Bretti Reserve in August

[Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin)]

Unfortunately the weather forecast for the Gloucester area looks like crap for the next week with unrelenting rain and showers.

For my part i won't be traveling up this weekend as the distance traveled warrants having a fair degree of clear sky and that seems unlikely.

I will possibly catch up with some at the pony club but otherwise will catch up at the IIS camp in october.

Sorry for the inconvenience to Allan, Jacob and Geoffro

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Originally Posted by Arthur Alchin

Sorry for the inconvenience to Allan, Jacob and Geoffro

No inconvenience Arthur.
I think you have mirrored the view of the rest of us.

However, I will keepan eye on the weather channel for some possible clear patch, possibly further inland.

Maybe Broke!

[jakob]

I'm sitting on the fence, watching the clouds, Wagon packed!

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

I am definately going now.

I want a break from work anyway, even if we dont see much.
An open fire and a " cuppa " will do heaps for ones ( my ) sanity I feel.


UPDATE.... Looks like I have talked Arthur into going.
Where will we meet....
I may have to help Arthur pack his car and trailer so we need to work out when and where to meet.

Suggestion to meet at the servo at the end of the freeway....say 9.30 to 10 ish ????????


Van packed and ready to rock and roll.


So who's going definately ?

Geoffro.

[jakob]

When are you going?
Just saw a post saying 5th to 8th, 5th is tomorrow, thursday?
I thought of leaving friday.
I hope to get a quick reply.

[Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin)]

I should be right with the gear etc so can meet at the big roundabout at the driver survivor spot at 1000 if that is ok, will be on channel 8. If we are going through hexham we will need to go up newcastle road and acreoss the hexham bridge and then follow the buckett way to gloucester.

Sound OK????

My phone is 0411438858 and i am working tonight through to 0700hrs if anyone wants to check stuff out

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Sounds good to me Arthur.
Is that the servo near the big roundabout at the end of the freeway at 10 am ?

And Jacob, yes we are leaving tomorrow ( Thursday ).
It would be great to see you on Thursday too.

[jakob]

sh...t
I better get cracking. hope to be there.
Don't know Driver Survivor spot, coords?

j

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by jakob

sh...t
I better get cracking. hope to be there.
Don't know Driver Survivor spot, coords?

j

Hi again Jacob.

I think Arthur means either the small parking area near the end of the Freeway on the left hand side at the roundabout, or in the servo / Hungry Jacks parking area after the right turn on the roundabout at the end of the Freeway.

I will stop at the small dirt area near the roundabout first and listen to Channel 8. I should be there about 9.30 to 10 am.

See ya then.

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Dam! I wish I could come tomorrow!
Best I can do is Friday after work.
Hoping for an early mark.
Else it will be after dark.

Hope you guys are still there!
It will be cold!!!

Listen to channel 8 from about 6

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by Allan_L

Dam! I wish I could come tomorrow!
Best I can do is Friday after work.
Hoping for an early mark.
Else it will be after dark.

Hope you guys are still there!
It will be cold!!!

Listen to channel 8 from about 6

Roger D Alan. Ch 8 from about 6pm.

See ya there buddy.

[Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin)]

Great weekend, very very cold, best skies seen for a long time. I am sure some stories and photos will appear that will implicate people in irrational behaviour.

Thank you all for a great 4 days. Maybe will can see some others travel next time, the place is the best (and free)

Nice pic with solar flare with my DSI from Allan's Coronado, thank you Allan

Arthur

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Excellent few days away.

I can honestly say I have never seen such dark skies anywhere before.
I could see the dark patches in the Milky Way from Horizon to Horizon with the naked eye.
It was possible to see the veil nebula without filters

The temps at night when still observing got down to Zero on Thursday night with a frost to greet us the next morning.

A few good laughs too, Myself.... I forgot the tentpoles and had to makeshift some tarp poles to get the tent up.

And afterwards, Un-named persons with a Generator ( Arthur ) Highlight the brackets to find out who, tried to start it with no success after about an hour, and then we all had a go at it. We pulled the spark plug out and cleaned it many times, then someone finally checked the fuel.....NONE
Fueled up it started OK thanks to John.

It was great going to sleep with the sound of a fast running creek / river next to the tent and being awoken by the birds in the morning.

I definitley say I'll go there again, maybe with a few more people to enjoy the dark sky.
Thanks for all the laughs and company.

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Great Time!
Great Skies!
Great company.

Unbelievable that the skies were so black - NO skyglow from any direction (except straight up! )

I can vouch for Geoff, Veil was definitely observed without filter.
Saw many other Nebulas and Galaxies for the first time, too many to mention.

Daytime solar observing was spectacular!

Some notes for next time:
Geoff, go to the far side, thats where the Mens is.
Arthur, petrol burns better than air.
Allan, trust the GPS!
Jacob, get a generator that makes some noise, so you don't have to check if it is still running.
John, you may need a bigger ute if you want to impress by collecting trees as firewood.

Thanks everyone. Truly memorable experience.
Rated
Looking forward to many repeat offences.

PS The lookout was 25k north of the campsite.
(Jacob thought I was going via Walcha !) some things you never live down!
Worth the diversion!
Jacob got some happy shots I hope he posts.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

How was the Saturday night ????

And where are the photos ?

[jakob]

These were 3 great days!
Thanks for the company, the laughs and the entertainment.
I'm glad Geoff and Arthur decided to go, because I was getting influenced by the rotten forecasts.
Thanks to you all!

I still have to pocess more of the pictures I took.

But attached is a view from the lookout about 25k's from Bretti along Thunderbolts way. The road claims to nearly 1000m which gives a magnificent view from Southwest to Northwest.

The Sunspots were taken with the APO 80 and JMB Sunfilter.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

The view from the lookout is terrific Jacob, you captured it nicely.
I am sorry I missed out seeing that.