Hi,
Just made it back to an internet connection. We were at Adams Dam but had cloud on Monday and Tuesday mornings and so went further west. [We also had to leave that site for other reasons but I'll say more about that when I have all the facts.] We wound up at King Junction station just north of the King R. (and a big 'thank you' to John and Sandra for permission to camp). An English couple. Phil and Haj (spelling??) were at the station but no other astronomers ventured so far west. Fantastic quiet spot and no clouds at all. Didn't see any shadow effects as we didn't have any elevation but did see all the animals react to the changing light. Totallity was great of course but too too too short. That 1.58 min was over in a flash and we were left wanting more. The corona was smaller than in 2002, apparently due to the different stage of the sunspot cycle, but also perhaps due to dust and maybe some high haze.
I haven't even had a chance to have a look at my photos but, like so many others, things that worked perfectly at home decided to go wrong during the eclipse. I know I have fewer shots than there were in the script. My consulation is that I have a strong mental image that will last - I can still form a mental image of '02 and even 1983 in New Guinea.
Friends that stayed at the dam had good skies. Some saw it over the dam while other found a high spot about 10km away. One friend there certainly got good shots. At the dam some pillock decided to let off fireworks during totallity but it didn't affect them. They also played Dark Side of the Moon during the event
. Other friends were at Bustard Downs near Mt Carbine. I haven't spoken to them but all reports suggest they should also have had a good view.
I'll be home next weekend and do a more thorough post mortum then. One down side has been that I haven't meet up with anyone, though some friends were talking to supernova's mum.
Come on 2028!!!
