Very early Notification

[Arthur Alchin]

For all those long range planners out there ( I'm sure this thread will fall off but I will recommence it if so)

Chaffey Dam was an excellent "end of summer" camp this year so looking at planning another for the last week of February 2014 as the new moon is the 1st of March. At this stage I will be planning to go up on the Tuesday the 25th and returning the 2nd march.

I realise that it is early, but hey, Xmas is only about 11 or 12 weeks away.
EVERYONE IS INVITED as usual
Thoughts please :question:

[Allan_L]

Sounds good to me Arthur.
Although Joanne is not so keen this time.

[Arthur Alchin]

She didn't enjoy the peace and tranquility?? Or was it the, yes , people :P

[glend]

I will plan to attend Arthur. I seem to recall this had some discussion up at Bretti, can you refresh my memory - are dogs allowed?

[Allan_L]

Facilities and activities at Bowling Alley Point Recreation Reserve (Chaffey Dam)
Number of sites:
200
Camping Fees:
$5 per car per day, payed at the honesty box when you first enter the campground.

Hot showers are $1

Bookings:
Self serve booth at campsite.
How to book:
There are no bookings required, and given how big the camping area is, you should always be able to find a spot. Campsites on the waters edge are at a premium in the school holidays in summer, but most of the time you should be able to get one.

Toilets:
Flushing Toilets
Pets:
Pets are allowed with conditions
Water Availability:
There is usually drinking water available at this campsite. Please take care and it may still be advisable to boil water before drinking.
Camp fires:
Fires may be allowed in built fire places. Please check local fire bans and rules.
Barbeques:
Wood barbeques are available. Bring firewood and check firebans.
Swimming:
You are able to swim in the lake nearby.
Fishing:
There are fishing spots at or near this campsite.
Picnic Tables:
Yes.
Horse Riding:
No
Canoeing / Kayaking:
There are canoeing and kayaking spots at or near this campsite

[Arthur Alchin]

Well covered Allan, we should add that the generators are taken by a few of us and we can charge people's batteries for them ( in an electronics sense that is)

[Allan_L]

reminder to keep this week free

[glend]

It is on my calendar, thanks Arthur and Allan.

[Allan]

There are some interesting posts on IIS about how good the observing sites around this part of NSW are. The higher elevation is a real bonus. You guys certainly know how to pick them.

Being the end of summer I may leave the port at home this time and substitute for beer.

[absolut]

Hi Guys!

Pencil me in for this one, I'll be doing my best to be there!!
Haven't been to Chaffey in 20+ years!!

Thanks Arthur + Allan!!

Rob

[Arthur Alchin]

:welcome:
The thread hadn't fallen over, thanks a Rob for finding it wherever it was. Hopefully we might pick up some sky buddies from all around nsw, esp the hunter New England, north coast and Southern Queensland. Everyone is welcome

Arthur

[jakob]

It's in my dairy!
:)

[Arthur Alchin]

Be nice if we could spread the news to those in Southern Queensland and everywhere for that matter, the more the merrier I say 😄

[glend]

Arthur, there are IIS members on the north coast of NSW as well, like glenc for example.

[Arthur Alchin]

How do we get the message through to them? I'll leave my mobile number on here if anyone wants to contact me about the event

0400372814, and it's Arthur 😄😄

[glend]

Maybe it would help to call it as a Star Party type event with a name like Lake Chaffey Astro Camp, or New England Area AStro Camp/star party, etc as "Very Early Notification" title doesn't tell people anything and can be missed by people browsing the New Posts in the forum unless they make the connection to the sub-forum it's listed in.
I've tried to search for users by area/region and that doesn't seem to be possible for a normal user. If you were really good with SQL you might be able to write a script to pull out user location data but that's maybe going too far. Best bet might be good publicity.

I will PM glenc and see if he knows of others in the northern NSW region.

Update: I have had a message back from glenc and he is going to let others in his area know about this event. Arthur can I suggest you edit your original post title and give the event the name of your choice. Cheers

[glend]

Re the site at Lake Chaffey, I saw in a couple of site reviews that mention "Limited fresh water. BYO advised". Does anyone know just what limited means?

