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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

It is confirmed that Astofest is indeed canceled..perhaps for good.

I may hit the Alcon.

And also...My girl Maria likes to go camping, so it may look like there are overnight camping/observation sessions in my future.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Hickory knolls. www.stcparks.org/Facilities/hickory-knollls-discovery-center.html

[headdunce]

Feb 22, 2012 1:04:34 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

And also...My girl Maria likes to go camping, so it may look like there are overnight camping/observation sessions in my future.

You're all welcome to come play at my campground about 3.5 hours north in Wisconsin
www.fremontjellystone.com/

I'm there almost every weekend from April through October
www.flickr.com/photos/head_dunce/5802484185/sizes/z/in/set-72157626770972439/
www.flickr.com/photos/head_dunce/4697792447/sizes/z/in/set-72157624269385948/

I have tents and stuff already out there if you wanna do that. They also rent log cabins with bathrooms/showers/kitchens/tv's etc. and you get some good discount on anything if you say you know me since I'm a "permanent" camper there, so just let me know.

My spring project is to figure out where/how to set up the new telescope out there. It'll stay in the shed during the week when I'm not there, probably set up on paver stones and the huge silver sock thing Orion sells on the weekends...

Anyway, come camping! ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Thanks Jim.

I will keep this for when we are ready to head out.

You too cool.

[erikruud]

Thanks for the invite.

I'm not a huge fan of the Jellystone campgrounds, but my extended family usually goes to one of the Illinois ones each year for their Halloween weekends. We had a good time.

Back in the mid to late 70's my family were permanent campers at a campground near Rockford. I have very fond memories of those summers.

One problem I have run into several times with observing at campgrounds is campfire smoke making things too hazy. It's best if you can get away from the main campsite area.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

This is an excellent point that Erik brings up.

I tell my visitors not to smoke around the equipment, due to the contaminates that the cigarette smoke leaves on the optics - and it reeks too.

Campfire smoke is also acrid and damaging to coatings and glass surfaces. It seems that I need to deep clean my Corrector plate at least once a year - being in the dirty air of the city, and minor touch ups throughout the observational season. I always am annoyed when someone is grilling in the immediate area of our observation site - as it leave a greasy film on surfaces.

A smoky environment at campsites will be a challenge.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Jim... those cabins look cool. We should have a star / drinking thing up there!

[headdunce]

Well, here's a Google satellite view of where I'm at
g.co/maps/vvp5v
I'm in the upper left turn on the dirt road that backs up to the forest, and if you zoom out, you'll eventually see Partridge Lake to the north east a little, that connects to the Wolf River which connects to Lake Poygan then to Lake Winneconne then to Lake Buttes Des Morts then Lake Winnebago. The boat launch is here
g.co/maps/mcsj8
If the water is flat, we can go through a LOT of fuel and may be able to make it here for lunch (you can map it out)
g.co/maps/kt28f
It's by far the best waterway in the Midwest, and I've been around a bit.

The campground has waterslides and all that Yogi stuff, but I don't do any of it. It's the nicest campground up there, and on the water, and there isn't much up there. I've been going there since I was a little kid tent camping, and I set up the big camper, etc, a few years ago.

It's a big campground, and everyone out there knows me so you can do whatever you want where ever you want basically. Ain't much around for many miles... I wouldn't be too worried about smoke from campfires because there's plenty of room to move away from them (although last year I went through 4 face cords of wood ;D) You're far worse off with the CTA buses by Alder.

[headdunce]

Feb 23, 2012 19:43:26 GMT -6 -=CROMAN=- said:

Jim... those cabins look cool. We should have a star / drinking thing up there!

Ha, you should come up for the white bass run. It always depends on water temp, but usually around mid-May, here's my brother, dad, and I from last year, this was just one afternoon's fish -

By the end of the trip, your hands hurt from just cleaning fish ;D

That is an all boys trip though, and if you think you can hang, grab your whiskey of choice, leave the wife and kids at home, and join the party