[ngcles]

Hi Paul, Col Narayan & Al,

Yep I'd echo all comments -- the whole trip was a blast and I'm impressed with quite a few of the images given the conditions we had. I took 15 images and basically they're all rubbish save for one that might almost have got a pass from blind freddie on a galloping horse. My excuse? The focus was crappy because of the tears in my eyes.

On the up-side I did (due to my own naughtiness) get some images of the Pandas at Beijing Zoo that will make everyone else's look ordinary. Again just dumb luck -- in the right place at the right time.

I also saw Polaris for the first time!

I'm not trying to do advertising for my society but I'd agree with Paul's comments on value for money -- I find it hard to understand how that much was packed into the schedule for the price -- virtually all inclusive. There were a several competing trips and in terms of cost we weren't only cheaper but the competition wasn't even in the same ball-park -- several were so far distant they were in different cities!

It was also great fun seeing this eclipse with so many people that I've spent the best part of my life being friends with and looking up to (like Col & Steven Lee), while also with my wife & daughter. Plus I also had the chance to meet a whole lot of other amateurs from all around Australia and made so many new friends (well I hope I made some friends). If I had the chance to do it all again tomorrow I'd be off in a heartbeat and wouldn't change a thing (except perhaps for the food-poisoning episode).

I still can't believe we saw it. I'd have bet the house against it with 20 mins to go and save for a bit of scruff that at no time completely blocked the view and was soon gone and some high haze, we essentially saw the whole of totallity. I'm not sure, but I think we might have been the only Australian or US tour-group on mainland China that saw the lot -- many saw naught.

Mel is doing a brief write-up with images for AS&T -- so we can look forward to that and don't forget to submit your own images for the images section. Paul, I thought your diamond ring in particular was really nice. For me this diamond ring at second contact seemed to last a loooong time. It felt like 5-7 seconds.

I've now stood under the shadow of the Moon for a total of 9 mins 7 seconds (though for 2.45 of that, cloud technically got in the way in Bombala 1976 -- but I was actually under the umbra) and can't wait for 13th November 2012 when I'll hopefully join the +10 mins club! Hope to see a lot of you there. I also greatly enjoyed the experience of seeing so many people who were experiencing/enjoying their first totality.

Cheers to all!


Best,

Les D

*Edit* P.S I just saw Narayan's comment about Paul beng "positive" all the way along while the clouds rolled along and the rain came down. Well, I've got a photo of Paul with about 20 mins to go where he looks more "philosopical" or perhaps "pragmatic" than "positive" ... see attached