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Post by compeateropeator on Feb 20, 2024 12:09:23 GMT
To those in the viewing path swath, are they starting to really ramp up talking about this in your area? I swear every single day and news cycle we have eclipse stories. It is not a bad thing as it is very exciting and a cool thing, but we are still 48 days out and there is only so much that they can report on now. 😄
Is anyone in the path planning on watching or anyone planning to travel to see it?
I got my glasses yesterday, just incase we get lucky and the have clear viewing. Statistically speaking the chances of us having clear sky’s is only about 30%, and our eclipse duration is about 3 minutes, but I will be ready if the stars align…or should I say the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth align. 😆
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frankiegirl
Full Member
Posts: 167
Dec 22, 2020 12:42:01 GMT
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Post by frankiegirl on Feb 20, 2024 12:40:48 GMT
We are right in the path of it and we plan on watching it from our backyard. We might do a watch party with our neighborhood. There are so many public watch parties and I would love to go to one of them but the crowds and traffic afterwards will be brutal. All of the schools in the area are closed that day due to traffic concerns with bussing in the afternoon. I don't work that day but we've already gotten safety memos about the traffic issues predicted for that day due to the estimated crowds downtown. I can't imagine how many accidents there will be with people on the expressway either slowing down or stopping to watch it. Most people can't drive on a normal day so throw in a once in a lifetime event and they will lose their minds.
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Post by Neisey on Feb 20, 2024 13:24:32 GMT
I am in the path but haven’t really thought too much about watching or not. Our schools are closing for the afternoon.
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Post by lilacgal on Feb 20, 2024 13:27:21 GMT
I’m not in the path of totality in Charlotte, NC. It will only be 86% here. However, this is the last solar eclipse in North America in my lifetime, so I’m flying to Texas to view it. I am beyond excited. It’s been a lifelong dream to view a total solar eclipse. I remember being in kindergarten during an eclipse. We weren’t allowed to go outside and play, and the teachers closed all the blinds so we couldn’t see outside. That sparked an interest that’s only gotten stronger over the years. I can’t wait!
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Post by shanniebananie on Feb 20, 2024 14:20:32 GMT
We are in the DFW area so we will have total coverage area. My sister and her husband are coming from CO to see it. I have viewing glasses in my Amazon cart. I pray we have clear weather!
My son goes to college in Cincinnati and they will have very near total coverage too. I need to order him and his roommates glasses too.
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Post by littlemama on Feb 20, 2024 14:27:43 GMT
I think we are in the 99% coverage area. The last one, in Aug 2017, we were in the path of totality.
It is a Monday (again) so we will all be working. Dh and I have windows, so we will be able to see.
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Post by compeateropeator on Feb 20, 2024 14:39:47 GMT
Just as an addition in case anyone is interested if/when buying viewing glasses. After looking into it a bit before buying some, this information was helpful:
Glasses should be labeled ISO 12312-2 (sometimes written as ISO 12312-2:2015). Eclipse glasses manufacturers send their products to specialized labs that test whether the lenses comply with the ISO 12312-2 safety specifications.
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Post by mom on Feb 20, 2024 14:40:32 GMT
We are in the DFW area so we will have total coverage area. My sister and her husband are coming from CO to see it. I have viewing glasses in my Amazon cart. I pray we have clear weather!My son goes to college in Cincinnati and they will have very near total coverage too. I need to order him and his roommates glasses too. We are coming from Amarillo to DFW and booked rooms at a hotel that is having a solar eclipse viewing party on their rooftop. We are nerds - we booked our rooms last July, lol. We are praying it is clear weather!
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Post by ntsf on Feb 20, 2024 14:52:56 GMT
we are going to mexico to see the eclipse.. a very long totality.. this will be our third.. we saw one in the great barrier reef australia, then in idaho, and now this one.
we are science nerds.
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Post by Tearisci on Feb 20, 2024 14:55:51 GMT
I would have been in the path here in DFW but I'm flying back from DC that day so will miss it unfortunately!
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Post by mbanda on Feb 20, 2024 15:39:06 GMT
I'm in DFW so yes I'll be watching! There is a viewing party/event in my town that I'd like to go to.
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,728
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Feb 20, 2024 15:42:40 GMT
We’re planning on flying to a small airport in Vermont to view it. DH is buddies with the guys at the airport who painted his plane last year. It’s DH’s birthday and that’s all he wants. We are also science nerds.
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Post by compeateropeator on Feb 20, 2024 15:46:29 GMT
We’re planning on flying to a small airport in Vermont to view it. DH is buddies with the guys at the airport who painted his plane last year. It’s DH’s birthday and that’s all he wants. We are also science nerds. I live in the Burlington area. An advance Welcome. Crossing our fingers for a clear day but statistically it is not a great % for that time of year. Still hoping. 🤞🤞
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Post by katiescarlett on Feb 20, 2024 15:48:41 GMT
I'm in DFW as well. I'm sure we will all be watching from work.
