The New Snake Valley Astro Camp! March 20-22 2015

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Yep it's getting closer. At this stage the cabins appear to be full. Barry has said he is willing to camp to free up a cabin. I would do the same but I am not sure I can squeeze a tent in with the other stuff I am bringing!!
To date we have 32 total attendees. 3 are only visiting on the Saturday.
There are a few others still coming that we are waiting on final paperwork and confirmation.

Malcolm
Paul Byron
Martin
Big Dave
Jamie Pole
Rowland
Wren
Andrew McCann
Barry Coverdale
John G
Niko
Rodney Doig
Ken (nico13)
Bo and Ryan
Tara (grasshopper) and husband and Blake (casual, not staying overnight)
Jen and Drew
Daniel, and his family!
Paul (Bluestar)
Andrew Campbell
Paul Fitzgerald
Steve Fleming
Alex Leahy
Paddy
Warren and Pamela Maag

We have been told that the following are about to send in their paperwork
Fergus (inertia8) hopefully!
Matt T
Alistair (alistairsam)
Paula

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

I am bringing my Russian SCT on my celestron 5se mount that I hope to sell or trade for a good Nikon lense that is good for widefield I also have a celestron powertank to sweeten the deal that has the foriegn plug untested as yet but will try charging on the trip to snake valley with the 12 volt cable.

[Jen]

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

The New SV Camp starts in one month today!

Malcolm

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Really looking forward to it. I have not managed a star party or astro camp in about two years.

[SimmoW (SIMON)]

Count Uri Abraham and me, Simon Waters , in! I'll send off the region form this week.

Any accommodation left? Bunkhouses preferred ?

Thanks, sounds fun.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Simmo. Welcome aboard!
The bunkhouse situation is officially tight. At this stage we should be OK. I will do a quick check of the cabins over the weekend just to make sure we can all squeeze in!!

Cheers

Malcolm

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Updated List

Malcolm
Paul Byron
Martin
Big Dave
Jamie Pole
Rowland
Wren
Andrew McCann
Barry Coverdale
John G
Niko
Rodney Doig
Ken (nico13)
Bo and Ryan
Tara (grasshopper) and husband and Blake (casual, not staying overnight)
Jen and Drew
Daniel, and his family!
Paul (Bluestar)
Andrew Campbell
Paul Fitzgerald
Steve Fleming
Alex Leahy
Paddy
Warren and Pamela Maag
Alistair (alistairsam)

We have been told that the following are about to send in their paperwork
Fergus (inertia8) hopefully!
Matt T
Paula
Simon Walters
Uri Abraham

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Hi all
As you may be aware we have reasonably good bookings. Confirmed and paid bookings are for 30 staying on Friday and Saturday nights and 12 staying on the Sunday night. I hope these numbers will improve as we have several others who have indicated they are coming but yet to send paperwork, and some others have indicated interest.

The issue that has come up is in regard to the Monday night. Initially when I booked the camp I only booked the 3 nights. This was largely because the Monday has always been the least attended night (but often the best skies!!) and it costs close to $400 to book the extra night regardless of how many people attend. In effect that means that the people staying shorter terms would be subsidising those staying for Monday night, or the cost per head would be prohibitive for that night.

The good news is we have enough people booked and paid that we think it is a goer for the Monday IF! (and this is a big if!) we have say 8 people attending. If the extra cost was say $25 per head for that night, the difference could be made out of the small surplus we have now. The other thing to be aware of is that we will have to do any clean up on the Tuesday morning rather than the Monday. I should be able to come up and assist, although I may also attend the Monday night, but it will be largely up to those there to help out with final clean up.

The big question is, are you interested in the Monday night? We will have to make a reasonably quick decision, as I need to let the site owners know within a couple of weeks.

I will be posting the same info on IIS and also in the Yahoo group, so if you see this multiple times, sorry, just trying to make sure no-one misses out!

On another matter, some have asked about the power supply to the observing field. I have gone out today and purchased a number of weatherproof boxes used for holding power boards and a quantity of extension leads. We already have access to a couple of 20m and a 30m (thank Wren) leads so there should be plenty of power.

Cheers

Malcolm

[Jen]

Cmon guys I'm in for an extra night we all know that's always the best night hehehehe and I need an extra day of learning how to use stoopid photoshop lol lol

[danielsun]

I would normally be up for all nights if I could but unfortunately this time round can only do the two.
As we all know it's usually the last two nights that are always the best.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Updated List

Malcolm
Paul Byron
Martin
Big Dave
Jamie Pole
Rowland
Wren
Andrew McCann
Barry Coverdale
John G
Niko
Rodney Doig
Ken (nico13)
Bo and Ryan
Tara (grasshopper) and husband and Blake (casual, not staying overnight)
Jen and Drew
Daniel, and his family!
Paul (Bluestar)
Andrew Campbell
Paul Fitzgerald
Steve Fleming
Alex Leahy
Paddy
Warren and Pamela Maag
Alistair (alistairsam)
Neale Walters
Bob & Peter Halsall

We have been told that the following are about to send in their paperwork
Fergus (inertia8) hopefully!
Matt T
Paula
Simon Walters
Uri Abraham


Malcolm

[Jen]

Originally Posted by danielsun

I would normally be up for all nights if I could but unfortunately this time round can only do the two.
As we all know it's usually the last two nights that are always the best.

Oh no drew is not going to be happy about that one

[Jen]

C'mon guys take another day off work
Monday nights are the best hehe

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Hi guys
Just to whet everyone's appetites, or at least those of us on the visual side of things, at this stage I believe the dobs that will be attending include a 24", my 20", Pauls 18", Paddy' "big" 16" and a couple of 12"s. There may be others but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

If anyone knows of interesting gear that may be coming along, let us all know!

Haven't had much response, despite Jen's imploring to the Monday night proposal. If you are interested, please speak up.

With the cabin situation, I believe Simmo and Uri are only staying 1 night so have decided to camp instead, so I have a cabin free that Barry had originally booked. Barry is happy to camp, but if it isn't taken up he can pop back in there.

Only three weeks to go and in 3 days it will be March!!

Malcolm

[Jen]

Yeah johnny the 12" dobbie will be there cause I've claimed the hubbies ute again yayyyyyy it's now the astro car lol lol

Yeah c'mon guys we need more Monday night peeps I have lots to learn this camp and with four clear nights there won't be a lot if sleeping
Please please don't make me go to work on Tuesday

Omg it's nearly march wooohoooo

[The_bluester (Paul)]

I would love to extend out to do the Sunday and Monday nights but I can't really afford the leave from work.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Updated List

Malcolm
Paul Byron
Martin
Big Dave
Jamie Pole
Rowland
Wren
Andrew McCann
Barry Coverdale
John G
Niko
Rodney Doig
Ken (nico13)
Bo and Ryan
Tara (grasshopper) and husband and Blake (casual, not staying overnight)
Jen and Drew
Daniel, and his family!
Paul (Bluestar)
Andrew Campbell
Paul Fitzgerald
Steve Fleming
Alex Leahy
Paddy
Warren and Pamela Maag
Alistair (alistairsam)
Neale Walters
Bob & Peter Halsall
Simon Walters
Uri Abraham

We have been told that the following are about to send in their paperwork
Fergus (inertia8) hopefully!
Matt T
Paula

[SimmoW (SIMON)]

Sent The forms and payment today Malcolm, so add Uri and I to the list! Really looking forward to it.

[Greenswale (Wren)]

Hey Jen,

Are you gonna paint the ute purple????!!!