WANTED: Travel companion to Cairns Eclipse

[Analog6 (Odille)]

Well it looks like I might be able to make it to the Cairns TSE on 14 November this year after all.

The tentative plan is drive up in the van, stay 7 nights at Glengarry Caravan park/resort at Mowbray which is north of Oak Beach, drive home. The park has vacancies for powered sites, and I have a bed base and all my camping equipment in the van. I use a marquee thingy at the back (see pics here). Free WiFi is available.

I am allowing 4 days to drive up leaving tweed heads on 7 November and arriving Cairns 11 November. That gives a couple of days to scout Oak Beach and alternatives. I plan to so some sightseeing and hopefully have a trip on the Kuranda railway, and do some photography, as I've never been north of Maleny before! Coming back depart am Mon 18 Nov & 3 or 4 days to drive home.

You would need to bring stretcher/sleeping bag/whatever you use (you can set up in the marquee but I'd sure advise being off the ground as it is creepy crawley territory); your observing gear, some cooking stuff like frypan and a couple of pots, personal items for shower, washing etc.

I have a power board with a light & 3 power points in it, long cords, a worktable (for computers, cooking etc), 2 burner gas stove, gas light, cooking gear, and a couple opf water bottles.

So if anyoner would like to come along let me know. I'll give this a week or two here then if there are no takers put it on my photo forums as well.

I would aks for contribution of 50% of fuel and van park costs (from memory $48 per night so 50% is $24 x 7 nights) & any accommodation costs on route. And buy your own food etc

EDITED TO ADD:

After some quick research:
1873 kms / 4 = 468km per day

1873 x 2 / 600 = 6.3 tank fuel. Allowing $100 per tank (it may well be less, I filled up for $80 the other day and it was really empty) comes to $630 for fuel. There will be extra for side trips and sightseeing but those will be my call.

Accommodation:
Glengarry powered site 7 nights @ $48 = $336.
Accommodation along the way, say $45 per night x 7 = $315.00

UNALTERABLE COSTS: $1300. So half would be $650.

[Analog6 (Odille)]

Well, it is booked and I have paid the 2 nights deposit, and have a booking number. I'm starting to get excited.

I did email one of the solar filter suppliers but haven't had an answer back so have to chase them up. Can anyone think of a way to mount the solar sheet into my 100x100 Lee filter holder. How robust is the stuff?

[h0ughy (David)]

i will be there in the same park staying in the deluxe cabin - so we can work it out with the solar filter if you like - but doing it before hand would be preferable be there from the sunday to thursday

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Analog6

Well, it is booked and I have paid the 2 nights deposit, and have a booking number. I'm starting to get excited.

I did email one of the solar filter suppliers but haven't had an answer back so have to chase them up. Can anyone think of a way to mount the solar sheet into my 100x100 Lee filter holder. How robust is the stuff?

Odille, you might get other solutions. This works for me.

Take a couple of sheets of heavy cardboard of a size to be a tight fit in the filter holder. You could add more sheets if that's not stiff enough.
Cut a hole in the centre of the cardboard about the same size as the lens barrel.
Place a sheet of solar filter between the two sheets,
Staple at several places around the edge so the staples will be outside the front lens element. I found glue would not work. Do not make the film tight. It must not stretch. A few ripples do not matter.
Trim the film to the cardboard.
Store in a ziplock freezer bag between a couple of sheets of tissue.

That's similar to how I did my binoculars.

[Analog6 (Odille)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

i will be there in the same park staying in the deluxe cabin - so we can work it out with the solar filter if you like - but doing it before hand would be preferable be there from the sunday to thursday

I plan to arrive a few days beforehand, I've booked from the Sunday (11th) to Saturday (17th). Mithrandir, I'll try that. I know I have an A4 piece somewhere but I'll order some anyway as I put the other in a "safe place"!

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Originally Posted by Analog6

.... as I put the other in a "safe place"!

Ahhh I have quite a few things stored there too.
Good luck finding a travel companion. I would have jumped at it, but I'm driving up with my 2 teenage boys.

[Analog6 (Odille)]

Hopefully when I tear the 2 rooms i am sure it might be in apart!

I was so hopeful of finding someone to drive up with, no luck on my photo forum either. I hesitate to put it on Facebook, I'll have a think about that one.

[xstream (John)]

Originally Posted by Analog6

I was so hopeful of finding someone to drive up with, no luck on my photo forum either. I hesitate to put it on Facebook, I'll have a think about that one.

Odille, I would just sit awhile on your request as there is sometime to go yet.
Just give the thread a bump every couple of weeks.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Originally Posted by xstream

Odille, I would just sit awhile on your request as there is sometime to go yet.
Just give the thread a bump every couple of weeks.

Agreed.
If you are coming up for QLD Astrofest, you could put a flyer on the notice board. You could also email all the astro societies in SEQ and let them know too. They might put it in their new letters.

[Analog6 (Odille)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Agreed.
If you are coming up for QLD Astrofest, you could put a flyer on the notice board. You could also email all the astro societies in SEQ and let them know too. They might put it in their new letters.

Thanks for those suggestions. I am not coming to Astro fest, unfortunately, if I do a notice and email it to you as a pdf could you orint one pin it up for me? I'd be so grateful. I hadn't thought of the astro societies, I will try them.

I thought of flying but there are no affordable cabins left anywhere and I would have difficulty bringing all my camera gear. Plus the fact that I enjoy journeys as much as their destinations.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I think we have the situation well and truly sorted now.
I'm looking forward to our road trip Odille.

[Analog6 (Odille)]

Me too!

[Analog6 (Odille)]

Yes, jjjnettie and I are driving up together! This is starting to look like a lot of fun and good times. Is anyone else from here staying at Glengarry (apart from Houghy)?

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Our Jen is staying at Palm Cove and hopes to join us on the morning