Total Solar Eclipse

Dates: April 6-9, 2024

Crew: Kate, Gavin, Reid, Mark

Locations: Brazos Bend State Park, Austin

Another Eclipse?

It was a busy year in Texas for the sun! After October's Annular Solar Eclipse, the great American total eclipse also crossed firmly through the Lone Star State. The likelihood of sunny pleasant April weather down in Houston/Austin vs a cloudy midwest/northeast spring brought down Gavin, Mark, and Reid from MI and Kate from NH to visit me and see the event.

Seems like proof the Sun does orbit the Earth, specifically Texas.

Day 1: Swamp Tourism

Since everyone brought their cameras along for the eclipse, I thought a trip to Brazos Bend State Park was in order for some photography practice. After getting everyone from the airport, we crammed into my car and headed to the swampy park to spot birds and gators. The Texas sun quickly took it out of the Midwesterners as we hiked the 40 acre lake trail at a mighty 1.2 miles. We did see plenty of herons, egrets, ibises, snakes, and alligators, so the telephoto lenses got a lot of action.

Purple Gallinule, a big-footed swamp hen.

Broad-banded water snake sunning itself.

Above: White Ibis
Below: Bullfrog resting just feet from gators

American Alligator with a fancy hat.

Snowy Egret flares wings and mohawk as it lands.

Kate enjoying the sunshine and Gavin's expensive lens.

Kate likes to make fun of us for reading every sign/map.

The Sony squad (Reid, Kate, Gavin staring down a gator).

Baby gators at the visitor center. Scaly and fun to hold!

Returning home to give Dixie some attention.

Day 2: Quest for the Prairie Chicken

The day before the eclipse, I checked on my reservations to go watch at Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Preserve outside of Austin, and realized we couldn't camp there. Searching around showed every campsite and hotel around Austin was booked solid. We wanted to go to Austin since they would get full totality compared to 95% in Houston, but I figured thousands of people had the same idea and would make driving in the morning before the eclipse a nightmare. I rang up Uncles Brent and Blaine and asked if we could pitch a tent in their yard and then get out of their hair. Instead, they invited us to their eclipse watch party at their house and offered up their entire house for us the night before- WAY too generous but it turned out they had a friend's place they were watching so it worked out really well.

All that to say, with camping off the itinerary I wanted to throw in one more nature activity so forced a stop on our drive at Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. This prairieland west of Katy preserves the habitat of the endangered Prairie Chicken, a really unusual bird with a distinctive call.

Butterflies were abundant, at least.

We love a National Landmark Plaque.

Above: giant prairie grasshopper in flight
Below: wildflower season!

Not a Prairie Chicken but I was so excited to see a bird at all I sprinted to capture this guy.

We didn't end up seeing any prairie chickens despite spring supposedly being their busier season, but I enjoyed the prairie drive and Kate loved the wildflowers. The heat was definitely on a bit, getting to maybe 85, which was enough to send the guys fleeing for the A/C and shade of the car again. Then we made an all-important stop for Texas visitors - BUCCEES!

Kate, not in Kansas anymore.

When in Texas, do as the Texans do.

Finally, Kate was desparate for a swim after the day's heat so I took us to Barton Springs, a natural swimming hole in Austin that was turned into a partial swimming pool. There are manmade sides but a natural rock/plant life bottom, and a spring that hosts a small population of native salamanders. Kate and I enoyed a swim in the refreshing spring-fed waters until I was cold and shivering. Then we headed to Brent's house to wind down the night with cards and camera prep for the morning.

Kate jumps into Barton Springs' chilly waters at golden hour.

Day 3: Total Eclipse

At 10 we were outside with an army of cameras on tripods pointed skyward, fitted out with solar filters to protect our lenses from the still-dangerous sunlight. I had finally bought a real 20-stop ND filter after improvising one for my previous eclipse.

Kate also had thrifted "eclipse costumes" for everyone to wear, which were personalized button down patterned shirts that I was shocked the guys were willing to oblige her by wearing. She had gotten herself an epic gown from a thrift store in Boston and looked like she was ready to channel the solar eclipse energy into some witchcraft.

Kate and Loki having morning coffee.

Eclipse outfits on!

The sky was clear when the eclipse started, but thin cloud cover soon developed. It wouldn't interfere with most of the viewing experience, but for totality when you want to see the corona and the body of the sun is completely blocked by the moon, you need clear skies. We kept up hope that it would get better, but unfortunately the overcast continued to worsen.

A fashionable bunch (PC: Kate)

Glasses come off (safely) for totality.

"National Geographic is here"

Totality came and the cameras couldn't see anything through the clouds, but we still got to experience the human effects. The world went dark, birds stopped chirping, and for about 4 minutes the world was silent and dim gray. It was definitely eerie. We all took our eclipse glasses off and glanced around for any glimpse of the corona but it just wasn't to be.

Mark relaxes with a Dr. Pepper instead of fiddling with cameras the whole time.

Kate focuses on people and dog shots instead of joining the tripod army.

The closest I got to capturing totality before clouds blanked it out. Still kinda cool!

Ironically, New Hampshire did end up having a clear day for viewing and I heard Cleveland wasn't bad either, but oh well. We made a data-driven gamble and lost, that's how it goes sometimes! The process then reversed as the sun inched out from behind its guardian, and people gradually lost interest until we were ready to relax in the A/C with some cold drinks for a while. Then it was farewell to Brent, Blaine, and Loki, and back to Houston to round out the trip the next day with a NASA tour. I was glad to have visitors and fortunate to experience two lifetime astronomical events in my adopted state in just a 6 month span!

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