Official April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Fredericksburg TX Rally

[John E Davies]

Bump, we just added a tenth Ollie!

Bob & Marsha Pancoast

LE2 Hull #108

Carnation, WA

Site # 23

Woohoo. 

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Carl Hansen]

Nice!!!

[Galway Girl]

Bob and Marsha are the couple that showed us their Oliver on Referral from the Factory.

It will be fun to check in with them again!

Craig 

 

[Mike and Carol]

Looks like a mini-rally!  We live about 40 minutes away so we will plan on visit once everyone arrives.  Mike

[John E Davies]

Bump, please let me know if you reserved and are not on the Ollie list.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[DaveK]

You can add another Oliver joining for the event.  

Dave & Lisa Kelly

LE2 Hull #1247

Fort Myers Beach, FL

Site # 24A

[John E Davies]

Dave, done, thank you. You are number 11 Ollie. That will be quite a mini rally.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Carl Hansen]

Greetings!

As of April 1st you can now contact the Lady Bird Johnson RV Park campground to extend your stay after the official Solar Eclipse dates.  We extended our stay for an addition 2 nights to make sure that we miss the crowds and traffic exiting the area.  We will then travel East to visit new and exciting places.

Can't wait to meet you there!

Carl

[Galway Girl]

Carl,

Thanks for the heads up.  I extended site 44 for 2 extra days as well.
After that we're heading through Texas and Arkansas to Hohenwald for a yearly service update.
Then we turn back all the way back to California for a daughters party at Disneyland in May...then on up through the Sierra's to home in WA.

Craig 

Hull 505 - Galway Girl

[Nancy K.]

We will be at my sister's home in Center Point Sat Sun Mon nights.  Possibly staying at Inks Lake SP the Wed/Thurs/Fri before that if we can get reservations when the 4 month window opens.  If your mini rally has any group dinners or events, we might be able to participate. 

Also, does anyone have recommendations for great stops in AR or TX the last week of March as we make our way there?  Has anyone been to the East TX Arboretum?

Thanks.

 

[John E Davies]

41 minutes ago, Nancy K. said:

If your mini rally has any group dinners or events, we might be able to participate. 

Also, does anyone have recommendations for great stops in AR or TX the last week of March as we make our way there?  Has anyone been to the East TX Arboretum?

As per the first post;

Ralph Mawyer said: “ It's a great little park, but please note, they are really strict about no extra vehicles for that weekend, so that folks don't book a space and invite everyone they know.  Be sure and read the rules.”

This is in NO way an “organized events” rally, there will be no group activity except among the few Ollie owners who are actually camping there.

The town is going to be insanely crowded over that weekend… , I suggest that casual eclipse viewers look elsewhere.

Please keep this thread for the Fredericksburg eclipse only, ask your general questions in a new thread. Thanks.

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

[Nancy K.]

John, thank you for the clarification.  Feel free to remove my post.  I can't see a way to delete it.

[Mike and Carol]

6 hours ago, Nancy K. said:

John, thank you for the clarification.  Feel free to remove my post.  I can't see a way to delete it.

No need to remove your post, we’re all educated!

8 hours ago, John E Davies said:

This is in NO way an “organized events” rally, there will be no group activity except among the few Ollie owners who are actually camping there.

The town is going to be insanely crowded over that weekend… , I suggest that casual eclipse viewers look elsewhere.

We were going to drive up after the eclipse to see some fellow Oliver owners since we live just 40 minutes from Fredericksburg and we are in the path of the eclipse.  We visit Fredericksburg often, avoiding weekends.   We’ll stay home that weekend, too.  Mike

[Patriot]

2 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

No need to remove your post, we’re all educated!

We were going to drive up after the eclipse to see some fellow Oliver owners since we live just 40 minutes from Fredericksburg and we are in the path of the eclipse.  We visit Fredericksburg often, avoiding weekends.   We’ll stay home that weekend, too.  Mike

So smart to stay home.
Droves will be leaving and you will avoid the “unorganized” traffic congestion. Such a hard pass on attending. 
Be patient.

Patriot🇺🇸

[Ollie-Haus]

Sometimes you just get lucky. Amazingly the full solar eclips will be viewable from our back yard in Hancock County Indiana. You know where to find me on that date. 😁

[Mike and Carol]

10 hours ago, Patriot said:

So smart to stay home.
Droves will be leaving and you will avoid the “unorganized” traffic congestion. Such a hard pass on attending. 
Be patient.

