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April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

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On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse crossed a huge swath of the United States. We had been planning a trip to see it ever since the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse . Our chosen destination was at Chalk Bluff River Resort and Park , near Uvalde, Texas, due to statistical likelihood of clear skies in South Texas: The main attraction at Chalk Bluff is Nueces River and the the eponymous bluffs that rise above it: Chalk Bluffs The eclipse was widely publicized. Enough so that the state of Texas found it necessary to put warnings on its highway signs: Texas DOT warning sign Texas DOT warning sign We arrived at Chalk Bluff on April 6. As eclipse day approached, it became clear that the weather was not going to be our friend: NWS blended forecast for eclipse day So, what was originally going to be an "Eclipse expedition, with a possibility of some birding" became a "Birding expedition, with a possibility of seeing an eclipse". It is fortunate that we chose thi
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Savannah

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My wife, Jill, and I were in the Savannah, Georgia area at the end of June and beginning of July. We spent the first part of the trip exploring the built environment. Savannah is a fun, diverse city with a lot to do. We found this amazing metallic Diplodocus in the lobby of the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District hotel : JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside hotel lobby We found lovely Spanish-moss-draped Live Oaks in the parks - this is Forsyth Park: Forsyth Park We found more of them in the cemeteries - this is Bonaventure Cemetery: Bonaventure Cemetery We found the amazing Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist: Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist We found many blooming Crepe Myrtles, draped in, of course, Spanish Moss: Crepe Myrtle We were staying on Tybee Island, which is about 30-45 minutes from downtown Savannah. On the island, we visited the Tybee Island Light Station, which was to feature prominently in our photos
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