The next Deep Sky Camp will be from Friday 14th to Monday 17th May and will be held at Blacklands Farm Campsite in Henfield, West Sussex. Anyone is welcome, not just members. Prices are on the camp website :-
http://www.blacklandsfarm.co.uk/
Wheatsheaf Road (B2116)
Henfield
West Sussex
BN5 9AT
Tel: (01273) 493528
Google Maps :- http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116836630893893363332.000484a55dcb6de344dbd&ll=50.950141,-0.246763&spn=0.006665,0.016919&t=h&z=17
So who will be at this one?
Hopefully me
Me.
Maybe Dee (depends on weather!)
depends on the how the moves going.
As everything at the moment is boxed. Probably not.
But i might pop down for a visit.
Not sure as yet, depends on weather.
Carole
I'll try and make it.
What is all this "Depends on the Weather" business? Has everyone gone soft? It is in May, it's hardly going to be sub-zero temperatures !!
I'll Definately be there, :-?
but this depends on whether its to hot, or not during the day, and if its slightly chilly at night, and if any clouds appear, then you'll see me disappear.
But apart from that, I'll definately be there. ;)
Friday to Monday.
Tony G
Quotebut this depends on whether its to hot, or not during the day, and if its slightly chilly at night, and if any clouds appear, then you'll see me disappear.
But apart from that, I'll definately be there.
So if its absolutely persisting down you'll be there ;)
Mac,
I have never seen it absolutely persisting down without there being clouds involved. :roll:
Tony G
QuoteWhat is all this "Depends on the Weather" business?
Er....clouds....rain.....
i.e. not going if we're not going to get any imaging/observing done as I'm also packing to go on holiday a few days later, so don't want to be drying out wet and muddy things just beforehand.
Also not being as young as most of you guys I find all the packing and upacking for camp rather knackering, so only want to go if it's going to be Astronomically rewarding.
Carole
You can still see astronomically rewarding sights, even when its cloudy. ;)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8624064.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8624064.stm)
Still something like this, would still be seen anywhere within quite a few miles. not just from Blacklands.
Tony G
Et moi
And Julian
I'll definitely be there as well . Probably most definitely unless it's persisting persistently and forecast to do so for the duration - when has that ever happened? ; :baa: But it was February. :baa:
Should we book hookups as it is May?
I'll be there.......
Just realised I can't come, double booked.
Carole
Quote from: Tony G on Apr 27, 2010, 17:41:46
You can still see astronomically rewarding sights, even when its cloudy. ;)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8624064.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8624064.stm)
Still something like this, would still be seen anywhere within quite a few miles. not just from Blacklands.
Tony G
Why is everything so much bigger in America?
Quote from: Delphine on May 03, 2010, 06:40:36
Why is everything so much bigger in America?
Do you really want lumps of rock that size falling out of the sky over here?
QuoteWhy is everything so much bigger in America?
Its because they are all fatter :cheesy:
Mac.
Just in case, I advised Blacklands that we will be coming down & that we will need about 9 hookups. Had a reply saying he has reserved space for us. Perhaps one of you had already done it.
I'll need a connection, is anyone willing to let me connect my extension lead to their 13A distribution panel?
Note that I wont be running any fan heaters, heated blankets or any other 'soft' astro/camping accessories so won't be drawing much current
Cheers
Robert
Of course, Robert!
Thanks Fay. The Observing Officer should do that but I think Mick is still recovering from the Brain Transplant.
:lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol:I wonder if Mick woke up speaking in other tongues!!!!
What, Carole has posted and not hijacked the thread... What is life coming to !!!
Thanks very much Fay, that's very kind of you.
I'm sure Mick will still be able to say 'beer' whatever state his brain is in :lol:
Did someone say BEER ?
Hmmmmmmm Beer!
I'm looking forward to seeing you all & having a relax, a beer, a chat & a laugh!!!!!!!!!!
Someone else said beer :o
QuoteI'm looking forward to seeing you all & having a relax, a beer, a chat & a laugh!!!!!!!!!!
What, only one of each - are you saving yourself for something :lol:
Robert, you really are quite funny!!!!!!!!! I 'm up for multiples ;)
Yeah i've heard that rumour too.
I'm doing my bit.........................
I'm test driving a selection of different beer :)
I'd better say good night now :oops:
Mike!!!!behave
Quote from: Fay on May 05, 2010, 19:17:20
I 'm up for multiples ;)
Fay,
You don't have pampus grass outside your house do you? :o
Tony G
Explain the relevance of my pampas grass!!!! Tony
Here we go again? :roll:
Tony G
QuoteQuoteExplain the relevance of my pampas grass!!!! Tony
QuoteHere we go again?
http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=5572.msg32252#msg32252 (http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=5572.msg32252#msg32252)
Quote from: Mac on May 05, 2010, 21:01:06
QuoteQuoteExplain the relevance of my pampas grass!!!! Tony
QuoteHere we go again?
http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=5572.msg32252#msg32252 (http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=5572.msg32252#msg32252)
And another. http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=5572.msg32160#msg32160 (http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=5572.msg32160#msg32160)
Tony G
Simon was a bit lively, do you think?? :lol:
QuoteI'm up for multiples
Well that's one piece of DSC, entertainment sorted then :o
sounds like this is a DSC not too miss. 8)
So who is going, when are they arriving & for how many nights?
