2024 Solar Eclipse—Junction Texas

professional eclipse photo from website:

https://www.picturecorrect.com/photographing-a-total-solar-eclipse/

We traveled to Texas to watch the 2024 total eclipse, a plan we created after witnessing the 2017 eclipse not far from our home. All the most powerful adjectives describe a total eclipse--stunning, spiritual, spectacular, sublime, astonishing, mesmerizing, extraordinary, legendary, a marvel. Yup, everyone of those.

We originally planned to view the event in Kerrville, Texas, thinking that the further south we go, the better chance for clear skies. It did not work out that way, but we still saw much of it. "The cloud" did not move in until about the time of totality. We missed the diamond ring, but saw plenty.

We ended up driving to Junction Texas, 50 miles west of Kerrville, as that morning the latter was covered with a very thick layer of clouds. Junction's blue sky was enticing, until, well, that cloud. We had fun on the Kimble County Courthouse lawn, talking to people from all over, listening to the band, watching folks play games. Before the eclipse we walked down to the park and staked our spot. We had bought 2 cheap Walmart camp chairs so we could relax during the event.

At the courthouse in Junction these cool bags were given away for free!

Kimble County Courthouse, built 1928 after the two previous buildings burned down.

Below is an assortment of t-shirts we saw on this trip--there were many more so this is only a sampling. You might ask, why, when you've witnessed this marvelous once-in-a-lifetime heavenly manifestation, are you highlighting the t-shirts? Well, there are way better photos online of the eclipse itself. The shirts are part of the culture of the event.

This one was worn by members of a tour group from the northeast part of England; the English woman said I could "absolutely not" take a photo of their t-shirt, but her man didn't mind at all.

We should buy this one--we have had this once-in-a-lifetime experience, twice!

Clever😁

A baby-boomer wore this one; I wonder if younger people get it?

Junction City Park

We met up with some family at an Austin Texas BBQ spot--two of my husband's brothers, one of his sisters, and their families. My age 98 m-i-l (center) traveled 1300 miles to be there, thanks to her daughter who made it happen.

Last fall we saw the annular eclipse 2 hours from our home. We found a good viewing spot, but clouds, so we raced a few miles down the road for a better spot. Not so many folks watching that one. I'm enthralled by the marvelous manifestations of nature, whether earth or sky.

NOTE: if you ever plan to travel to see a total eclipse, ALWAYS go for 100%. I hear people say that well, 98% or 99% is close enough, but that itty-bitty percentage variation will give you a very different experience. Go for the gold. The reward is worth whatever trouble and money you expend.