Wow what a w/e! Sorry it's bit of a long-winded one. But for those who cannot be bothered reading it all, let me just say this:
If you looked up the definition of hospitality in the dictionary there should be a picture of David who runs the pub in Wychitella, Victoria."
... now the long story:
It's been way too long between galaxy hunts with my 12" aching for some action, so yesterday afternoon I thought bugger these clouds I'll try my luck several 100 km north of the city, hoping for clearer skies. I picked out the little town of Wychitella because it's the tiniest dot on the map 11km from any major roads and 50+km from any major rural centres and a travel guide website said there is "accommodation at moderate rates" at the local pub.
Looks good. I ring up ask about a room. David the publican says yes, he can put me up for the night.
So off I go. Nearly there, on the Calder, I miss the turnoff to Wychytella (at that stage I did not know!) and hit a roo at probably about 60-70km/h!!
Only a smallish one, no more than 0.8m tall, but totalled the bumper and grill and the radiator is caved right in. Bonnet's stuck, won't open. No leaks though!! Lucky!!
Shaken and stirred but driving on. Take a wrong turn, drive along a dirt road for 7km to a dead end, drive back.
Eventually I make it to Wychitella over an hour later than I intended. Lively little pub for a town that barely registers on the map! In fact there is not much else around besides the pub. Heaps of people having a good time.
David's behind the bar. I tell him about the accident and I ask about the room. He can tell I'm a bit shaken still. He offers me a feed, but I just want to find someplace to set up, get the scope collimated and cooled. The camping area behind the pub looks like a good spot pretty much out of the way of the lights. I ask if it's okay, David says go ahead which I do. Meanwhile he says he'll ask around about a replacement bumper for the Corolla. (would have been too good to be trye but it'll take more than that to get the old girl back in quasi-roadworthy shape again.)
I go set up the scope then go back into the pub and take up that offer of a feed. Roast lamb with the works, nothing less! David hands me an ice cream cone (Streets Cornetto) to top it off. My bread and tins of tuna will have to live to fight another day.
Then David says that if I want he'll give me one of the caravans outside near where the scope is set up instead of the room inside. He hooks up the power for the lights, TV and heater. Double bed all made up. Nice.
I go back to the scope and start observing. Sky's pretty good but the Moon is still too high and not ideal for galaxy hunting, but it's getting better and better as the Moon gets lower.
David comes over at midnight to take a peek through the scope. After a quick look at Tuc47 and M42 he says he's off to bed. Hands me a six pack of Vics. I try to refuse saying alcohol is no good for the night vision. But he insists. Sky got very good once the Moon had set and I had a great time mostly around the Fornax. There are just so many galaxies, everywhere you look!! And quite a few of them show a bit of structure. 27mm Pano for hunting, XW-10 and XW-7 for getting right up close, mostly. Fantastic! Wind down later with bit of LMC, SMC, Orion, Carina. Seing got quite decent late in the freezing cold night. M42 was riding high and at 270x (1.8x barlowed 10mm XW) it looked exquisite.
Pack up at 3:10. In bed tucked in by 3:40, i.e., 4:40 daylight savings.
This morning David's up when I am and offers me breakfast. I say no to breakfast but I would not mind a coffee. So coffee it is.
Now get this if you can because I'm still beside myself! I'm about to take off so I ask David what I owe him, and he says "Don't worry about it". Here I am, a complete stranger from Melbourne, dumbfounded beyond belief at that moment, but eventually manage to say something and ask to let me at least pay for the cost of dinner, drinks etc. Nope. David cracks a joke and sends me on my way, totally gobsmacked. I don't think I thanked him enough. He left me virtually speechless.
How's that for a boost for your waning faith in humanity??!! :teary_eyed_smiley:
PS. made it back to Melbourne to hear Babaganoush play in the Spiegeltent this arvo. well done guys, pleasure as always!
PPS. thanks for reading my lengthy post!
