Jenolan Caves, March 20, 2005

[birddog114]

Leeks
Thanks.

we are going to book this:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/sonofzorba/WebSite/

or this:

http://www.aussiegateways.com.au/tranquillity/

[sheepie]

ouch birdie - that's nearly the cost of my next lens purchase!!!

me thinks the camping is certainly cheaper

...just hope it's not wet - oh well, if it is, it saves washing.

hehe

[birddog114]

Birddog - just to confirm that I've booked my own accomm in Blackheath for Friday and Saturday nights... Sounds like it'll be a fun weekend...

Leek,
We may do some shooting on saturday around that area as well, cos we're going to stay Friday & Saturday evening too!

[stubbsy]

OK. I'm in Blackheath on the Sat night. I figure time is getting near to start thinking about accommodation there. Are we going to try for a group booking discount somewhere or should we all organise our own?

One thing I'm thinking is that wherever I stay I'd like to be able to walk from dinner to bed so I can have 5 glasses of red during the night rather than 3 or 4

Which segues into my next Q - any ideas on a dinner venue?

Or am I just jumping the gun!

[birddog114]

stubbsy,
we will discuss it on Saturday at the picnic

[stubbsy]

stubbsy,
we will discuss it on Saturday at the picnic

Now that's just way too logical

[Matt. K]

Birdie
Wife and I will book ourselves. Blackheath...do the 3 sisters at sunset and have dinner with those forum members who turn up. Is that the idea?

[birddog114]

Birdie
Wife and I will book ourselves. Blackheath...do the 3 sisters at sunset and have dinner with those forum members who turn up. Is that the idea?

OK, PM me where're you going to stay?
We will have dinner together after doing the shooting at 3 sisters same as sunset.
I think we have around 10 members + family.

[leek]

Leek,
We may do some shooting on saturday around that area as well, cos we're going to stay Friday & Saturday evening too!

Sounds like a great idea... Nothing I'd love more, but I may need to spend time with the family as well...

Let's arrange something closer to the time...

[birddog114]

Leek,
We may do some shooting on saturday around that area as well, cos we're going to stay Friday & Saturday evening too!

Sounds like a great idea... Nothing I'd love more, but I may need to spend time with the family as well...

Let's arrange something closer to the time...

No problem, I have to set a meeting point in the afternoon and we meet there for shooting at the 3 Sisters and sunset after.

[birddog114]

Sorry Guy,
I have just found out after receiving a invitation from Boeing Australia for the Avalon Airshow.
Avalon Airshow is from March 15 - 20.
What can I do?

[gstark]

Do both!

Avalon until Saturday lunchtime, then back to Sydney and on to Blackheath for Saturday night/Sunday.

[birddog114]

Do both!

Avalon until Saturday lunchtime, then back to Sydney and on to Blackheath for Saturday night/Sunday.

I wish I can do that way!

[Nnnnsic]

Ask someone at the airshow if you can borrow their plane for the day.

[birddog114]

Ask someone at the airshow if you can borrow their plane for the day.

Yes, I know but no where to land at Jenolan caves, no airstrip
Chopper can be landed on top of the hill, where the car park is, but it's not enought fuel to get from Avalon direct to Jenolan Caves.
And no authority to do that unless emergency case!

[W00DY]

Ask someone at the airshow if you can borrow their plane for the day.

Yes, I know but no where to land at Jenolan caves, no airstrip
Chopper can on top of the hill, where the car park is, but it's not enought fuel to get from Avalon direct to Jenolan Caves

There are always parachutes

[Nnnnsic]

And no authority to do that unless emergency case!

Oh no! I left my D70 at home!
And the formations are too far away! We need something BIG that'll do the job!
*The Birddog light shines high in the sky like the Batman logo, except this logo looks like a camera...*
WHO WILL ANSWER MY CALL FOR JUSTICE?

[gstark]

Yes, I know but no where to land at Jenolan caves, no airstrip

But there is one at Katoomba, and another at Bathurst.

[birddog114]

Yes, I know but no where to land at Jenolan caves, no airstrip

But there is one at Katoomba, and another at Bathurst.

Gary,
My dream! and have to catch a bus or walk long way to the Caves
Am working on it with my buddies, they are all come from Seattle, WA for the Airshow. Plus few USAF jockeys coming with their Thunderbirds from Kadena, and Yokota AB, Japan.
We had good time last Airshow and they want to catch up with me.

[gstark]

Yes, I know but no where to land at Jenolan caves, no airstrip

But there is one at Katoomba, and another at Bathurst.

Gary,
My dream! and have to catch a bus or walk long way to the Caves

I'm sure we could pick you up halfway.

