The Sun shall be blotted from the sky!

[ZenGum]

The Sun shall be blotted from the sky ... for about two minutes, in North Queensland, on the 14th of November.

I leave tomorrow morning. I will spend four days driving to Cairns, a mere 3,000 km or so.



After a logistics day in Cairns, I'll head another 250 kms or so to a campground prepared on centre line. I'll be there for several days, there's a bit of a gathering going on.

I really hope for clear weather for the eclipse!



Afterwards, I will investigate going to The Tip of Cape York Peninsula, but that cannot be done in a mere Subaru Outback.
There are also lots of amazing parks and forest reserves and such in the general area. If the weather is good I could spend a week or two up there.

I am considering returning by a different route, involving the Birdsville Track and the Oodnadatta Track.



Yeah that does go through the middle of a great big desert. On unsealed roads. At the very end of spring. She'll be right, eh?

So I won't be cellaring much for the next few weeks.

[orthodoc]

Lots of pictures, though, to share? Pretty please?

And a nice travel blog, you're one of the best.

[glatt]

Road trip!

Exciting.

[Lamplighter]

Looks like a fantastic trip.

PDX had a total eclipse several years back.
It was weird, and it seemed to last for a long time.
... maybe because the dimming light came on slowly.

Have a great time and take lots of pics for us.
Even when it comes to total eclipses, without pics it didn't happen.

[BigV]

Man, does that sound like and epic trip. Let the FAWET begin!!

http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=1...t=fawet&page=2

Originally Posted by ZenGum

After two and a half years of mild irritation, I finally found the sodding picture.

I'll see your FAWET and raise you OCD:

Attachment 32046

here it is again with the explanatory notes. IIRC this was for a complex hike in late 2007, where the plan was to hike one trail, bus to another, and hike that, with a total of 8 days supplies. The food adds to about 24,000 calories, about 3,000 per day. This was in Japan so water is never a problem.

Attachment 32047

ETA there are a couple of lighters in there at the bottom too.

Come on, show us how you don't get eaten by all those creepy crawlies and how you battle your way out of quicksand. I know you're doing it, teach us (or at least me) along the way.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Afterwards, I will investigate going to The Tip of Cape York Peninsula, but that cannot be done in a mere Subaru Outback.

Don't forget your gear.

[BigV]

[footfootfoot]

All that you touch
And All that you see
All that you taste
All you feel.
And All that you love
And All that you hate
And All you distrust
All you save.
And All that you give
And All that you deal
And All that you buy
Beg borrow or steal.
And All you create
And All you destroy
And All that you do
And All that you say.
And All that you eat
And everyone you meet
And All that you slight
And everyone you fight.
And All that is now
And All that is gone
And All that's to come
And everything under the sun is in tune
And the sun is eclipsed by the moon.

[infinite monkey]

There is no dark side of the moon, really. Matter of fact, it's all dark.

[footfootfoot]

[infinite monkey]

I am now listening to Dark Side of the Moon in my earbuds at work. It's been ages!

[footfootfoot]

remember to be careful of the clocks

[infinite monkey]

Later I'll say:

I was really drunk at the time.

(Vacation day tomorrow! Celebration tonight!)

[Ibby]

Ooh, Zen, sounds fun! i went to cairns/port douglas for a week or so when I was in like 3rd/4th grade and remember it was a great time.
and i'm so jealous of your eclipseing! I've only ever seen one solar eclipse and now I want to see them as often as I can. It's surreal.

[ZenGum]

It was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!


more later*, with some pics that turned out okay but not great.

*like, a week or two. I'm still 3,200 km from home.