51 replies to this topic

[Ohmless]

wow, that is terrible and a very short notice.  makes me thankful i'm dispersed camping instead.  I can't afford a hotel or a paid camping spot even if one were to be available.

[Ohmless]

happy i picked arkansas in my effort to not get crowded out like it could happen in texas.  I have one prospective spot outside little rock and another a bit west of there that might work out if the clouds cooperate.  If cloudy then I will be in pinnacle looking for the shadow on the clouds.

 

https://www.msn.com/...9f48311b1&ei=17

[Ohmless]

Just arrived yesterday at Lake Sylvia State Park to camp until the eclipse. For anyone who hasn't made plans yet, this place is inexpensive and first come first served while not taking reservations. The weather outlook for April 8th isn't too hot though at the moment. Tonight looks prospectively good for some night time observing as long as the local bobcat stays away.

[lphilpot]

We have reservations (made 2+ years ago) at a motel in Mena, AR where we've stayed several times before. Given their profiteering rates, we're not staying any extra nights before so we'll be driving up from central Louisiana Sunday. I've been to Mena many, many times so I know the 5-6 hour drive very well. I just have to wonder how much of a traffic jam 2-lane US 71 north will be between Ashdown and Mena. We'll be leaving Tuesday morning and heading up to Jasper for the rest of the week. Unfortunately that may end up being another 2-lane 170 mile traffic jam. Maybe by the next day it won't be quite as bad, although what do you bet Jasper will be overrun? Early April in the Ozarks? Probably.

 

You know, I'm not wishing for bad weather (which is looking possible anyway), but maybe it would make some fair-weather visitors decide to bug out early.   After all, the eclipse is only four minutes out of the week ...and is really just an excuse to get away from home.

 

We'll see, I guess.

[Reid W]

We are planning to drive to just north of DeQueen.  Just a *long*  day trip.  Should be easier than the drive to Stanton MO back in 2017.

[lphilpot]

Should be easier than the drive to Stanton MO back in 2017.

A week ago Friday we drove from central Louisiana to St. Joseph, MO in a day, 748 miles one way. Then came back Sun / Mon (family event). So I get to make half of that drive again.

 

...of course that's nothing like the time I drove to Memphis and back in a day (850 miles), the last 200 with a blazing headache. Oh well, it makes a good story now! LOL
 

Edited by lphilpot, 02 April 2024 - 02:01 PM.

[Ohmless]

https://katv.com/new...eather-in-texas

[HoloTheWolf]

https://katv.com/new...eather-in-texas

I guess I'm one of the crowd. Just cancelled my hotel in Dallas. Will be heading to northwest Arkansas on Sunday. Fingers crossed.....

Hope everyone enjoy the event in whatever condition. Clear skies!

[lphilpot]

Our local parish (i.e., county in literally every other state in the nation ... *sigh*) school board has announced that if you want to keep your kids home tomorrow, for their safety during our locally 92% partial eclipse, it won't be counted as an absence (it's optional). This, after they've just had the last six school days off for Easter and spring break. Oh the parents are soooooooo happy about that! (NOT!)

 

For those little tykes whose nasty old parents send them to school anyway, there will be remote safe online viewing of the eclipse. Don't they understand those nasty little solar eclipse cooties can travel over the Internet, leap out of computer screens and attack the innocent eyeballs of our young-uns? Yikes!!!! And what about the irony of supplanting an interesting, scientific real experience with yet more pixel-time? As if they (we all, actually) don't get enough pixel time! Oh, yeah... outdoor school activities are to be curtailed during the eclipse period. Wouldn't want anyone to soak up any bad eclipse rays...

 

Whatever happened to common sense? For that matter, what happened to the idea of using this eclipse as an actual science teaching tool?

 

SMH...

[stubeeef]

Common sense left after the 'tards took over....need to develop another vaccine for eclipse exposure...

 

just booked Sat and Sun night at Embassy Suites Western Little Rock

Edited by stubeeef, 05 April 2024 - 09:02 PM.

[Ohmless]

There is plenty of room still at Lake Sylvia State Park for the unreserved camping spots. Gotta hurry though.

[Moravianus]

Tried to call them for the cabins, long gone. They suggested dispersed camping in the National Forrest, tough to do in an Elantra. Decisions..

