Countdown to Oz

dwyman · #1 07-09-2007, 06:36 AM

A month from now I'll be boarding a Qantas 747 in Los Angeles and heading for Sydney. My wife and I are very excited. This will be my second trip, her first. We'll be traveling with Dave Kriege of Obsession Telescopes and a number of other Yanks for a week of observing up in Coonabarabran using mostly Obsession scopes from 18" to 25" along with Andy Murrell's 20" Hector. We'll come back to Sydney for a week of sightseeing and other touristy stuff. Can't wait to knock back a Toohey's Old Black Ale. I really like a good dark beer.

CoombellKid · #2 07-09-2007, 06:58 AM

hmmmm could be worth making the effort to get to Coonabarabran just to
have a chat with Dave Kriege. hope you have a most enjoyable trip, and
the weather is accomodating.

Toohey's Old is a nice drop : )

regards,CS

dwyman · #3 07-09-2007, 08:33 AM

I'm sure Dave wouldn't mind. We're old mates, but it's your shout.

xelasnave · #4 07-09-2007, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwyman

A month from now I'll be boarding a Qantas 747 in Los Angeles and heading for Sydney. My wife and I are very excited. This will be my second trip, her first. We'll be traveling with Dave Kriege of Obsession Telescopes and a number of other Yanks for a week of observing up in Coonabarabran using mostly Obsession scopes from 18" to 25" along with Andy Murrell's 20" Hector. We'll come back to Sydney for a week of sightseeing and other touristy stuff. Can't wait to knock back a Toohey's Old Black Ale. I really like a good dark beer.

I know you will enjoy it ...it is so dark and is a great beer

Dont waste money on a return ticket you may not want to use it

.
alex

iceman (Mike) · #5 07-09-2007, 09:25 AM

I bet you can't wait! Are you spending any time in Sydney? Would be great to meet up if you're around.

dwyman · #6 07-09-2007, 10:02 AM

Mike, email me your phone number. We have all week rail and ferry passes so we're pretty flexible. Would like to get together some evening.

RB (Andrew) · #7 07-09-2007, 10:08 AM

You're going to have a great time Don, any chance you'll be around the Central Coast at all, we meet at Kulnura once a month for an observing session.
Be great to meet you.

dwyman · #8 08-09-2007, 08:11 AM

We did this in April of 2005 too. Much smaller group this trip though. Only 5 yanks. Last time we had 16.

dwyman · #9 08-09-2007, 08:58 AM

Mike, my wife, Mary Ann, and I will be driving from Coona to Sydney on October 12 and staying until the 20th. I'm pretty sure Dave K is heading straight back to the states around the 12th.

iceman (Mike) · #10 08-09-2007, 09:14 AM

Sounds great Don.

We can plan for a small observing meet, or just a get-together drink and chat.

After observing at Coona, it'll probably be quite a let-down to observe at Kulnura, only an hour from Sydney

I'll PM you my mobile#.

dwyman · #11 10-09-2007, 12:13 AM

Mike, I've been looking at the rail system in Sydney and it appears that we can ride from St. James or Martin Place to Gosford. Our hotel is between them, the Travelodge Phillip Street. I'll also have a mobile while there. I'm waiting on the SIM card and I'll get my phone number when it gets here.

iceman (Mike) · #12 10-09-2007, 06:06 AM

Yes, Gosford is on the main North train line (heading out of Sydney to Newcastle).
I work near Sydney too though, so am happy to meet you down your way if it's more convenient. Will you have a hire car or are you relying on public transport?

dwyman · #13 10-09-2007, 07:54 AM

We'll be dropping off the rental car on the 12th after we drive back from Coona. We have purchased passes that cover Metro and City rail, bus, and ferry for the week between the 13th and the 19th.

dwyman · #14 14-09-2007, 06:31 AM

Three weeks to go!!!

dwyman · #15 19-09-2007, 07:09 AM

Two weeks and two days. Qantas serves Aussie beer on the flight. Wooohooo!!

By the way, I'll have a mobile phone with me. If I have to dial a number like 0425 99999, do I dial the "0" first? Seems like all your numbers start with "0". It's very different from our system.

CoombellKid · #16 19-09-2007, 07:21 AM

Yup! ya do Don

regards,CS

dwyman · #17 19-09-2007, 07:33 AM

Thanks, Rob.

iceman (Mike) · #18 19-09-2007, 07:34 AM

The only time you don't dial the 0 is if dialing from international, or if you use the international prefix..

eg: +61425999999

dwyman · #19 19-09-2007, 08:40 AM

See now, that's what's confusing. I don't have + on my phone. How do I do that?

iceman (Mike) · #20 19-09-2007, 10:01 AM

Usually you hold down 0 to get the +. Or it will be under "symbols".