Attention Astro Campers

[Jen]

:hi::hi: Gday guys/girls
Im a bit excited i am finally going on my first astro camp @ Snake Valley Ballarat in October wooohooooo :cool::cool::cool:
:2thumbs: Feels sorry for that lot putting up with me all weekend :lol:
Anyway i was wondering what i should take :screwy: So far i have a big esky and a tent that i have never put up yet (better practice that before i make a fool out of myself):lol::lol:


What is on your MUST take to camp list :)

[jjjnettie]

Ok, on a DON"T FORGET list I'd add....
Double check your toiletries, I always forget either soap or shampoo
Snake repellent
a plastic backed picnic blanket, for your afternoon nap, spread it under the nearest shady tree
back up alcohol cause you don't want to run out just when you're starting to have fun
snack foods that can double up as main meals. cheese and crackers, corn chips and sour cream, once you've had a few drinkies, you won't feel like preparing a full meal.
Vitamin Pills because your eating snack foods as main meals. Got to look after yourself Jen.

[Omaroo]

LOL!!! :rofl: Teaching by example Jeanette! Gotta love it! :lol:




Good idea too... :thumbsup:

[Jen]

:lol::lol: oh yeah that reminds me take berocca after a big drinking session :lol: so i can do it again the next night :rofl:
:whistle:

[jjjnettie]

At Astrofest I was having one in the morning and a couple at night. By the end of camp though, no amount of multivitamins could make up for the 42hrs of sleep I'd missed out on.

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol:

[marki]

You will need a little more then multivitamins for those kind of hours JJJ:).
Mark

[Octane]

Snake repellant! :eyepop: :scared:

Regards,
Humayun

[matt]

I like your style, jjj:lol:

[GTB_an_Owl]

haven't you ever read the fine print on a bottle of Jack Daniels "H"

"drink contents - throw bottle at snake"

geoff

[Wavytone]

Well I do make a list... basically everything on it is a MUST !

Partner (the most important)
Tent and sleeping gear
Scope, mount, eyepieces, battery and cables
iPhone

I can cope if any of the rest is left behind.

[astro_nutt]

Ok!!!..must haves...well the (full) esky and tent are a start..a comfy air mattress and pump..pillow..sleeping bag..(mimium..minus 5c!!..trust me!!!)..cotton wool to plug your ears..heaps of snacks..plus a few apples...and some fresh clean water!!!
If you have a dome tent...peg the corners of your groundsheet first..assemble the poles and thread them through dome clips...put the end of the poles into the corner stakes...place the flysheet over the dome and secure it to the corners and peg the sides..peg guy ropes if necessary...and if you're worried about hammering the pegs..use a pair of pliers to hold the pegs when you hammer them...better the pliers get hit than your hand!!!..have fun!!!
Cheers!

[sheeny]

Swimming togs!

Some people get embarrassed when I forget mine:D.

Al.

[jjjnettie]

Al!! You wouldn't, you didn't, :lol:

[erick]

Jen, find all your insect spray cans and lock them in the cupboard before you pack! Buy a couple of Aerogard roll-ons. Be sure that no-one sprays anything near telescopes, eyepieces, cameras etc.

On the field at night, you need snacks (muesli bars are good) and drinks (water, sports drinks) and maybe a flask of something hot, if you don't want to break off to the kitchen and maybe lose your dark adaption.

Red light torches for all the family.

Weather can swing from cold, wet and blustery, to hot and sunny, to dewy and even icey at night. Sorry, you'll need a range of clothes.

Some pegs to hang your towels on the washing line.

DVDs for the kids - I expect we can get the TV/DVD working.

CDs to play on the field - as long as it is Pink Floyd :P OK, P!nk will do - close enough! :D

[AstralTraveller]

Assembly instructions vary. My dome tent is poles first (and only in the right order) and pegging second. Consider a door mat to help keep the tent clean, especially if the area is dusty or sandy. Try to position the tent where it will get max morning shade. (If your new to the area a compass is helpful.) I always use a rubber mallet to drive in tent pegs as they are less inclinded to bend the pegs, especially if you have very hard or rocky soil.

[rat156]

My tent instructions are;

Remove from bag
Throw in air
Peg it down where it lands.

Mind you, putting it back in the pack requires a degree in origami.

Cheers
Stuart

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol: awsome thanks for the tips guys
What :screwy: by what ive read so far no telescopes, no laptops, cameras and lots of leads etc etc go on the MUST take list :lol:

[Inmykombi]

Funny....I was just about to say that you will need a scope!!!!:P

[Ric]

Yep, don't forget the telescope.:doh:

That could be a tad embarrassing.:whistle:

Cheers

[gman]

No no no, you must not ingest these foul tablets.
If you are feeling a bit off in the morning, one must partake in futther acoholic beverages otherwise known as "the hair of the dog" and start out all over again.:thumbsup:

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol: arhhhhhhh i like your way of thinking Grant :rofl::rofl:
Ok cool i can do that :thumbsup:;)

[AstralTraveller]

Jen, have you been preparing for your next astro-camp?? :P

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/15/2685879.htm

[Jen]

:eyepop: :lol::lol::lol: now thats a lot of vodka :rofl:

[AstralTraveller]

I'm sure you'd share with your friends. :)

BTW I wonder where the real thieves will offload the goods?

[Jen]

:lol: Yep i sure would :thumbsup:
Yeah i wonder vodka on special this week in all bottle shops :rofl:

[Starkler]

Sunglasses and sunscreen a must. Snake Valley as cold as it can get at night, the sun can get you during the day. Keep your sunnies on while the sun is up or your night vision can suffer.

[Chillie]

Jen, make sure the first thing you pack is your telescope. ;)

[Jen]

:lol::lol: :thanx: Chillie but after seeing some of the scopes that will be there im a little embarrased of the size of my baby :lol:

[AstralTraveller]

Size doesn't matter. It's what you do with it that counts. At least that what I've been told - and I tend to agree. What use is a scope that just sits in a cupboard?

[Jen]

:lol::lol: well i waltz around the back yard with my scope quite a bit so does that count :question:
:rofl:

[mill]

Okiedokie.
It looks like that straight jacket i have here and also the pills, will come in handy :P

[Jen]

:lol::lol: yeah and you will need to bolt my scope to the ground all weekend so i do not pick it up to look at other objects :lol:

[mill]

We just have to if you dont want to have the objective shatter into a million pieces :eyepop::D

[marki]

Now here's an opportunity to learn to use that EQ mount properly (put the UDL's aside for a bit :P). Tear it down after each session so you have to put it back up and re-align. Should be an expert by the end :thumbsup:.

Mark

[Kevnool]

When Jens at snake valley i,ll be at Swan Hill observing.
What a scenario.
Cheers Kev.

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol:

[Chillie]

Jen, on a serious note, you would be better off learning how to polar align on your telescope than to learn on somebody else's telescope, then transferring your newly gain knowledge back to your scope.

Ask lots of questions. There are no stupid questions!

I won't be there but look forward to hearing reports.

[Jen]

:thanx: Chillie yeah i will be asking questions all weekend they will be sick of me in the end :P:lol:
Yeah im sure there will be some great reports :lol: