I have asked for 3rd to 5th December - watch this space
With the issues of mud, and power only in certain areas which require you to travel into the field, wouldn't it be better to maybe consider Blacklands on occasions like this, which has hardstand all around and the facilities (free) are within easy reach.
Only a suggestion ;)
Tony G
I agree but - I think Blacklands is also "closed" but without the "open" option - November to February I think
*Correction*
This is old news !
http://www.blacklandsfarm.co.uk/news_41142.html (http://www.blacklandsfarm.co.uk/news_41142.html)
There doesn't seem to be anything about closures this year - Thoughts anyone ?
Plus they've got the bird in the shower :o
I was in the usual spot - I put my tent in the area nearby the fire extinguisher. But I parked too close to the trees ands overnight the car sank into a "spongy bit".
Personally, I don't mind going back there but Mick will never make it, so Blacklands might be the better choice for Winter camps.
If I remember Blacklands was only closed for 1 month of the year.
Tony G
We do have the option of putting the cars on the gravely bit near the toilets out of season with tents just inside the field. That way cars, even Micks caravan, won't get bogged down.
Lights from nearby caravans may be an issue but I doubt it.
All the caravans will be empty in january
If we were to set up near the gravel car park there will be a better view of the South and West skies, North and East will be restricted by the trees (similar to the restrictions in our preferred position S and W).
If the house to the South turn their floodlights on - there will be a white out. I have only seen them turned on once.
Just bring an air rifle - that will solve that problem.
Hi,
Well I feel vindicated a bit, I said this campsite turns into a bog, I went there twice with the Subaru and on the second time October the car nearly got stuck after little rain, no idear what its going to be like next week.
Also the river isn't going to help with mist etc.
Having said that the chip shop and the railway cafe is great, so maybe summer camps can be done at Rother Valley because they do not let it get too busy. Also it is dark.
There are still a few sites I have never got too which are open all year some with hard standing. I'll have a look at them again.
Chris
So what are our choices for winter DSCs if Blacklands is closed ? Any ideas?
I'll contact Blacklands to find out if they are actually closing.
Had a reply from Blacklands -
They are open all year :)
Mike's imaging session may have to be changed
Again :oops:
Just move it to the Friday after - 10th December.
QuoteJust move it to the Friday after - 10th December.
Mike is this definite for next Imaging session and is DSC now 3 - 5 Dec at Blacklands, as I have to do the notices at the next meeting.
Carole
DSC will be 3rd to 5th and probably at Blacklands - If it doesn't rain for 2 weeks before, the ground will be dry/firm at Rother Valley.
and the Imaging Session is now the following Friday - 10th Dec.
Thanks Mick and Mike.
So who is going?
I'll be in the area.
Barring blizzards and torrential rain I'll be going to one of the venues :-?
Keeping an eye on the weather.
Ive got a Christmas concert that weekend in New Romney,
But i'll pop on over if i get the chance.
I'll make my final decision at the last minute - I've got lots of things to do at home after putting our house on the market, so I'll likely only come down if it's clear and probably only for one night.
Mark
(http://www.macrhon.co.uk/website/oas/smiley/signs/sign0018.gif)
QuoteI've got lots of things to do at home after putting our house on the market
Off to a place with less light polution?
(http://www.macrhon.co.uk/website/oas/smiley/signs/sign0018.gif)
Mac
So far, the weather forecasts are pretty grim.
Rain and/or snow clouds and high winds (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VTfcx7bG__M/TPNzluWnSjI/AAAAAAAABHc/S02IhMSYcY0/rain-019.gif)
Quote from: Mac
Off to a place with less light polution?
[Off Topic]
Yes, that's the plan.
On the High Speed Line (the "Javelin" trains) one can get from Ashford Int'l to Canary Wharf in the same time as Sidcup to Canary Wharf (once the DLR extension opens early next year).
Kids have now grown up, so with nothing to tie us to Sidcup it's extremely tempting to move out into the country.
Doesn't the 'Javalin' go to France as well ;)
Tony G
QuoteDoesn't the 'Javalin' go to France as well
It does if you fall asleep on the way home :lol:
I am feeling a bit dubious about DSC. Evern if no snow has fallen, there could be a heavy fall of snow during the night or on packing up day
Quote from: Tony G
Doesn't the 'Javalin' go to France as well ;)
Luckily it doesn't go through the Channel Tunnel so, at worst, you could doze off and end up in the wrong bit of Kent.