[Allan_L]

That seems odd, considering it is a freshwater dam.
I believe Rick (and others) were pumping water direct from the dam, not sure but I assume they boiled or filtered it before consumption. (recommended, especially considering many of us also swam in it!!!)

Perhaps the caution simply refers to a lack of taps at the camping sites?

But the amenities block had fresh water showers etc..

Sorry Glen I can't be more definite, because my van travels with 100 litre water tank and we used that exclusively for drinking cooking etc..

[GTB_an_Owl]

I guess it would mean "Tank Water" Glen - at the amenities block

i would think the shower and toilet water would be straight from the dam

geoff

[glend]

Thanks Allan and Geoff, yes I was referring to drinking water, I can imagine that dam water would have to be boiled before drinking (as cattle are allowed to graze the shore in places) and even Warragamba Dam water has to be treated. Agree there might be limited tank water that might be drinkable but I will just plan on bringing a larger drinking water supply.

[absolut]

It wouldn't surprise me if there is still some blue-green algae in the dam. It has been listed as "boil before drinking" for as long as I can remember. :shrug:

Essentially it is just a large body of stationery water... all sorts of things might be calling that home! ;)

Good swimming hole though! :D

[Arthur Alchin]

Adding this out of interest, doesn't matter where I go camping always take drinking water from home, guess it's what my bodies accustomed to. Quite happy to boil water for washing up and showering etc but the blu- green algae thing, it worries me .

[glend]

The NSW Water website shows no Algal Alerts for Lake Chaffey at this time. Algal conditions are monitored by Regional Algal Committees and they issue alerts if required. As Lake Chaffey is the prmary source of Tamworth drinking water I would think it is closely watched. Here is the link to the Algal ALert page:

http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/Water-management/Water-quality/Algal-information/Algal-information/default.aspx

[absolut]

Long time ago it was bad enough to have floating islands of the stuff.

Safe to say the technology involved with removing it would have improved ALOT in nearly 25 years!

I wouldn't be too concerned about it, it's not an issue for swimming, just dont consume it (I have and it did nothing - crypto in Sydney had no effect either)... :thumbsup:

I'm still keen for the camp... as long as they don't add anything to the dam that can creep into your tent and eat you at night, I'm good. :lol:

[Arthur Alchin]

Reassuring to know that about Chaffey, thankyou 😊

A recent published scientific paper implicated blue green algae as a possible cause of motor neurone disease in humans. This was an australian discovery.

Apparently they found that a protein in the algae is almost a clone of one of the human neuro transmitters and when it enters the body it " switches off" the natural one and replaces it. Unfortunately it doesn't replicate as necessary as the human one does and over time neuro transmission ceases. Further work will follow I'm sure

[Arthur Alchin]

The camping get togethers we have are just that. We have avoided calling them astro camps or any such facsimile because the sole idea to to encourage people to come and meet up at a common location with a common interest and have some fun.

Otherwise there is no organising or profit making etc so as to avoid all the legal garbage that accompanies organised events.

We all attend at our own risk as we would if wee were camping alone except we have friends all around.

Will leave the "big events" for Mike and others to organise 😊😊

[glend]

My son and his partner will be driving down from Brisbane to join us at Lake Chaffey. They will be there for the new moon weekend. :thumbsup: They were sold on the trip after I showed them the Orion Nebula over the Christmas period. They are keen photographers, have astro binos.

[glend]

Only eight weeks till Lake Chaffey!!!

[glend]

Arthur, et al, just noticed that new my Camp 7 book lists Bowling Alley Point Rec Reserve as 4 days maximum stay, checking websites, some say seven days, others say four days, others seven days by prior arrangement. Is this an issue, do I need to book somewhere to stay the whole week?

[Allan_L]

I believe this would only be an issue during "peak" periods.

Last year, no one even came and checked we had paid and registered (self registration).

