FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: A longggg, strange trip--this weekend

["bobe" <bobe@xxxxxxxxx>]

Here's a man that really needs to get a life - Anyone have any suggestions 
beyond stamp collecting?  :-)

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Steve Coe" <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 14:19:52 -0700

>Hello folks;
>Well, I am back at my lovely, air conditioned home and glad to be there.  It 
>was a weird weekend in a variety of ways.  If nothing else, I can't say that 
>my life as an observer of the sky is boring......
>
>I woke up on Friday morning and saw nothing but clear skies to the north, so, 
>discounting the well-intentioned and knowledgeable weather watchers on this 
>list, I packed up my almost new Nexstar 11, stopped at the grocery store and 
>headed out of town.  
>
>I met up with Matt Luttinen at Carefree Highway (a name that will come back to 
>haunt us) and we got two CB radios up and working and started north up I-17 
>with the Mormon Mt. get together as our target.  Joe Goss caught up with us 
>and we had several fun conversations along the way.  A stop in the Verde 
>Valley for ice and supplies started to show us that the skies to the north 
>were looking pretty dark.  Driving on with "maybe it will clear" on our lips, 
>we finally pulled off at Stoneman Lake and got serious.  This huge dark cloud 
>was just not the type of weather system that was going to go away.
>
>We decided to return to a more southerly site and started off of Cherry Road 
>to a location other than the NASP site.  Well, unfortunately, Matt struck a 
>rock and gasoline was pouring out of his little Nissan, so we quickly returned 
>to the exit and a tow truck was called.  It arrived in about an hour and Matt 
>rode with the truck back to Phoenix.  By now the storm is coming into this 
>part of the state and Joe and I decide to move farther south to Dugas Road, an 
>old site that the club has quit going to because the road is poorly 
>maintained.  But, we have few choices at this point.
>
>As we turn off the Dugas road exit, Joe and I discuss the fact that neither of 
>us has ever tried the Orme road and so let's explore that way and see what 
>happens.  As we drive along, Joe and I both are coming to the conclusion that 
>there are just no sites here worth exploring.  As we chat on the CB's, I hear 
>Thad Robisson and Chuck Akers calling my name and we talk for a moment, they 
>are heading south to Dugas and we decide to try the old club site at the 
>meadow that is 7 miles off the freeway.  
>
>It turns out that the road has been graded and is in pretty good condition.  
>So, we pull into the site and get near the trees at the south end of the 
>meadow.  The four of us set up some tables and chairs and have a meal, while 
>keeping an eye on the clouds.  By now the Sun has set and the clouds to the 
>north look even more menacing.  At one point in the conversation, Thad says 
>"smell that".  I say "what?".  His response is "rain".  As he speaks it the 
>unmistakable odor of rainclouds is detected by all and we leap to our feet and 
>start folding up and putting away all the gear we so carefully packed a few 
>hours ago.
>
>As we make it back to the freeway and the other three (intelligent) people 
>turn south to home, bed, warm meal and comfort, I make the decision to go 
>north and see if I can get to the other side of this weather mess.  The rain 
>starts in earnest almost immediately and there is a little hail as I pass 
>Sedona.  But now, I am at the "nothing is going to stop me" attitude.  I get 
>to Flagstaff around 10:30 and the rain is still trickling down.  I check into 
>a small motel just off I-17 and enjoy a nice evening on clean sheets.
>
>The next day is also beset by dark clouds and I decide to get with Brian Skiff 
>at Lowell and see if he would like some company for lunch.  We meet at the 
>observatory and Brian drives to a nifty cafe.  We chat about everything from 
>weather to telescopes and observing, computer sites and travel destinations.  
>After chatting for several hours I bid adieu to Brian, the sky is somewhat 
>clearer.  So, I start following the directions from Bill Ferris to get to 
>MMSS.  I AM going to attend, at least for a while.  After a pleasant drive 
>through the tall pines, I get to the meadow and find about a dozen other folks 
>who are intent on observing.  
>
>I have a chance to talk with Bill, Brent Archinal, Tom, Jennifer, Lynn 
>Blackburn and several other folks whose names I do not remember.  After two 
>hours or so, and two delicious hot dogs (thanks, Brent), the sky is darkening 
>up again and I just don't want to get rained on again.  So, I say my farewells 
>to the MMSS and make my way south again.  
>
>After a while the sky does open up a little and I decide to join the fun at 
>the Northern Arizona Star Party at Cherry Road.  Again about a dozen or so 
>hearty souls are in attendance, Marilyn Unruh, Sam, Glenn Nishimoto and other 
>voices in the dark.  We observe for a while, but the sky is just never good 
>enough to make me comfortable with setting up the scope so I can sleep in the 
>back of the Subaru Outback Wagon.  However, several other folks have set up 
>and there are some views of show pieces to enjoy, even though the night is 
>pretty bad.  At least it isn't raining.  
>
>So, I return to the Verde Valley and check into a hotel for the night.  The 
>manager  is nice enough to extend the 11 AM checkout time so I can get some 
>sleep and I do exactly that.  After a nice hot shower and a stop at Burger 
>King I can now tell you that it is Sunday afternoon at about 4 PM and the sky 
>looks quite clear.  So, I call my beautiful wife and she informs me that she 
>has plenty to do for Monday and if I want to stay and play for another night I 
>am welcome to do so.  How did I get so lucky?
>
>I make my way back to Cherry Road, set up the Nexstar 11 for the first time 
>after driving it all over central Arizona under gloomy skies.  I put on the 
>solar filter and look at a nice sunspot group, just to say that I observed 
>something astronomical!  I lay out for a short nap in the back of the car and 
>drop off for a half hour or so.  Just as the Sun sets, Thad, Chuck and Matt 
>pull in and it is nice to know that other people are just as desperate as I am.
>
>The skies are mushy, but at least getting better.  As the night progresses 
>some clouds move across, but in general things are clear.  I spend some time 
>in Canes Venatici, Ophichus and Scutum.  As much as I enjoy looking through 
>the scope, I also really enjoy the Milky Way.  After everyone else has left, 
>around 1 AM or so, I spend a half an hour just looking up and down Our Galaxy. 
> With just our eyes or in the binoculars, there is so much to see.  Dark 
>lanes, bright star clouds, big, splashy clusters of stars and compressed 
>groups; it is all there.  We do live in a pretty Universe.  
>
>In conclusion, yes, it was worth it.  I am the only person to attend both star 
>parties this weekend, a record I hope will never be broken.  I drove lots of 
>miles from Friday to Monday and I only set up my telescope once.  But, I had a 
>chance to enjoy conversing with lots of astronomers and I did get SOME time 
>under Arizona skies.  Yes, I did talk about the weather and I DID something 
>about it.  Just check into a motel and eventually it will clear up.  Not 
>poetic, but useful, information.  
>
>Ok, it is Monday afternoon and I have a 4 PM class to teach, I really need a 
>nap.  Here's hoping that New Moon June will be more fruitful.
>
>Clear skies (please);
>Steve Coe  
>
>
>
>Author "Deep Sky Observing--The Astronomical Tourist"
>Saguaro Astronomy Club website
>www.saguaroastro.org
>
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>
>
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