BOERNE, Texas — From day to dark in minutes. On Monday, thousands of people took in the total solar eclipse in the Texas Hill Country.
At Main Plaza in Boerne, families sprawled out on the lawn. An anxious tension filled the air as heavy clouds rolled in at about 11 a.m.
“We are hoping for those clouds to move,” said Kathy Garske, who was visiting from Wisconsin. “We are not exactly eclipse chasers, but we enjoy them very much.”
Garske was with her friend, Mary Shea, from Arizona.
“Mary and I grew up together in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and we got to see [a solar eclipse] when we were seven,” Garske said.
“1963,” Shea added.
The two traveled to St. Louis in 2017 to view the total solar eclipse.
“It feels spiritual in a way,” said Garske. “It puts you in contact with the heavens sort of.”
“When it’s dark, you get this sensation that comes over you that’s hard to describe,” said Shea. “It feels like a lot of energy and connection.”
Every time there was a break in the clouds, a loud cheer would erupt in downtown Boerne.
Morgan Hinson wanted to document the once-in-a-lifetime event for Texas. The photographer from San Antonio invested in new equipment to capture the eclipse.
“My goal is to create like a linear collage of before first contact, second contact, totality, third and forth contact,” Hinson said.
The weather had other plans, though. The eclipse was only visible for fleeting seconds a handful of times.
Though he couldn’t see it, four-year-old Lucas Landaeta told our KENS 5 reporter what to expect.
“The moon is going to cover the sun,” he said.
When it did, Boerne was cast into a deep darkness. The gazebo was the only thing lighting the plaza.
“It got quiet and still,” said Cynthia Apodaca. “Even the air felt still. Seeing daylight turn to dark in a matter of minutes, it was incredible.”
“It was amazing,” said Eulalia Mendoza. “It was so breathtaking. I loved it.”
Despite the clouds, Garske says it was worth the trip.
“We are having fun no matter what,” she said.