The sign says 7 days

[glend]

Folks, here are the average temps for the Tamworth area for the last week of February and early March 2014 (based on historical data of course):

http://www.accuweather.com/en/au/tamworth/12773/march-weather/12773

As Lake Chaffey is alittle further east in the ranges and higher in altitude the temps maybe lower than those shown (slightly).

Certainly the averages indicate that it will be both comfortable for day time lake activities, and cool enough at night to be enjoyable for astronomy and sleeping.

[Arthur Alchin]

Temps last year were brilliant, if I remember correctly it was overcast a lot during the day and miraculously cleared late afternoon, I think the ISS got spotted on 5 or 6 occasions whilst we were there, this time I'm trying to stay for 6 nights

[arc4ne]

I really want to make this trip! I will try and figure out a way of making it happen.

[absolut]

Leave form is in!

I'll be at Chaffey from the fri arvo until mon morning/lunch...

Can't wait for some awesome skies!

Rob

[Allan]

G'day Rob. Your post has given me a thought. In Arthur's first post he said he was getting there on Tuesday and leaving Sunday. What is the general consensus? I can be there anytime to fit in with when everyone else is going to be there.

[glend]

I was planning on going up on Monday the 24th. My son will be coming down from Brisbane on Friday the 28th. Arthur picked a great week for this event, the moon doesn't rise until 12:47am on the morning of the 25th, and because it's past last quarter on the 23rd it gets increasingy irrelevant as the week goes on rising later and later, by the 27th whatever is left of the moon is lost in the dawn. I will stay until Sunday or Monday.

[Arthur Alchin]

I'm going monday till sunday as I'm working the Monday ( at this stage, trying to get an rdo for the Monday)

Also have gone to a gas BBQ if anyone needs to BBQ and your not taking your own.

Wow. Getting closer. Worried that Inmykombi (Geoff) won't be there. Haven't heard from Mr Owl or Jakob or Deeno or Rick and the list goes on ����

[Arthur Alchin]

Seems so far we have Allan, arc4ne, Glend, Fizics, Arthur, ? Jakob, Absolut. And Allan (sorry, my bad)


Let's see the numbers grow between now and then eh :rofl::rofl:

[GTB_an_Owl]

well the owl might just keep you all in suspenders till the last minute :D

geoff

[Arthur Alchin]

Love surprises Mr Owl :rofl:

[jakob]

I'm booked!:thumbsup:

Subject to pages of conditions in fine print:screwy:

[Rick Petrie]

I could be a definite maybe for this one.;)
Subject to all boxes being ticked of course.:P

[Arthur Alchin]

Starting to get excited, about 5 weeks to go, you beaut

[Arthur Alchin]

If there are any Amateurs living in these areas would love to catch up and meet at this camp if you could make it.

We all have a common interest but uncommon distances to travel.

Look forward to maybe meeting a few of you :)

[Rick Petrie]

Just checked the current level for Chaffey Dam and is now sitting on 60%.
compared with 80% at our last trip.
This probably means that it will be very difficult to pump water from the dam. I think we may have to now consider either taking more water, or manually carting containers on foot, as I don't think there will be sufficient in the tanks near the amenities for general use.
May have to shower with a friend.:P:D
We will manage though.:thumbsup:
Hope to get more runoff into dam before the date, as the topography looks so much better with the dam full.

[Arthur Alchin]

Get the message, might try and get the submersible pump out into the dam otherwise will carry it out in buckets, I take a 60 litre tank.

Any volunteers for a shower partner? All offers considered 😄😄

[absolut]

There is usually a bit of rain to be had in that region around this time of the year (Country Music Festival usually coinsides with the occasional flood or atleast some useful rain). If there isn't any rain of any substance to be had between now and mid Feb, then I think it's safe to say we are in for a nasty drought...

I tend to bring my drinking water. I'll probably settle for the dam for most other purposes.