[Ohmless]

Tried to call them for the cabins, long gone. They suggested dispersed camping in the National Forrest, tough to do in an Elantra. Decisions..

The cabins are all that they take reservations for. There are at least 12 open campsites remaining that are first come first served.

[Drothgeb]

I’m camping at Kirby Landing on Lake Greeson. I booked 2 sites, but ended up only needing one. So there’s at least one site available here. Not sure about cloud cover for Monday though. Doesn’t look great.

[Moravianus]

Maybe you shall dart for Russellville on Monday? You would drive in the band of totality and the weather models indicate north AR will be better.

[Drothgeb]

Maybe you shall dart for Russellville on Monday? You would drive in the band of totality and the weather models indicate north AR will be better.

That’s exactly what I have mind. Luckily, I have just enough signal to load Windy to keep track of the clouds. Should be easy to move a little North or South from here if it makes a difference in cloud cover. 
 

I’m pretty hesitant about moving though. I’ve been to two eclipses, where I saw hardly any of the partial phase due to cloud cover. But the clouds parted just enough that I saw the entire total portion. 

[???]

That’s exactly what I have mind. Luckily, I have just enough signal to load Windy to keep track of the clouds. Should be easy to move a little North or South from here if it makes a difference in cloud cover. 
 

I’m pretty hesitant about moving though. I’ve been to two eclipses, where I saw hardly any of the partial phase due to cloud cover. But the clouds parted just enough that I saw the entire total portion. 

Do you know where there is to head north or south of Lake Greeson? Day use would work. I'm staying at Lake Greeson as well. 

[Sockrider]

I live in Shreveport LA (northwest LA). I waited until Monday morning to choose my destination. I’m close enough to choose Texas or Arkansas. Due to weather, I drove about 3 hours to Hot Springs AR and had good weather with only thin clouds. We had a nice clear view and amazing experience. I believe we had close to 3 1/2 minutes of totality.

Edited by Sockrider, 09 April 2024 - 06:54 AM.

[lphilpot]

The weather Monday in Mena AR was great. It was completely clear overhead during 4:00+ of totality. Crowds were non-existent to any real degree, roads weren't crowded. So we now have a lot of "road food" to take home with us!!

[shakafell]

We made a last minute change and drove from San Antonio to Jonesboro AR on Sunday to chase the clear skies. Finding a room was surprisingly easy.

 

We were at a local park where there were vendors and radio stations broadcasting. It was not crowded at all and no big rush when leaving.

 

There was no traffic whatsoever returning home to Texas. There were signs all along the way warning about delays and we just laughed.

[Moravianus]

... There were signs all along the way warning about delays and we just laughed.

Like this

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[synmonger]

I live in Shreveport LA (northwest LA). I waited until Monday morning to choose my destination. I’m close enough to choose Texas or Arkansas. Due to weather, I drove about 3 hours to Hot Springs AR and had good weather with only thin clouds. We had a nice clear view and amazing experience. I believe we had close to 3 1/2 minutes of totality.

Hot Springs Village is where we ended up. It was just a few wispy clouds.

Did you happen to see a large prominence that appeared purple for a few moments? The colors were amazing.

[jrussell]

I wound up at Dierks Lake in Arkansas. Heavy clouds for a few hours, but started breaking up around noon. Only high thin clouds during totality but not near enough to be a problem.

[Reid W]

We were setup at a colleague's observatory just NW of Dierks.  

 

The visibility went to zero at totality for the first 20 seconds and then it it cleared.  We were using 8x42 binos and a 92mm f6.6 with a 30mm apm uff for 20x views.  It was worth the drive from Shreveport.

 

I was operating my dslr on a preset exposure...didn't want to miss the visual. Nothing turned out- that's OK.   My observing pal got some teriffic shots using his Z9 on a 400mm f4.

 

Going home, there were still quite a few people in the park in DeQueen.  Traffic wasn't bad...saw lots of out of state tags. 

[mogur]

Hot Springs Village is where we ended up. It was just a few wispy clouds.

Did you happen to see a large prominence that appeared purple for a few moments? The colors were amazing.

Me too. I had my Ha scope set up at my sister's house and was able to catch some nice viewing. They had never seen the sun that way. A few minutes before totality we drove to a church parking lot in order to be in a more open area.