Waxahachie is a small town south of DFW and they have one of the longest totality views. There is a huge viewing festival being planned with many country music singers performing.
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Post by dewryce on Feb 20, 2024 17:14:42 GMT
We are in the hill country right outside of San Antonio and it’s supposed to be an amazing place to see it. I’m not sure about news, I don’t watch it. But I know our town of 20,000 started warning us last year about it as we are expected to swell to 5 times the size we usually are. School is closed. They said if you plan on leaving your house (and they don’t recommend it) plan on it taking at least several hours to get back to it. That if you planned on opening up your place of business to spend the night. Warned us that everything was booked solid and to plan on getting our gas and groceries before the weekend. And DH’s department in the nursing home won’t be open because no one will be able to get to work. We still have glasses from last year so we are all set. Now that I think about it, I’m surprised our neighborhood hasn’t planned anything.
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Post by dewryce on Feb 20, 2024 17:16:04 GMT
I’m not in the path of totality in Charlotte, NC. It will only be 86% here. However, this is the last solar eclipse in North America in my lifetime, so I’m flying to Texas to view it. I am beyond excited. It’s been a lifelong dream to view a total solar eclipse. I remember being in kindergarten during an eclipse. We weren’t allowed to go outside and play, and the teachers closed all the blinds so we couldn’t see outside. That sparked an interest that’s only gotten stronger over the years. I can’t wait! How exciting! Where in Texas are you visiting?
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Post by kamper on Feb 20, 2024 18:07:04 GMT
We have reservations at a COE park in Texas in the path of totality. We also got to see the annular eclipse (we went to Nevada) last fall. One of the benefits of van life! I saved our glasses so, I don't need to order any. I'd advise anyone in the path to go ahead and get some now.
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Post by mom on Feb 20, 2024 18:10:54 GMT
We are in the hill country right outside of San Antonio and it’s supposed to be an amazing place to see it. I’m not sure about news, I don’t watch it. But I know our town of 20,000 started warning us last year about it as we are expected to swell to 5 times the size we usually are. School is closed. They said if you plan on leaving your house (and they don’t recommend it) plan on it taking at least several hours to get back to it. That if you planned on opening up your place of business to spend the night. Warned us that everything was booked solid and to plan on getting our gas and groceries before the weekend. And DH’s department in the nursing home won’t be open because no one will be able to get to work. We still have glasses from last year so we are all set. Now that I think about it, I’m surprised our neighborhood hasn’t planned anything. Thats crazy!
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Post by dewryce on Feb 20, 2024 18:24:47 GMT
We are in the hill country right outside of San Antonio and it’s supposed to be an amazing place to see it. I’m not sure about news, I don’t watch it. But I know our town of 20,000 started warning us last year about it as we are expected to swell to 5 times the size we usually are. School is closed. They said if you plan on leaving your house (and they don’t recommend it) plan on it taking at least several hours to get back to it. That if you planned on opening up your place of business to spend the night. Warned us that everything was booked solid and to plan on getting our gas and groceries before the weekend. And DH’s department in the nursing home won’t be open because no one will be able to get to work. We still have glasses from last year so we are all set. Now that I think about it, I’m surprised our neighborhood hasn’t planned anything. Thats crazy! Right!?! I understand wanting to be out here, but I’m afraid a lot of people are in for a big shock when they don’t realize how these small towns are going to be overrun.
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 2,796
Jun 26, 2014 17:25:06 GMT
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Post by TXMary on Feb 20, 2024 19:39:20 GMT
I'm in Central Texas and we're supposed to have almost 4 minutes of totality. Things are really ramping up here. Most of the hotels are sold out and people with land are starting to rent space for people to camp. We still have our glasses from last year and some spares. All 3 major school districts in the area have canceled classes for that day. I'm starting to see a lot of ads for eclipse parties and events. Should be fun. I'm excited!!
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naby64
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,916
Jun 25, 2014 21:44:13 GMT
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Post by naby64 on Feb 20, 2024 20:12:22 GMT
My mother and my 2 oldest kiddos are in the totality path here in AR. I live just about 20 miles south of the pathline. Since it is on a Monday and a weekend that I usually go up to see the kids for the weekend, I may just take a vacation day and stay up there until the eclipse is done. Or maybe not. I can't imagine the traffic would be up for a quick drive home.
I was at my mom's weekend before last and the Walmart had a ton of eclipse t-shirts for sale. I should have grabbed one. DH was just saying yesterday that our pharmacy was selling glasses. I need to make sure he gets them while they have them in stock. The last eclipse that we saw so well here, we waited too long. I had to go back to my elementary school days and make one of those viewing boxes. That danggit!! I just threw it away a couple of months ago. What was I thinking?!