I am going friday for 3 nights
Cant go. I can even pop down to visit.
Im on a triple 12hr shift at Acton town. :cry:
Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights for me with the caravan
Friday & Saturday nights.
Arriving 8pm Friday
Friday - arriving about 7.30pm through till Sunday.
Hopefully 3 nights - Arrive Friday noon-ish
Julian will be going friday, saturday
Going where?
Where's everyone going. :o
Tony G
PS.........................Where ever it is, I'll go too. 8)
Friday afternoon to Monday morning if the weather gods are kind.
Fay why do you always speak on Julian's behalf?
well he has not posted yet & I know he is coming
This one's for Nige.
All the info you want is here -
http://www.blacklandsfarm.co.uk/blacklands-farm-campsite-information.html (http://www.blacklandsfarm.co.uk/blacklands-farm-campsite-information.html)
The rates will be Off Peak - It's easiest to stick cash in an envelope with reg. no. and number of nights on the outside so it can be shoved through the letterbox if nobody is there. The office is a shed inside the gate - not the cottage on the right.
There are fake cows at the entrance on the roadside and the same at the entrance further up the drive where you turn right into the site.
im going to make a passing visit friday night.
Probably get there for 5-6pm have to leave by 10 though.
Mac.
Well, I woke up this morning and suddenly realised how close we were to the next DSC.
This was evident when I had to SCRAPE BL%DY ICE OFF THE CAR. :twisted:
Tony G
Tony it's all good practice :lol:
Mick are you coming? Hope you are nearly fully recovered now
Yep and sort of ;)
Should be there about noon Friday :D
Quote from: Tony G on May 12, 2010, 12:10:19
This was evident when I had to SCRAPE BL%DY ICE OFF THE CAR. :twisted:
Remember, when the ground's frozen solid you don't get stuck in the mud... :twisted:
If anyone has a cheshire can you bring it along lease.
And I don't mean cheese or cat.
Yep.
I'm coming, but won't get there till Friday evening despite saying in pub that I would be there at noon. Unfortunately some jobs have cropped up that need to be done first - Nigel
Quotewon't get there till Friday evening
See you there
I assume the intention is to try and get set up near the shower block as before ?
I'll be down on Saturday afternoon, should be there sometime around 6pm.
Would anyone be taking a DMK that I could try out at DSC?
You got a long focal length scope then?
Quote from: mickw on May 14, 2010, 08:03:34
I assume the intention is to try and get set up near the shower block as before ?
Same place as last time Mick.
QuoteYou got a long focal length scope then?
2800 mm
The weather forecast for this weekend isn't looking too shabby. No rain forecast at least.
Anyone down there yet? I'll be leaving soon.
So Nigel. What happened to you coming down yesterday?
Well I think Blacklands is a no goer for any future DSC's. On the way out I stopped to pay and was charged the exorbitant sum of £34 for 2 nights!! Who do they think they are kidding? For a few quid more I could stay in a Travel Inn and get breakfast in the morning. They have seriously hiked their prices up since last time, and i'd like to know why as the facilities are the same old mediocre ones they've always had.
Start looking for a new campsite chaps !
Not that bad for one man running off batteries, though.
I just checked Kelling Heaths's tarifs. You would have paid the same there - £17.25/night for a pitch with electrics in May. Plus, their facilities are fantastic. But that gets ramped up to £31 for bank hols and Jul/Aug.
That's my point, the facilities are not fantastic and yet they've put their prices up by about £6 per night. They are also encouraging more families to go there. The fires, Khoom Fay's and noisy kids were all pissing me off too. At Kelling Heath you are guaranteed an astronomer friendly environment and hence the increased fare.
Quote£17.25/night for a pitch with electrics in May
these are the normal prices, they do a cheaper price for the Astronomy weeks as they know they will get lots of bookings, of £12 per night (all in). Although I take your point comparing it to normal camp prices.
Carole
Back to Tuesnoad then! :cheesy:
Cheap, dark sky, no noisy kids, no families, no Khoom Fays, no annoying lights, but no facilities :-(
There's always a problem isn't there. If we want good facilities during the warmer months then we get all the associated extras like kids families bright lights etc, it's part of the deal. We can't blame the owners for not trying to make more money however unfriendly it is to us. I do agree though £17.50 is incredibly steep considering the shabby secondhand toilet blocks and general facilities (or lack of), there is simply no comparison to Kelling.
I was talking to these guys last year and they were going to have camping facilities but I'm not sure how far they got.
http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Starborough_Farm_34__Telescope_Project.html (http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Starborough_Farm_34__Telescope_Project.html)
Could be a viable alternative if they've got their act together, I'll give them a ring later to find out how far they got.