Patriot🇺🇸

We’ll be able to see the full eclipse from home.  I was going to drive up before or after just to visit any Oliver folks.  Fredericksburg is always busy on weekends, which we avoid.  We go up during the week quite often.  Mike

[John E Davies]

Bump for update about Tent Camping here, see the first post edit at the top...

John Davies

Spokane WA

[MnM]

On 4/10/2022 at 8:22 AM, John E Davies said:

EDIT 06/05/23. FYI Update with tent camping at the park. There are still some spots left if you want to attend and rough it for a while. Four nights for $100, unload your truck, walk to your 20 feet x 20 feet spot, park truck in nearby parking lot. You have to pay for four nights but you can arrive any time. This might be a way for a local Ollie owner to attend without actually bringing the trailer. JD

Only one standard size vehicle parking permit is included with your reservation. Absolutely no vehicles, golfcarts, motorcycles, scooters, trailers, or any other type of motorized or wheeled vessel will be allowed in the camping area. No Trailers, Motorhomes, or Oversized vehicles rated larger than a 3/4 ton pickup truck and vehicles longer than 16ft or wider than 6ft. Tent camping area is a pack in and pack out format a vehicle unloading area will be provided. Then vehicles must be immediately parked in the designated Tent Camping Parking areas. Tent camping parking areas are within close walking distance from the Tent Camping area. 
Tent spaces are approximately 20X20 feet and only 6 occupants permitted per space. Only traditional tents not exceeding 300 square feet that can be secured to the ground will be allowed in the camping area. No Trailer or Vehicle type tents will be allowed.
Absolutely no fires, only propane grills are permitted.

————————————————

This is a spinoff from this thread:

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/4138-official-ollie-eclipse-rallies-total-solar-eclipse-04082024/

Please read that for general info and for general eclipse remarks, this one is just for this Lady Bird Johnson RV Park part of it. I plan to post member names, hull numbers and campsite numbers. Scroll down to the next posts for links to the RV park and some pictures. Places are going FAST, do not delay a minute if you want to come here in 2024. You will not be able to “wing it” and hope to find a place to park the day before, no way….. having a reserved spot will take away a huge mental stress. I am listing these in order received. Let me know if you want me to add info such as your real name(s).

***List updated 03/14/23*** There are ELEVEN Ollies as of this date! Woohoo!

Ralph Mawyer, LE2 Hull 625, San Antonio Texas, site 66

John and Jac Davies, LE2 Hull 218 “Mouse”, Spokane Washington, site 11

Carl Hansen, LE Hull 924 “Lil Tow”, Oregon, site 24B

Galway Girl, LE2 Hull 505 “Galway Girl”, Everett Washington, site 44

Kathy & Brad Tewart, LE2 Hull 1095, Katy Texas, site 70

Bob and Elizabeth Cox, LE2 Hull 737, Florence Alabama, site 64

Mike and Marianne Hermann, LE2 Hull ?, Scottsdale Arizona, site 13

Alan and Judy Wasik, LE2 Hull 759, Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, site 30

Donna and Paul Polk, LE2 Hull 414 “2 HOBOS”, Berryville, Virginia, site 56

 

Bob and Marsha Pancoast, LE2 Hull 108. Carnation, Washington, site 23

Dave & Lisa Kelly, LE2 Hull #1247, Fort Myers Beach, FL, Site # 24A

*************************

Ralph Mawyer said: “ It's a great little park, but please note, they are really strict about no extra vehicles for that weekend, so that folks don't book a space and invite everyone they know.  Be sure and read the rules.”

John Davies

Spokane WA

Hull 1337 for Mike and Marianne Hermann.  
 

We now have a family wedding to attend that weekend but plan to park Ollie in our spot and fly out then back to San Antonio to make the Eclipse.  

[Ralph Mawyer]

Should be fun. I’m not sure why we’re going, since we live in the zone with a good view, like Mike & Carol. 
 

Maybe I should rent my driveway and cul-de-sac. 🙂

 

[John E Davies]

Update with some Street View pics from Google Earth. I am a little distressed, the campground "map" only vaguely reflects the real world. Take a look at these images. 

John Davies

Spokane WA

[John E Davies]

This only applies to those who might be tent camping:

You might want to pick a spot upwind to reduce dust exposure from people walking or kids running, and also in case a sudden squall comes up and a tent breaks loose from its pegs...

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Galway Girl]

 

 

Good prep for Fredericksburg… great overview of the park at the 6:30 mark.  

