemed pretty serious the day before getting everything aligned just so.
We got out the lawn chairs and our 3 for $1 eclipse glasses from 2017 and sat with Peggy from across the lane.
We were joined by Gail, a lady from New Mexico staying in the spot next to Peggy. Maggie was more interested in each and every blade of grass or whatever was growing next to Peggie’s RV. And especially the rabbit living under Peggy’s RV. She chased it out a couple of times and tried crawling in after it. Both survived the encounter.
The eclipse started right on time. There are no countdown delays or built-in holds for celestial events. And somehow those science guys have it down to the second.
The pictures from my iPhone with the lens covered with the solar glasses didn’t really show the moon crossing the sun from right to left but the moon did what it was supposed to do. Clouds moved by, opening up to see it quite well and hiding it too, just as often.
It was daytime.
And then nighttime. The nighttime solar lights came on. Maggie behaved. Nothing odd from the birds.
The entire event was pretty fun to see again. 2017 in the Tetons seemed much more dramatic. Not much hoopla here. Some cheering. I think it was a group of several RVs from Louisiana.
The local newspaper reported later in the week that the expected crowd numbers were much overinflated. Plenty of folks did come, RV parks, hotels, and short-term rentals were full. There were no significant issues, life moved on. They compared the crowds and economic impact to any summer weekend when a festival (wine or music) event was happening. Oktober Fest has a bigger local impact.
There were theories that the potential for clouds, always a significant possibility here, made people change their plans. We had friends coming to FBG from Minnesota for the eclipse event. They were going to be here for a week or so. After two years of planning and getting halfway here, they went to Indianapolis instead because of cloud concerns. We hope they got to see what they wanted to see. We never heard.
And we got down to see our friends Keith and Jo who were in an RV park in Kerrville for the eclipse along with several other Foretravel folk.
Keith recently retired, but Jo has not yet. They are eagerly anticipating more RV time.
Shore Lunch
Susan and I brought a couple of Haralson Apple pies (frozen and uncooked) from home as well as wild line caught flash frozen walleye (Minnesota’s State Fish) to have a shore lunch with friends here in Fredericksburg. We thought we would do it here but it worked out better for Mike and Jackie to host lunch at their nearby home. He has a good gas grill, I have a cast iron griddle. Everything that we needed to cook the fish. We cooked the pie in the morning and then we all met over there.
The fish was cooked, and we lined up and filled our plates with fish, salads, fruit, and fresh tomatoes.
I managed to not get Mike in these pictures. Another great time with friends.
Dog Wash
There is a dog wash station in town which is part of the nearby car wash. $10. 10 minutes. It is like the you-do-it car wash. Soap, rinse, conditioner, rinse, blow dry. It worked pretty well. The first time we washed Maggie we used their shampoo and conditioner. The next time we used our own. It smells better to us. No idea what Maggie thinks. She does not like the blow-dry part, it is the noise, I think.
She gets mostly dried off and then some finishing up at home. A nice walk in the sun works well.
National Museum of the Pacific War
Chester Nimitz was born and raised in Fredericksburg and was a Fleet Admiral in the US Navy during World War II and was the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet commanding all air, land, and sea forces. The National Museum of the Pacific War is located in Fredericksburg, TX.
https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org
While we were in Fredericksburg there was a re-enactment of a battle where a Medal of Honor was awarded for heroism. I went to see one honoring Sgt Darrell Cole.
https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/darrell-s-cole
It was a cold day, not even 40 degrees, but the amphitheater was full. I am sure on Iwo Jima it was much warmer.
There were many veterans in the audience who stood and were recognized for their service. Most of us have no idea of the noise and ferocity of the fighting in war. We give thanks and gratitude for all they gave and for all we have.
Interesting RVs
One day this pulled in. It is a camper from Germany built on a MAN 4×4 military truck. Giant wheels and a very high cab.
There was a motorcycle rack that went up and down on the back end, not many windows, and few of the creature comforts we are used to. We have seen these before in Utah. Off-road capable but that comes with a top speed of 50 or maybe 55 MPH. This was a German couple traveling in North America. They had not been to Minnesota yet.
Birthdays
At the end of March and the beginning of April, our friend Mike and I celebrate birthdays. We have both had some health challenges in the past couple of years so we are especially grateful to be celebrating another birthday with each other.
We went to the Camp Verde General Store for lunch and the fellowship of good friends.
That is plenty for now and the month is only half over.
More Later, Much Love
Susan, Maggie, and Roger
Home2 with Roger and Susan 