Quote from: Fay on Nov 29, 2010, 13:08:16
I am feeling a bit dubious about DSC. Evern if no snow has fallen, there could be a heavy fall of snow during the night or on packing up day
You've got a 4x4 - what are you worried about? You'd easily get out.
i was thinking about the packing of the tent +
QuoteYou've got a 4x4 - what are you worried about? You'd easily get out.
Thats what i thought at quagmire common that time,
in the end Chris had to pull me back to the path,
it was only a foot or two but enough.
The clay was so soft even with the 4x4 it just clogged the tyres.
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs393.snc3/23925_346132670959_576030959_4715210_8177908_n.jpg)
Note to self, must get off road tyres fitted soon.
:flame:
Mac,
All it needed was a French drain!
Mark
I'll go stamp on Blacklands on Thursday and give you a sitrep, it has not showed here yet the last rain was about 10 days ago so it should be ok.
Even for Mac poofy 4x4, no Patsy to pull you out this time though, maybe Fay will get hers DIRTY!
:flame:
I hope Blacklands is OK, it's got to be better than Stairs Farm! If only I had a four wheel drive...
:ferret: :flame: Anyone for toasted ferret?
I'm told :squirrel: tastes better...
:baa: :flame:
Yum :twisted:
There is snow at blacklands now and its fing cold....
Well, this could happen overnight when we were there, which would be a big problem. Handy to have our local weatherman :)
So what time is everyone arriving at Blacklands then?
I'm here well near
Ha yes so you are Chris!
I was thinking about noon on 6th July 2011 ;)
I'm not feeling inclined to venture out this weekend :-?
Friday is the only night forecast to be clear but before and after is forecast to be wind, rain and/or snow (and cold).
Don't see the point of loading everything up for one possible night, assuming I can get the van out of the kerb (grit lorries don't come down my road)
I was joking, Mick. :lol:
QuoteI was joking, Mick
So was I, I'm really going :roll:
OK not really
Real shame though, 3 clear nights with temperatures in the + would have been nice though :(
Would your tripod be high enough to show out of the top of a snow drift??????
ps I cannot think for what occasion I would use a squirrel, stoat or bug smiley
Weather report, its -4 we had 14" snow last ngiht and its forecast for more, my mount in the garden has snow more than halfway up it and the seat and chair are nearly burried. I think this is a DSC for Mark only, I expect him to cycle down dragging the C11 on a sledge.
Most sensible people here are looking out the windows.
Apparently its going to be clear tonight for a few hours, hmm shall I?
Quote from: Rocket Pooch on Dec 02, 2010, 08:31:25
Most sensible people here are looking out the window.
We can all be sensible people this weekend, and instead of DSC at Blacklands, we could make our way (by 4x4, or tractor) to Rocket Pooch's pad and just look out the windows. :o
Get the hot chocolate on, and the doner kebabs ready. ;)
Tony G
Quote from: Rocket Pooch
I'll go stamp on Blacklands on Thursday and give you a sitrep, it has not showed here yet the last rain was about 10 days ago so it should be ok.
Quote from: Rocket Pooch
There is snow at blacklands now and its fing cold....
Chris,
Will you be giving us another site report Friday morning so we can finally decide if it's worth attending DSC?
Mark
I can do if you like.
Quote from: Rocket Pooch
I can do if you like.
No need - I won't be going to DSC this time!
Sure it was below -10 here last night, you might hold a record :-)
And be a Mark Popsicle
I wonder what temperature the weird french stuff freezes?
and it's alcohol content is?
Quote from: Rocket Pooch on Dec 03, 2010, 09:50:57
Sure it was below -10 here last night, you might hold a record :-)
And be a Mark Popsicle
It was predicted to be -11C in Orpington last night so out where you are it'll have been ...king cold !
Quote from: Ian
and it's alcohol content is?
45 or 50%
somewhere about -25degC then
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethanol-water-d_989.html
:)
Have checked the logs on my weather station and the temperature in my garden dropped all through the night down toa record of -10.9 degrees C by 6am this morning then started to rise as the sun got up. It's now at -2.5 C.