Robert
I wonder if we should make a formal approach as a society? Maybe a discussion for behind the scenes?
I think for the next uDSC we should try out alternative locations. Perhaps this could be one of them.
Agreed £32 when I checked out and I didn't declare the small one. So its too much.
Shall we do Tuesnode for the next one? I don't think we will find a venue quickly.
See the other thread re: campsites. We should find one for the June uDSC. If not we can do Tuesnoad.
I only paid £10.50 per night as shown in their website
http://www.blacklandsfarm.co.uk/blacklands-farm-campsite-information.html (http://www.blacklandsfarm.co.uk/blacklands-farm-campsite-information.html)
The prices are per person per night plus electric hook up - which is a relatively new addition to our costs.
What were couples charged at Kelling Heath
There is no price for couples. it is £6.50 per person (£7.50 in the 'high season') + £4 per night for electricity (piss take) plus extras (£8 per night for a gazebo!! WTF!!)
I meant price per couple at Kelling, that would give you a comparison.
Everyone thought the price was fine when we started going there after Woodlands and it has only gone up £1 for electricity and £1 per person.
A gazebo can take up as much room as another tent.
The amount of room we take up including blocking direct access to toilets, I don't think we have any cause for complaint.
Blacklands is not a bad deal.
I have never paid more than £14 per night, including electric, at any campsite before. Blacklands is now £17 per night. You can stay at a Travellodge for £19 per night and get breakfast in the morning.
Kelling has fixed sized plots and hence you pay per plot, it is not good value for singles.
Relatively recently Blacklands was charging £4 per person and £2.50 for electrics - you can find these old prices on a few camping pages on the net.
Yep. They have seriously hiked their prices up.
http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=4998.msg27569#msg27569 (http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=4998.msg27569#msg27569)
Hardly a serious hike in prices :roll:
Got some kind of an aversion from moving from Blacklands Mick ?
Nope - unless the alternative is Tuesnode :-?
Just pointing out the reality ;)
Talking of Tuesnode, what was the reason for switching from Pennys Field which everyone seemed to like - Not the better facilities surely
This thread is getting dangerously close to attracting the scrutiny of the forum parrots :police:
Penny's Field we stopped using because there was NO facilities at all (even less than Tuesnoad). Plus she double booked us TWICE with hippy festivals.
Quote from: Mike on May 18, 2010, 08:26:23
I have never paid more than £14 per night, including electric, at any campsite before. Blacklands is now £17 per night. You can stay at a Travellodge for £19 per night and get breakfast in the morning.
Might get some light pollution at a travel lodge.... :-)
I think this is really simple, the committe can decide the official site and for UDSC just treat it as normal, i.e. if we want to got to wherever then lets do it on that basis. So for the UDSC why not goto Devon for the weekend? Its very dark there.
Tuesnode was ok, we could do what we wanted, but we would need to sort out the entrance and the sheep poo, has anyone forgot the poo?
I still say £10.50 per person per night including electricity is a bargain................
But if something better comes up, I'm all for it and yes I'm up for Devon.
I don't think DSC venue would be a committee matter, it's more down to those that attend. It would be rather pointless for committee to designate Tuesnode as the venue then everyone buggers off to Blacklands ;) or Devon :D
And no, I haven't forgot the poo or the fact that the lazy owner couldn't be bothered to carry out the repairs to his own property :-?
I don't think the DSC has anything to do with the committee quite frankly. Especially as none of the committee members ever attend. I think it is up to the 7 or 8 individuals who regularly attend to make the decisions concerning DSC via a majority vote.
Yep, DSC dates have traditionally been decided by the folks who go to DSC, and have never been subject to Committee confirmation (with the possible exception of the first few).
I think a trip to Devon really requires a 4 day weekend plus some forward planning. For June I recommend we try out Rother Valley and arrange a trip to Devon for perhaps the August uDSC.
QuoteI'm all for it and yes I'm up for Devon.
QuoteTuesnode was ok, we could do what we wanted, but we would need to sort out the entrance and the sheep poo, has anyone forgot the poo?
That sounds like a good idea.
As said before. If we contact the owner and offer to fix the entrance. Im sure we can negotiate a couple of free weekends down there.
Dig the front out and tamp down a couple of bags of type one Mot. Probably take all day but it might be worth it.
Im sure the owner would pay for the MOT type1 if he knew that he was going to get the entrance to the field sorted.
Mac.
OK we'll leave you to contact the owner and sort that one out then. Cheers.
I think never is a bit harsh Mike, with mick,doug, rose and carole on the ctte. But the location of dsc is not a ctte matter anyway.
The only time the ctte would get involved is in the event of some spending being needed.
Mick, the only scrutiny this thread is currently getting is whether we need a new forum just for dsc...
QuoteThe only time the ctte would get involved is in the event of some spending being needed
Hmm, perhaps the society could fund
a several DSCs - Arizona springs to mind :D
Quotethe only scrutiny this thread is currently getting is whether we need a new forum just for dsc...
Not really, we'll get bored and our fingers will get tired of typing soon, then we'll just go "somewhere"