[Deeno]

Originally Posted by mozzie

have a great time deano id love to go and drive/camp around the states
mozzie

Thanks Mozzie
Hows Coffs?

Originally Posted by matt

Sounds great.
I can't wait for my 6-week break in the States in October next year. I'm already planning destinations and arrival times for the best photo opps.

　
Will come around quick!

Originally Posted by Kal

Check out both Smithsonian air & space museums, one in DC on the mall, the other is near Dulles International Airport about an hour drive from the heart of DC

　
Cheers
Will do
　
　
[QUOTE=iceman;537439]Awesome Deeno - can't wait to see the pics
　
Thanks Mike
Will bore everyone crazy!

Originally Posted by gmbfilter

A good set of binos Deano!
Seriously have fun
Missed you at pony club
Going to visit any organs in US?

　
Funny you should say that, have a very nice set of 20x80 binos, thanks to the door prize at Lostock
Not going out of our way to find organs!

Originally Posted by gary

Hi Deeno,
Have a great trip!
Drop me an email or give me a phone call on 02 9457 9049 and I can
provide some U.S. contacts for you that can assist with observing in the
Southwest.
Certainly there are opportunities to hook you up with friends in West Texas
near Fort Davis in the shadow of the McDonald Observatory including a friend
with a 48" (no, that is not a misprint).
There is also absolutely no way I could let you enter New Mexico without
first telling you that you absolutely must get to Chaco Culture National Historical Park,
home of the Chaco Canyon. This site was one of many inhabited by the
Anasazi people and is one of the best preserved archaeological sites within
all of North America. The Anasazi had a long connection with observing the
sky and you will see that in the architecture and petroglyphs, including one
depicting the supernova of 1054. See http://www.exploratorium.edu/chaco/flash.html
There is also an observatory open to the public at the visitors center and includes
some serious aperture such as a 25" Dob. Friend John Sefick was one of the
founders of the observatory and often spends time there.
See http://www.nps.gov/archive/chcu/nightskyprogram.htm
Whatever time you have allocated for the Southwest, it will never be enough.
In fact it might be best to call me and have pen and paper ready as there are so
many sites to see in that region like Canyon de Chelly that are so astounding
that it would be criminal to pass them by.
Best Regards
Gary
P.S.
if passing through El Paso in South West Texas, which is the gateway
down to Fort Davis, recommend you currently avoid the day trip across into
the border town of Juarez in Mexico due to the currently well reported
phenomenally high amount of drug cartel war related violence with over 2,250
deaths alone this year.
See http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/travel/1935866,CST-NWS-mexico13.article
Unfortunately things don't sound much better in the Mexican border town of Ojinaga
either, with the army having to patrol the streets, so day trips across the entire
border there in the Southwest are probably best left to safer times.

　
Thanks Gary
You ARE the man
　
　

Originally Posted by seanliddelow

If you drop by Arizona on your way to LA theres the meteor crater which is a great place to visit. Theres also quite a lot of observatorys up there. The people who sell the servo cat goto are based in Arizona and I know you can rent out the 36" for the night For a price however

　
Thanks
Must see

Originally Posted by Nightshift

While in Orlando, drive up International Blvd, you cant miss it, all the tourist stuff is there, about half way up heading north on the right hand side you will see a bungie bullet ride, park near that, right next door is a two story go cart track that is awesome, cheap too, excellent fun and when your finished, next door is an outdoor bar that you can sit at, have a few Buds and throw chookfeed to the gators in the man made water course that runs through the bar, good fun too. For the missus, International Blvd is full of cheap shoe and perfume shops. Only a two hours drive to Kennedy from there so dont miss it, make it a two day pass as you wont see everything in one day, be sure and ride the shuttle simulator, its free, sit at the back and you get to catch all the money and wallets that fall out of pockets during launch (yes it goes vertical and shakes like a real launch). Pay the extra and do a tour of Kennedy, everyone does the up close and personal tour but I found the History tour was much better, takes you to all the old launch pads and bunkers for a hands on experience, the up close and personal tour never lets you off the bus at the launch pads. Be sure and drop in to RonJons surf shop at Coco Beach, its awesome, even if you dont like surf stuff and street wear it is worth the look.
Thats just Orlando, Sooooooo much more to see, oh and while in LA, dont pay the money to see the Queen Mary, its boring but the Russian Scorpion submarine tour next door is worth the money. Noting else in LA is worth seeing in my opinion, especially in winter. A quick trip out to Vegas is definately worth the drive, just an awesome place, we did it as a day trip, very long day but it would be better to stay a few nights, you have Hoover dam and Grand Canyon within reach then too.
Cheers, Dennis.

　
Thanks for the info Dennis
May never leave Orlando………..