Missing a shower or 2 is all part of the camping experience! :rolleyes:

[glend]

I will bring all the drinking water I need anyway. Situation is the same as Bretti, water there but not to drink. As long as I can walk to the water to get some for the shower bag then that's fine.
I checked the recent rainfall up that way and there was as much as 20mm south of there and around 5mm at Tamworth area in the last 24hrs, admittedly that would not run off but its a start. Here is the BOM link to the 24hr rainfall map.

http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood/

Of course it's not going to fill up to 80% in four weeks but that's ok.

[Arthur Alchin]

28 sleeps to go, wippee

[Allan]

Are you getting a bit excited there Arthur?

[GTB_an_Owl]

he always does Allan

geoff

[Arthur Alchin]

Maybe :):lol:

[Inmykombi]

Picked up my camper trailer last weekend. Now looking forward to getting away. My work situation has changed so its looking good for a few days away.

[glend]

Whoooooh I new campertrailer, can't wait to see it. Shall it be christened with port poured over the drawbar?;)

[Rick Petrie]

No that's a waste of good port.:P

[Inmykombi]

A splash of creek water will suffice for a christening, and it will save the port.:D

[glend]

Time to start doing some odd jobs on the camper and look at my list for Lake Chaffey.
Can anyone advise on the dew situation at the site?

[mozzie]

do you guys do it this time every year?? looks a nice dark site..
can't make it this time but may come across next year..

[Arthur Alchin]

As a group we try about 3 times a year, usually early, a winter trip and possibly an end of year.

This times last year was our first trip to Chaffey, other places we use are Lostock scout camp, Bretti reserve and Laheys creek via Dunneedoo.

We are always searching for new adventures, as long as it is cheap, has a creek or river and good dark shies and no more than about a four or five hour drive we'll be interested 😄😄

[glend]

Counting the days now....this will be the first dark site outing for my Bresser Messier AR102 refractor. I will have three scopes with me (heaven help me).:eyepop:

[Arthur Alchin]

9 days to work between now and then, waiting to get my generator back from a service, told them I needed it by the 20th, I fibbed, but it is a built in margin of error

14 sleeps till I go yippee

[Arthur Alchin]

Roll on the early hours of the 24th, I will be on the road. Can hardly wait. The weather? Who knows!!! Who cares?? There will, I'm sure be some good nights up there.. Looked at "the weather channel" states the dam is at 81%. Will have to wait till we get there and see. Do intend to take the boat and fishing rod

[Inmykombi]

I just had my Van / trailer socket wiring re-installed correctly, and now my trailer lights all work as intended.
The new Camper trailer is ready to rock and roll now.
Work is still very quiet, so I look like taking advantage of the quieter times and getting away.
Unless work gets very busy, I too will go up a day or two earlier than planned.
ie: work busy....arrive Thursday leave Sunday.
work quiet....arrive Tuesday leave Sunday.
Cant wait to get stuck into some camp cooking again.mmmmmmmmmmm.

My Wife is asking who else has there Wife or partner attending so she can make a decision as to whether to come or not.
Please let me know so I can tell her.

Cheers

Geoffro

[Arthur Alchin]

I know of at the least 4 women going, maybe up to 6 or 8 but DuPont know when they are arriving.

Also can someone pick a common channel for the uhf cb so we can hear each other, preferable in the old 40 channels as only a few have the newer units with 80 channels

[Allan_L]

Joanne is not coming this time.
Once at an Astro camp is more than one can expect a girl to bear. ! :(



I like to travel on UHF 18.
It is the official convoy channel for campers and caravanners.

[Allan]

My wife is not coming, she is not much of a camper. Not much of an astronomer also come to think of it.

Bundy is all fired up and counting down the days. He misses you guys and all the left overs.

I get back from Dallas late Monday, but will pack as quick as I can on Tuesday morning and see you guys in the afternoon. I will stay until Saturday because I have to get back for work.

I'm looking forward to catching up with you guys again, just have to work out which social lubricant to bring this time.

[glend]

Toby is looking forward to catching up with Bundy.

