Taxi to Eclipse

[Sir]

Hi all,

Having booked accommodation earlier in the year, my girlfriend and I waited until too late to organise car hire and they seem to be all sold out! So we're now thinking organising taxi to get to the event and back again (we are staying at Kamerunga, ~12 km NW of Cairns centre). Does anyone have any experience with using taxis in Cairns, or can recommend a company?

After reading around, we are thinking of heading to one of the beaches just north of cairns (Trinity/Kewarra-ish area). We have just a simple camera/tripod setup and it sounds as though the beaches in this area should allow us a spot above the tide mark?

Also, what is a reasonable time to be arriving for the eclipse and get a good spot? Is 3am too late? I can only assume many people will camp out there overnight...

Cheers

[jjjnettie]

If you're in a high rise apartment, your best view may be from your balcony. :) Or if possible, get up onto the roof.

[Sir]

Hi jnettie, that would certainly be a bonus but I think we are staying in a small cottage! Unlikely to see a low eastern horizon but I guess we can scope it out upon arrival.

Does anyone have any other thoughts?

Cheers

[Brigmlt]

Hi there,

just following your post. I am like you 'stranded' in Cairns for want of a car...

I should think cabs would be reliable, if one can get hold of one that is!

I would be interested in sharing, if that is something you guys are willing to do?

Let me know!

Brigitte :)

[stillwalkabout]

Hi there
Taxis in cairns are ok but the place is going to be real busy so I would book ahead
Give kewarra a miss as Taylor point blocks sunrise from there
I'll be at trinity and am getting there the night before
Cheers
Ken

[Brigmlt]

Thanks Ken.
Do you have accomodation on Tribity beach?
Or do you think lots of people will be spending the night on the beach?
I am dreading the crowd on Cairns Esplanade...And a night on the beach could be quite nice if there is a all bunch of us!

I'm heading over there Monday morning from Sydney and like everybody else not too sure about what to expect!

Cheers,
Brigitte

[stillwalkabout]

Hi Brigitte
There will be a few of us up the north end of the beach
Will be setting up the scope and camera etc Tuesday night
Do a bit of star gazing
Orion will be in perfect position
But mainly making sure everything is ready for sunrise
Sleeping bags on the beach is the go
You're more than welcome to join us as are any other Iis members
Cheers
Ken

[Sir]

Hi Brigitte,

Whereabouts in Cairns are you staying? It might be a bit hard to organise a joint taxi-trip to the event if we are leaving in the middle of the night and from different areas.

Thanks for the Kewarra beach tip - Trinity sounds like the go. If there will be a few IIS members hanging around the northern end then we might join you as well. :) Would have loved to bring my own telescope but they don't get along so well with planes.

Ken, what time do think we would need to get to Trinity beach in order to get a spot? There's only two of us and a small tripod, but we're not really sure what to expect in terms of how packed it will be...

Cheers

[Brigmlt]

Hi Sir and Ken,

I am staying very near Cairns train station, let me know if that is convenient for you Sir, if not I might just see at Trinity beach...

Ken, thank you for the offer to join in with the rest of the group, I probably will be taking you on that one!

I have had the chance to witness three total eclipses before, and the experience was more than enhanced by sharing it with others; Previously I had followed my brother who is a very keen astronomer, and his group of contacts from around the world.

This year has been a little different in term of planing as he couldn't make it and I wasn't sure until last week if I would be able to take the time off.

Thanks again!

Brigitte

[stillwalkabout]

Hi Brigitte and Sir
If you are staying in cairns and coming out Tuesday evening a bus would be just as easy and a great deal less expensive
Main bus terminal is in lake street (ask your accommodation ) and will take you straight to trinity beach
Beach is 50 meters from bus stop
Cheers
Ken

[Sir]

Hi Brigitte,

Unfortunately we are staying NW of Cairns centre (not close to the train station from what I can tell from google maps :P). You are lucky to have seen 3 already, this will be our first!

Ken, unfortunately we are also nowhere near lake street! A bus would certainly be convenient, although we are out at stratford just a couple of km from the airport. Do you know of any bus servicing that area by any chance?

Cheers

[Brigmlt]

Sir you can have a look on google map and zoom right in to locate your nearer bus stop, they are those little blue squares, if you click on them it tells you the bus number and journey, pretty useful!

Ken, how many people from iis are planning to meet up at the northen end of Trinity beach, and how to recognize them?!

[stillwalkabout]

Hi Brigitte
Don't know how manyIIS members, if any, will be there, though everyone is welcome
It's the trinity beach astronomy club, such as it is
We will have a small gazebo set up with the scope set up near it
As I said we are expecting large crowds there and the university of Hawaii has a large contingent at one of the accommodation houses there
Some really special and BIG scopes set up
We have been hinting for an invite but hasn't happened yet
Still working on that one
Anyway everyone is welcome
More the merrier
Cheers
Ken

[Sir]

Thanks for the tip Brigitte - easy to find bus routes that way!

