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Thanks to the gang at the Alb-Wod Astro Soc for all of their organisational efforts. John, Anna, David, Petra...take a bow!
A highlight for me this year was that my WHOLE family went, and that everyone had such a good time. Very cool to have one's wife to come home to after some late night observing with the boys! We were not disappointed with the accomodation, which was very comfortable (Squatter's hut).
Thanks to Gary, Mai, Mike and John for some great time spent together at the EP of the 18" Obsession. It was great to see Geoff's 15" SDM, which is a work of art and buttery smooth in its motions. I also enjoyed meeting Rob (and his 30" home-made truss dob), as well as Dave Chandler's brother and neice and nephew, whilst partaking in Pinot Noir, then some Rum and Coke (thanks Dave!).
Miles Allen must be one of the funniest people I have ever come across. His joke about Olaf had me wiping my eyes I was laughing so much. Loved the Cosmodome, too, as did the kiddies!
I enjoyed meeting Rob McNaught, and to walk away with a personally signed photo of his famous comet is very cool!
It was also great to catch up with Peter Read, and to see Sue Bambury and Jake, who tagged along for the weekend.
One little story I must tell. On the Friday night, we had a couple of loose "kangaroos" on the top paddock. By kangaroos, I mean cars with headlights, doing laps of the observing field, completely clueless as to how to get out. Had the conditions not been so windy (and therefore the seeing so poor) at that satge, there may well have been a public lynching. I am not sure how the cars got up there, and why the drivers thought it was appropriate to move their vehicles at 11.00pm, but it truly was high farce and comedy all in one.
It was surprising that so many people packed up early on Friday night, as, whilst the conditions were windy at times, there were periods of relative stability where things improved considerably. John B, Gary and I saw some good details in some lesser known NGC galaxies later in the evening and 47 Tuc was looking very nice indeed.
It was a shame that Saturday night was a washout, but some good company was still had in the hall.
My wife has remarked that it is a risky business driving 6 or 7 hours in the hope that the sky is clear. This star party is testimony to the fact that it doesn't really matter whether the sky is clear....we amateur astronomers will always find something to amuse us.
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