[Arthur Alchin]

So channell 18 it is.
Will scan them all but talk on 18, sounds good

[Allan]

We will have to setup a play date.

[Inmykombi]

Channel 18 sounds good to me. For those already on site when others are arriving, please keep 18 on your cb so we can find you when we arrive.

One question though....

Where can we buy ice while there ?. I gave a standard esky, and I will be staying longer than the first load of Ice will last ?

[GTB_an_Owl]

at the pub in nundle Geoff

i got some there last trip

geoff

[Allan_L]

as Geoff said ... OR ... for a quick fix ...
Turn LEFT when you come out of the campsite.
Woolomin (General Store) is only about 6 kilometres down the road.
(whereas Nundle is about 16 kilometres the other direction)

[Inmykombi]

We could also sample one of those fresh pies and quench a thirst at the same time....

geoffro

[Inmykombi]

Ah yes I remember that store too. Thx Geoff and Allan for the info.

[Allan_L]

I am still to decide when I will be going up to Chaffey.

Ideally, I would like to go with some others in a casual convoy style, communicating on UHF radio.
This has been fun in the past, and it makes the long trip seem to pass that much faster.

Tuesday (25 Feb) looks good for me at this time, but I am flexible.

So when are you planning on going up there? :poke:

[GTB_an_Owl]

sorry Al

i will be coming in from the other end

i go to Coffs next weekend
will then travel via grafton/casino/drake(might stay overnite monday)/tenterfield(might have to see a solicitor there tuesday)/tamworth

geoff

[glend]

I was planning on going up on Monday, as I thought that was when others were going up. I'd hope to get there with others who had been before so I know where the setup area is. Is Arthur still going Monday?

BTW it's raining up there right now. Just had a look at the Namoi weather radar and there is a strong band of rain heading in a line from Tamworth to Nundle. Might run off into the lake and raise it abit.

[Arthur Alchin]

I have only a week off and it's been a horrendous six months settling into a new job and I want to maximise my time away so will be leaving home very early on the Monday morning with a view to getting to the camp site early to mid morning monday.

Glen do you have a radio? If so give me a call as u arrive otherwise head toward the amenities block which is on a rise and look from the front to the back the of the building and u will see water, I should be down on the foreshore there somewhere

[glend]

Yes Arthur I have a UHF and will monitor channel 18, I'll still plan on heading up Monday. If anyone want to convoy up on Monday let me know.

[Inmykombi]

Hi Allan,
It looks like Tuesday or Wednesday for me. maybe Wednesday is most likely. Depends on my work load this week and whether I can clean up the dramas before I go.

Hi Glen, Thanks for the report. Some rain would be good to fill up the dam a bit, as long as it stops for our Nocturnal activities.

[GTB_an_Owl]

so where are you going to set up this year Arthur?

geoff

[Inmykombi]

I thought over here, away from the dirt road that visitors drove up and down constantly might be a little better than last year.
Although there is a dirt road near here too.
It may save our equipment from getting dusty as well.

[Arthur Alchin]

More to the left from where we were last year, the trees were a little intrusive, so from where you you facing the water Geoff (both) are we suggesting well to the left of that, depending on how many campers are already there.

I will try and keep a little isolated from other campers, people tend to favour around the wall side

[Fizics]

Hi all, I will travel up on Monday will be by myself and leave on Friday.

Glen, could try travelling in convoy. Depends on time you want to leave. I allow 5 hrs for trip.

[glend]

John, I was thinking of leaving Lake Mac around 9am because i'd prefer to avoid the mine work force heading up the Hunter Valley. I will be towing my camper with a full load so i will be fairly slow, no rush. I'll be on channel 18 uhf. I'll pm my mobhile phone # later.

[glend]

Just checked the extended weather forecast for the Tamworth area, and despite the rain this week, next week looks wonderful:

http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/australia/tamworth/ext

obviously as we get closer the confidence factor will improve, but it's encouraging.

[Arthur Alchin]

For anyone interested in Kipor generators, before you think about buying one send me a message and I will tell you of a design fault which costs to be fixed

It's been fixed and will come camping with me on Monday but boy oh boy.

Btw, only 6 sleeps to go

[mozzie]

enjoy your camp..what a bugger i may come to your next one..just no time to fit this one in...
kipor generators aaahhhh!!!!!!! back in tho get repaired again...i use it to run some power tools to cut out brickwork use it on an average 3-4 times then back in again..never buy one again..

[Allan_L]

Must be getting excited ! :rolleyes:
Started packing today. :question:

[Arthur Alchin]

Will do a little tomorrow and pick up the generator, work Friday and will pack the weekend, yep, excited is the word. Don't forget the fishing gear :lol:

Not a lot of time tomorrow, have a heart scan booked for lunchtime :shrug:

[Inmykombi]

I hope your scan goes as planned and all is well.

Packing will be on this weekend for me.
And the same as Allan, I am getting excited too.

[Arthur Alchin]

Will give you a tingle through the day, also have to pick up the generator today, I'll do thart this morning

[glend]

I will start to pack the camper today provided the rain holds off. Did an oil change on the generator, and my backup battery arrived yesterday.

[Inmykombi]

Drive safe Glen. Looking forward to catching up.

[Allan_L]

On a bit of a fitness thing.
I think I will take a mountain bike this year (instead of the motor bike).
Anyone else?
Plenty to explore.

Now planning on early Tuesday (convoy with Geoff {Inmykombi}).
Anyone else want to travel with us?
:campfire: :rover2: :rover1:

[Rick Petrie]

Looks like I too will be able to push off on Tuesday now as well.
The recreation officer :help: is probably working Monday now, so looks like Tuesday is OK for us.:thumbsup:

[Inmykombi]

Just letting everyone know I have a mate coming up from Sydney to stay at Chaffey with us.
He is as mad as a meat axe so he should fit in well.:P

His name is Steve, he is a non stargazer who just wants to enjoy some time away camping.

He should arrive Sunday evening, so keep an eye out for a camper trailer that looks like something built by Steptoe and Son ( I am not kidding either ) :eyepop:I know you will all make him welcome.

Allan and Rick and myself will be travelling up together on Tuesday.
Note to self.... Don't follow Allan, his GPS may lead us up the garden path to Windsor....;)

Geoffro

[Allan_L]

But I know this fabulous short cut ...Really !!! :shrug:
Trust me boys! :sadeyes:
No where near Windsor!
Remember I travelled to Muswellbrook regularly for work!
Honest!
... and I got a new GPS since ... "THEN"

[GTB_an_Owl]

i will now be leaving from Terrigal, perhaps tuesday
depends on whether i want to be scopeless or not

when i was getting stuff out to pack the van on thursday i pulled the top off my base
so seeing as i have to dismantle the base completely to fix it, i may start the project i have been putting off for so long of building a new base from marine ply

returning from coffs probably monday

geoff

[Rick Petrie]

Late?????????????.......had to work extra, to make time up?????????????
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P
No where near Windsor....(no winsa Al)

[glend]

For eveyone getting ready for Lake Chaffey, if your near the scope or can get it out, this morning at 10am there is a daytime occulation of saturn by the moon. It starts at 10:02 am Sydney DST so be in position just before. Check out page 60 of Aus Sky and Teldscope for all the details. A red filter is recommended to darken the sky and make spotting Saturn easier. Since half the moon is unlit the challenge is spotting saturn reappearing from sermingly mid-air ss it emerges from behind the moon. Good luck.

Update, yes I saw it just fine here at Lake Mac. Had a few clouds in the area on approach but it was clear around the moon.

[Inmykombi]

Hi Glen.
I missed seeing it as I was working. glad you saw it.
geoffro

[GTB_an_Owl]

my departure has been delayed from Coffs so i WILL be scopeless
i might however, be able to join the convoy on tuesday morning

geoff

[Inmykombi]

Dear Geoff , I may bring my little 4.5 inch Newt. if you want a scope to use.
I think you have seen it before, its a little one, but it has a really good re-worked mirror in it which has been over-coated with Quartz.
let me know if you want me to bring it along.