Ken, that sounds pretty cool! We will have to join your little party too, then (would be even more awesome to get onto some of those bigger scopes, but even a peek through a smaller one would be cool!). We'll be arriving around 10pm and plan to stay on the beach overnight.

Does anyone know where in Cairns you can buy solar eclipse glasses? Seems there isn't any in Brisbane anymore. :(

Cheers

[axle01]

Good luck,,,,,,,,,,There's a camera shop and a National Geograph shop in Cairns Central, they may be your best bet.

If your driving through Townsville you can get them from the Tropical Museum down the end of Flinders St.

[naskies]

Try these guys, perhaps?

http://www.astrovisuals.com.au/EclipseShades.html

[Brigmlt]

Glasses are easy to find, I saw some at $3.50 in a tourist shop on lake st, otherwise there was a stand at the door of the main tourist information center on the esplanade casino end.

I'll be joining in the party too tomorrow night, wonder if we will need waterproof sleeping bags, a tad worried about the rain!
How cold does it get at night?

[axle01]

Ya in the tropics now, stubbies T-shirt and thongs.

[Brigmlt]

I sure am mate, the moisture in the air is a give away;)

[Sir]

Our plane doesn't arrive until 4pm so I'm hoping somewhere at the airport might sell them... or if not, a newsagent or something. I checked with the information centre and they said they don't sell them, and the astrovisual guy unfortunately only sells in bulk!

One day to go!

[Brigmlt]

Hey sir,

No, the info center doesn't sell them but a guy name Ash Starkey does, this is what he wrote on another forum:


'I am now based at the Tourism Centre on Esplanade Cairns, selling DVD's of
my documentary *The Path of Totality* on a table with a local businessman
who is selling lots of eclipse glasses.

I am answering many questions and I've also had numerous people who weren't
away they could be remove their eclipse glasses during totality, I have
been explaining this fact to all who come along, encouraging them to
embrace the full experience of a total solar eclipse safely.

If anyone is nearby and would like to call past and say hello I will be
there again tomorrow (Tuesday)'

The tourist place that sells them is on abott st opposite the art gallery, they had stock of them, and teeshirts also.

[stillwalkabout]

One day to go
Memory card cleared
Battery charged
Mirror cleaned and collimated
Clouds will clear tonight

[Sir]

Hi Brigitte,

Thanks for the update! So the guy is AT the information centre but not affiliated with them... hmmm wonder why they didn't tell me that when I contacted them. If not then we'll check the tourist place you mentioned. :)

Cheers

[JethroB76]

I noticed that the Woolworths supermarket in Cairns city centre had eclipse glasses at the checkout

[Brigmlt]

Another post By ash that might explain why you were not told about the stand...
Also new agents have glasses, and if all failed, no worries I have spare ones :)

'That is disappointing We are not associated with the centre itself but have
been allowed to set up a table out front With all the information available
there is no excuse for being I'll informed Manager of the centre even told
me today he wasn't even going to bother getting out of bed to watch the
eclipse I never saw him smile once An odd trait for someone who is supposed
to be promoting tourism and the local area
Ash Starkey

[Brigmlt]

All ready for it too!
Will catch a bus from cairns round 2pm I think.
See you all there

[Sir]

That's unfortunate that the information centre has such an apathetic attitude towards the eclipse... but good news to hear you can pick up eclipse glasses almost anywhere, we should be alright to pick some up somewhere. May see you all tonight! :)

Cheers

[stillwalkabout]

Hi Brigitte
Tim should be setting up around six
I'll be there about eight or a bit earlier
( work etc )
Sir said they would be about ten I think
Cheers
Ken

[Brigmlt]

Cool, will see you then, in the mean time will enjoy that slice of paradise you call home.
27 degres in the water? Don't mind if I do...!

[Sir]

Hi Brigitte,

Not sure if you're still checking this but... is it looking pretty busy at Trinity beach? I'm not sure if we should be expecting hundreds or more...

Cheers

[Brigmlt]

Not busy no, only just now the university of Latvia (?) just fenced off a chunk of the lawn area for themselves, not too sure if more will follow?

Ken, where will you set up?

[Sir]

Cool! We'll be heading over soon. Is there a grocery store near the beach by any chance?

[Brigmlt]

Yes, first shop you pass getting off the bus.
And there are cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants...
Far from wilderness!!

[stillwalkabout]

Hi Brigitte and sir
No one has turned up
Don't know what the story is
Am going to pub and will set up when drizzle stops
If you fancy a beer i have a rabbi togs shirt on
Not a happy camper
Cheers ken

[stillwalkabout]

Just past next toilet block from the university site
Really hope I haven't disappointed everyone
No idea what has happened to TBAC
cheers
Ken

[Brigmlt]

Hey ken,

Where are you now?!
Am just at that spot but can't see you!
Going back to the pub where I am with a couple of other people.

What is a rabbi tog shirt??!!

[stillwalkabout]

Should have said rabbittohs
Damn spellcheck
Heading back there now
Cheers
Ken

[stillwalkabout]

Look for a Pirtek truck
Cheers ken