Where my mom lives there is only 1 little motel. There is also a nice state park lodge, which I just checked and it is booked. I'm not sure of campgrounds nearby. There is no way in hades I would go there to see it. Really only one way in and one way out, east and west.
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Post by librarylady on Feb 20, 2024 20:37:22 GMT
DFW location.
A few years ago a friend and I drove to Missouri to view and the day was overcast. DH stayed in Dallas, where it was almost total and he saw more than we did.
In October of 2023, we were in the path of the previous one. Our son and his family were here from Canada so they got to view it with us. I hope the kids remember it and were impressed. They are 13 and 15, so IDK.
I have our glasses from the Missouri trip and will use them for the 3rd time. I'm excited.
The eclipse is also our 50th wedding anniversary--a big day all around.
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Post by picotjo on Feb 20, 2024 20:49:06 GMT
We are in Ohio and if you plan on going anyway and hoping to get a room or a camping spot, good luck. People are posting on a FB page that the are selling places in their yards for $100!
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Post by Darcy Collins on Feb 20, 2024 21:33:20 GMT
My son is in the path of totality, so we're using it as an excuse to go visit him. Hopefully it's not cloudy. We saw one a few years back and the difference between partial and totality is massive.
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,866
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Feb 20, 2024 22:06:58 GMT
We went to the Kansas City area for the 2017 total eclipse. We'll be going 6.5 hours to southern Oklahoma to my sister's house for the next one.
I have my telescope, spotting scope and two cameras, solar filters and solar glasses and film all ready! I used the partial eclipse from last October as a practice run for April.
I had to drive about 125 miles southeast of my original viewing spot to get our of heavy cloud cover. I am praying for clear skies that day, but I will drive if I have to.
I am a COMPLETE science nerd. This is the last one visible here in 21 years. I hope to see that one, but it may be from my nursing home window! <3
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Post by lilacgal on Feb 20, 2024 22:18:13 GMT
I’m not in the path of totality in Charlotte, NC. It will only be 86% here. However, this is the last solar eclipse in North America in my lifetime, so I’m flying to Texas to view it. I am beyond excited. It’s been a lifelong dream to view a total solar eclipse. I remember being in kindergarten during an eclipse. We weren’t allowed to go outside and play, and the teachers closed all the blinds so we couldn’t see outside. That sparked an interest that’s only gotten stronger over the years. I can’t wait! How exciting! Where in Texas are you visiting? I’m flying into Austin. My dad is driving down from Richmond, VA with my stepmom. They’re turning the occasion into a cross country birding trip.
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Post by mom on Feb 20, 2024 23:28:22 GMT
Right!?! I understand wanting to be out here, but I’m afraid a lot of people are in for a big shock when they don’t realize how these small towns are going to be overrun. You're probably right. They will have a rude awakening. Off topic, but DS2 that is stationed in Hawaii is up for reenlistment and it looks like he is going to the joint base in San Antonio. I am so excited! He is going to love that area.
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Post by dewryce on Feb 21, 2024 0:21:30 GMT
I have my telescope, spotting scope and two cameras, solar filters and solar glasses and film all ready! I used the partial eclipse from last October as a practice run for April. In that vein, DH held the glasses over his camera lens for pictures last year and it worked pretty well. Nothing like the shots you’re sure to get though! I’m flying into Austin. My dad is driving down from Richmond, VA with my stepmom. They’re turning the occasion into a cross country birding trip. Have fun, and let us know if y’all need any recommendations! I just read that Lampasas was a good place to go nearish Austin for a great view. You're probably right. They will have a rude awakening. Off topic, but DS2 that is stationed in Hawaii is up for reenlistment and it looks like he is going to the joint base in San Antonio. I am so excited! He is going to love that area. I’m so glad he’s coming closer to home for you! Definitely a great city with lots of options for all interests.
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AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,501
Aug 28, 2015 22:31:17 GMT
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Post by AmandaA on Feb 21, 2024 1:45:01 GMT
We are in the path of totality. It is a huge deal here and they have been talking about it for probably the last year. So much preparation and unique local events being planned (such as a viewing site at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) in all of the towns around here. Spring Break was extended a day to be out on Monday. We will watch from home and hope that the weather cooperates 🤞🏻
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Post by bianca42 on Feb 21, 2024 17:32:00 GMT
We're in the path of totality here. As of right now our school district has a normal school day. I'm hoping that they at least close early, because the eclipse will happen while the busses are running. In addition to not having the greatest view from the bus, I'm concerned that people driving during the eclipse will be distracted. Other local districts have recently announced being closed that day or closing early, so hopefully our school will follow. It helps that we've used no snow days so far this year. Actually, maybe I'll send an email to the superintendent now while I'm thinking about it expressing my concern about the kids being on the bus during the eclipse.
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