[Arthur Alchin]

Was planning a 3 am start on Monday but traumatic weekend with a mouth abscess, now on antibiotics and heavy analgesia so planning on leaving home about 700 hrs from Killarney vale.

Anybody else leaving near that time. Will be on channel 18 uhf or phone 0400372813

Will probably arrive Chaffey about 1200 hrs

Glen or John can you give me a tingle, I don't have your numbers

[Arthur Alchin]

If anyone is considering a short cut from Nowendoc to Nundle cross county have a good think about it, have done it and for anything like a campervan or car with van or trailer it would be an heroic adventure that I would not contemplate

[Arthur Alchin]

Sorry wrote wrong digits in number, now fixed, thanks John

[Inmykombi]

Get better quick Arthur, we need someone to do the cooking up there. Just kidding. Hope the antibiotics work well and get rid of the abscess.
For others leaving on Tuesday, what about getting started about 8.30 from the twin servos ?:thumbsup:

[glend]

Spoke to Arthur - all good.

[absolut]

Hey guys!!

I hope you all have a save drive!!
I'm looking like leaving from work before 3pm on Thursday, so I'll be @ chaffey by around 8:30 or 9pm if all goes to plan.

If I get delayed for any reason I'll drive up Friday and be there around lunch time.

I can't wait and I hope the skies are awesome!! :)

Rob

[Allan_L]

Sorry Geoff, I am proposing a little later departure.
Leaving Home 8:15
Est. Arrival 8:37 Twin Servos
Planned departure 9:00 (As agreed with Rickapoody)

Estimated arrival Chaffey = 13.:35 (unless we stop for supplies along the way?)

All welcome
UHF 18
See you at the TwinS (McD...)

(Note to AA: My shortcut is via Kurri Kurri to Greta.
Saves 40 minutes by avoiding Maitland.
A little quicker than the Cessnock shortcut by avoiding Cessnock town centre gridlock.
This is the way people in the know travel from Central Coast to the Lower Hunter).

[Arthur Alchin]

Have done that one, turn off at Freeman's drive and go past that big radio antenna array on the left, brings you out near maitland ??

[Arthur Alchin]

Yes everyone, have a safe trip and catch you all either today, tomorrow or later in the week

[Inmykombi]

Sorry guys, I have decided to leave early as I had planned.

I will be leaving around 5 am to get up there before the heat sets in.
I really want to get a decent crack at the first set up of this trailer.
Sorry again, but 9 am is a bit later than I expected, and I am hoping for an arvo snooz as well.

See you all up there.

Geoffro.

[jakob]

I'm planning to leave Wednesday am, get there late pm.
Can't wait to get away. Been doing som heavy DIY and sick of it.
Bunnings got all my beer money !

I'll just bring my rocking chair and swimmers!
See you all there
J.

[Allan_L]

Great!
I Look forward to catching up again, Jakob.

[absolut]

How's the weather forecast looking...
Best forecast I can see at the moment has rain until Sunday...

I am due to head up tomorrow afternoon, but I don't think there is going to be any chance of scope time with the weather report like this. :shrug:

If anyone at Chaffey can let me know how the weather is? :help:

Rob

[Allan]

G'day Rob. I just arrived back home, because it's way to hot up there for Bundy and I, and the weather is not looking to good. Had a great night Tuesday night, got about 8 hours of observing in with really dark skies. Last night was no good and I didn't want to hang around in the heat again with only a slight chance of getting in any observing in the days to come.

It's a beautiful place I would like to get back to, but maybe in the cooler months for me.

[Satchmo]

I have absolutely no idea what this thread is about even after reading a few messages .

[absolut]

Hey Allan! :hi:

Thanks for the update!
I've given up on going up there, the forecast for the rest of the weekend is for rain almost the whole time. Going to have a nice relaxing 4 day weekend around home. :D

Roger on the heat, I grew up in Tamworth, trust me, looking at the temps for the last few days, it was "relatively" mild.