(http://www.earthshineelectronics.com/Images/astronomy/recordtemp.png)
What weather station do you have Mike?
It's this one from Maplin:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223254
Though it was half price at the time I bought it about a year ago.
If anyone else has a Maplin's weather station with PC software, don't use the provided software as it is #$£* - instead use Cumulus, much better:-
http://sandaysoft.com/products/cumulus
Also works with Oregon and just about any other USB connectable weather receivers.
Ha
I was just thinking it was the same unit as mine (and Phil) but with different software
Thanks Mike, time for a play :)
Don't know about you, Mick, but I rejected to USB model on grounds of price only to discover a few weeks later that the USB station now costs what I paid for for the version that can't be connected to a computer. :roll: I'm reluctant to upgrade as the one I have has developed a fault after only about six weeks use.
Quote'm reluctant to upgrade as the one I have has developed a fault after only about six weeks use
Take it back and change it if it's faulty.
Tell them you don't even mind upgrading (Not your fault if the price is now the same ;))
Can't remember how much I paid, but never had any trouble with it
Fault will very likely be connections
Tonight should be a nice night to image if..
a) You can brave the cold (currently it's -9 and dropping)
b) Have a clear space in your garden to set up
If you do go out, whatever you do, don't touch anything metal with bare skin. :roll:
Quote from: Mike on Dec 03, 2010, 16:22:47
If you do go out, whatever you do, don't touch anything metal with bare skin. :roll:
For example, don't lick your tripod.
Quote from: mickw on Dec 03, 2010, 15:02:41
Take it back and change it if it's faulty.
Tell them you don't even mind upgrading (Not your fault if the price is now the same ;))
Can't remember how much I paid, but never had any trouble with it
Fault will very likely be connections
I'm currently searching for the receipt as they probably won't accept if I don't have one. When it thaws out I'll try powering it down and checking the connections but I have the feeling that the wind is somehow getting into it. On two occasions now it's recorded 159mm of rain in less than 12 hours!
Quote from: Mike
(currently it's -9 and dropping)
I'm going to have a very chilly cycle ride home from work then!
I'll try not to touch the bike frame with ungloved hands ...
Quote from: PhilB on Dec 03, 2010, 16:53:42On two occasions now it's recorded 159mm of rain in less than 12 hours!
The rain guage is a little rocker. Not a great design, but it can be affected by wind blowing into it. I think every time it rocks, it empties itself of water and counts a set quantity of rainfall, so if it is rocking due to wind it will give false readings.
The rocker design is standard. If you saw Gardeners World last week you would have seen a met office guy using one.
yeah but what I mean is, it is made of leightwight plastic and inside a box that has quite large air gaps. Some kind of wind baffle and heavier material would have been more ideal.
Thanks for the info, guys. I thought it would be something simple, but had an impeller driven by water flow and connected to an encoder disc in mind. There's no guidance in the instructions but it is mounted rather close to a roof surface where turbulence might be a problem. I'll have to follow your lead, mounting it rather higher up and experiment with improving the seal between the top and bottom of the box.
Get an aerial mounting pole and kit and strap it to that with jubilee rings. You can buy them online.
It's cold, dark and snowy down here - where is everyone?
It's cold, dark and snowy everywhere Mark, not just in Sidcup ;)
Quote from: MarkS on Dec 03, 2010, 22:08:25
It's cold, dark and snowy down here - where is everyone?
Mark,
I'm in my new white tent next to where you pitched up.
I thought you where very ignorant in not saying hello when you arrived, but you must have not seen me.
I set my camera up, and took this image of me lining up the finder scope, as you carried those three large boxes out of the back of your car. That must be your breakfast stuff for tomorrow.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5229701195_ee07b8e84e.jpg)
Try not to snore.
Tony G
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:funniest thing ever, Tony!
Who's the guy next to you, Tony?
QuoteWho's the guy next to you, Tony?
what guy and where is Tony
:o :o :o
Quote from: julian on Dec 04, 2010, 12:37:24
what guy and where is Tony
:o :o :o
Julian,
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5231564168_8a03c4a8ec_t.jpg)
Tony G
Julian :o!!
Quote from: PhilB on Dec 04, 2010, 10:37:11
Who's the guy next to you, Tony?
Surely that's the Mummy next to Tony, with those two bandaged arms. ;)