[ScubaRx]

On 4/10/2022 at 10:22 AM, John E Davies said:

EDIT 06/05/23. FYI Update with tent camping at the park. There are still some spots left if you want to attend and rough it for a while. Four nights for $100, unload your truck, walk to your 20 feet x 20 feet spot, park truck in nearby parking lot. You have to pay for four nights but you can arrive any time. This might be a way for a local Ollie owner to attend without actually bringing the trailer. JD

Only one standard size vehicle parking permit is included with your reservation. Absolutely no vehicles, golfcarts, motorcycles, scooters, trailers, or any other type of motorized or wheeled vessel will be allowed in the camping area. No Trailers, Motorhomes, or Oversized vehicles rated larger than a 3/4 ton pickup truck and vehicles longer than ****16ft*** or wider than 6ft. Tent camping area is a pack in and pack out format a vehicle unloading area will be provided. Then vehicles must be immediately parked in the designated Tent Camping Parking areas. Tent camping parking areas are within close walking distance from the Tent Camping area. 
Tent spaces are approximately 20X20 feet and only 6 occupants permitted per space. Only traditional tents not exceeding 300 square feet that can be secured to the ground will be allowed in the camping area. No Trailer or Vehicle type tents will be allowed.
Absolutely no fires, only propane grills are permitted.

NOTE: 16 feet is a mid sized truck! My Land Cruiser 200 is 16.25’. A Suburban is about 19’… They don’t want long vehicles.

This has way too many rules. Especially since there are now folks offering free boondocking spaces for up to five days with porta-potties, food vendors for all meals, no kids under 18, rattlesnakes, only fiberglass trailers allowed, blue grass music, fire ants, and no hidden fees...

For what else could you ask?

[Galway Girl]

For those staying at Lady Bird Johnson RV Park here's the link to the Official Fredericksburg Eclipse site that has been updated.

https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/eclipse/

 

FYI - The video linked below is from the planning meeting last spring.  It's is an interesting watch just from the perspective of how a small town tries to plan ahead for being overrun by tourists. 

Video of the May 17 Fredericksburg Eclipse Town Hall Meeting

The town is doing it's best to plan ahead but there are big concerns about gridlock the day after the event. 
April in Fredericksburg is always a busy time but this year will be over the top congested and busy.

Per some earlier suggestions, we've booked for two additional days at the Lady Bird campground until the 11th Apr to stay off the roads.

PDF- Official Visitor Guide for Eclipse Below 

Eclipse%20FAQs%20-%2004102023.pdf

 

Happy New Year

Craig & Rose - Hull 505

[Galway Girl]

Excerpt from the PDF above about visiting the area of the Eclipse:

Tips for Visitors

Eclipse Begins: Monday, April 8, 2024, at 12:15 p.m. to 2:56 p.m. CT - Total Eclipse visible from 1:32 p.m. to 1:37 p.m.

An􀆟cipated Community Impact Days: Thursday, April 4, 2024 - Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Gillespie County’s popula􀆟on of approximately 27,000 people is expected to swell to 100,000+ during the impact period. It is best to arrive early, come prepared, and have reasonable expectations, given the situation.

The Texas Hill Country is a beautiful, unique place, but please keep local hazards in mind and always know your surroundings.

While Visitng During the Eclipse Impact Days:

• Do not think, “We’ll just pick up what we need when we get there.”
Supplies, cash, fuel, and restaurant meals may be limited or have long lines due to high demand.

• Think about your personal safety and security: o Have a good communication plan with your family members.

• Cell service may be limited due to the increased volume. Have an out of area friend or family member you can check in with if you get separated.
• Pick a landmark where you can reunite if you get separated in a crowd.

o Do not leave valuables in your vehicles. Think through your security plan and how to keep important items secure, i.e. cell phones, telescopes, binoculars, wallets, etc.

• Make sure your vehicle/RV has been serviced and you are all fueled up and ready to go (gas, propane, etc.).

• Help us keep our communities and public areas clean and safe; follow the rule “Pack it in, Pack it out!”

What to Bring with You:

• Eclipse viewing glasses

• Water (plenty of it)

• First Aid Kit

• Necessary medications for you and your pets

• Cash (ATMs may be limited during this time)

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses

• Hat/Visor

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Folding chairs

• Jacket or sweatshirt (Texas weather is unpredictable)

• Snacks/food for the hours, days you plan to be with us

• Prepaid phone card - if you need to call long distance and cellular service is not available

• Maps of the area if you need directions (print your directions and bring them with you); your cellular service may be limited during heaviest impact times