Hey Satchmo, the thread is for a casual camp up at Chaffey Dam (NSW) for anyone who wanted to come along. The thread started last year and didn't get renamed... guess we were slacking on that count!

Clear skies!! :D

Rob

[Allan]

Rob I know what you are saying. It was 33 degrees out there which seemed quite hot because we were all out in the open, away from the trees obviously so we could get the best view of the horizon. It would have been murder if the temp got anywhere near the max it can get to out that way.

[GTB_an_Owl]

mostly cloudy last nite - couple of spots of rain in the late afternoon
no viewing last nite
overcast to-day so far
Glen, Allan and Rick are heading home this morning
Us more adventurous types are staying to see if it WILL actually rain
I mean, having brought the telescopes this far, it would be tragic if we didn't get the local farms some rain at least

geoff

[Fizics]

:( Thanks for the update Geoff.
One word to describe the weather here .... Wet!

[Arthur Alchin]

I've got Toby's bowls

[glend]

For those interested, the Sky Quality Metre readings for Lake Chaffey on Monday night near midnight was 21.77 , the reading for Tuesday night near midnight was 21.55. No readings for the other nights due to the cloud.

Thanks for picking them up Arthur, I seem to forget them now and then, I appreciate it. I have bowls at home for him so there is no rush to get them back, hopefully at Bretti in the near future.

[Allan]

Average SQM readings I got throughout Tuesday/Wednesday session was 21.53. It's good to know our meters must be reasonably accurate seeing as we got almost the same readings.

[Allan_L]

Hey guys, a great night Tuesday, agreed! Trip was worth it for the viewing that night alone (not to mention the great company) :)

But what are some reference points on that scale? For example, do you have readings for some recent Pony Club nights, or Bretti, or Lostock?
What is considered good, bad and ugly?

[Allan_L]

OK. I found this:



but still interested in how those other site compared, and your own backyards?

[Allan]

Well I have got the wide version of the SQM so it takes a bigger sample of the whole sky, and the numbers run something like this. Anything above 21 is considered a dark site. At 22 and above it is a world class dark site. Measurements don't exceed 22 by very much anywhere on earth. Coonabarabran rates between 21.5 to 22.0, as the Milky Way is bright enough to affect readings when it is overhead.

So as you can see, Chaffey Dam is right up there. I haven't had my SQM long enough to measure the other sites, but that's what I bought it for. I have an inkling that Bretti will be a bit darker than Chaffey Dam. Lostock and Pony Club will surely be brighter, but will have to wait and see what the numbers say.

[glend]

As Allan pointed out our two SQMs have different fields of view due to the lenses equipped, but as you can see from the figures reported at Chaffey it doesn't make much difference at a dark site. I regularly see readings over 20 in my backyard at Lake Macquarie but that is targeting the zenith again around midnight. To get an equivalent spread as Allan's lense I have to do a couple of spread readings. I did not have my SQM last time at Bretti but am lookng forward to the comparison. I was surprised by the Tamworth skyglow off to the low north-west at the Lake, but it did not seem to effect the viewing however I do believe Bretti maybe darker in similiar conditions because there is no town of significant in the area.

But 21.77 (from Monday night) is the darkest I have seen on my SQM - so far.

Here is a link to the Unihedron website that shows a comparison of the wide and narrow field lense:

http://unihedron.com/projects/darksky/images/fovcurves.jpg

[Shano592]

I think from memory, Erick (presently in Haifa) brought his SQM along to the PC one time I was there. If memory serves me, the reading was in the low 20.xx range.

Maybe if Erick catches this thread, he can enlighten us more...

[jakob]

I had a great time thanks to all the contributors especially Arthur for organising it.
This is my view of the sky!
:hi:

[Allan]

Where are all your stars Jakob?

[Inmykombi]

Yes, I also had a great time away with all you folks.

Weather could have been better, however the company was worth it, as was the one night of scope observing we enjoyed.

I can't wait to do it all again.

Geoffro.