Am working on it with my buddies, they are all come from Seattle, WA for the Airshow. Plus few USAF jockeys coming with their Thunderbirds from Kadena, and Yokota AB, Japan.
We had good time last Airshow and they want to catch up with me.

And most of them will never have been to Jenolan either, right?

There's your hook!

[birddog114]

Oh yeah! you've got a point there! and perhaps they want to know a bout the D70 as well

[Matt. K]

Birdy
The caves can wait for you...your friends can't. Do the Avalon airshow and have a bloody good time. And we will expect a damn lot of D70 pix on the forum when you get back? And don't feel guilty about being away from the forum meet....we are big boys and we will take care of things until you get back.

[birddog114]

Thanks Matt.
I'm working on it.

[gstark]

Could we use Photoshop's clone tool on Birddog ?

[nigels]

Hi all,

Don't worry too much Birdy, if your serious about flying, I can pick you up at Bathurst.

Otherwise I am more than happy to arrange for a small meet, say no more than 10, when BirdDog can go. This I think would have to be in May or June. It may also help out 1 or 2 others. These things will sort themselves out, no worries.

There is also Wombeyan Caves to consider. Depending on the possible (probable) transfer to National Parks, we should be able to arrange something later in the year.

Sorry Birdy, your trapped, we will see you at Jenolan yet, if not March then certainly May or June.


Regards
Nige

[gleff]

Count me in for the Jenolan Caves tour only, and for only 1 person (me).

I'll drive up myself.. Do we have any idea of cost, and what time we will be meeting, and which caves we will do? Or is it a bit too early for that?

Thanks
Geoff Leff

[MHD]

Wow... Welcome Geoff!

Now thats keen, first post is an acceptance to a users meet!

Are you planning to stay Saturday night?

[gleff]

Wow... Welcome Geoff!

Now thats keen, first post is an acceptance to a users meet!

Are you planning to stay Saturday night?

Thanks.. no.. i'll just leave at 4am or something from chatswood depending on when we need to be there.

[Finno]

Im going to have to pull out, ill be away at this time

[leek]

OK... time for a refresh on this thread to solidify arrangements...

This trip was discussed at today's mini-meet at Birddog's and we realised that it is only 2 weeks away...

Nigel, some people were asking today what time we are expected at Jenolan and how much time we will have in the caves? Also, what are the costs involved p.p.?


How are people getting there and where are people staying overnight (if at all?)...

If we can find this out, we may be able to organise a photo-shoot on the Saturday and dinner in the evening... If people respond here, I'll compile the answers into one list (to save Gary some effort) and hopefully we can organise a great weekend...

[MHD]

We are driving up on friday (taking the day off) via Cowra and staying at the campsite!

Looking forward to campfire and red wine!

[leek]

I'll be attending with my wife Sharon and my daughter Sioned.

We will be staying in a rental cottage in Blackheath on Friday & Saturday night and will travel in our own car to Jenolan on Sunday morning...

Interested in a forum photo-shoot in/near Blackheath on Saturday if people are interested.

All 3 of us are up for a forum meal in Blackheath on Saturday evening.

My wife and daughter would love to go thru the caves, but it needn't be in the same group as the photographers.

[Geoff]

We are driving up to Jenolan in the wee hours of Sunday morning. We being myself, Craig, his lovely wife Diana and my lovely fiancee Bel...and hopefully Sirhc55

Geoff.
If sirhc55 is unable to attend we will have one sopt in the car for anyone living near me in Sydney.

[gleff]

We are driving up to Jenolan in the wee hours of Sunday morning. We being myself, Craig, his lovely wife Diana and my lovely fiancee Bel...and hopefully Sirhc55

Geoff.
If sirhc55 is unable to attend we will have one sopt in the car for anyone living near me in Sydney.

I'll be driving up on the Saturday afternoon, and staying in a motel until Sunday morning.

Geoff

[sheepie]

We'll be going over Friday afternoon and camping through until Monday morning. Let's hope there's not too much storm activity!

Others I have listed as intending to camp as follows:

MHD (confirmed)
Werewolf
rokkstar
KillaKoala (if he's not working)

I'll have a D70users banner at the campsite, so will be easy for all to find us

Will also have some red wine to share in the evenings ))

[MHD]

rokkstar can get some nice campfire shots with that 50/1.4

[stubbsy]

My plans are to come down from Newcastle to Blackheath on the Saturday, stay overnight then on to the caves. I'm looking forward to blackheath photo shoot of Blue Mountains at sunset and I hope others are too followed by D70 dinner somewhere there.

I have yet to organise accomodation (there is just me - anyone interested insharing a room?)

[Geoff]

Chris (Sirhc55) is coming with us too! So we will have a FULL car for our trip...ROAD TRIP!

Geoff
Bel
Craig
Diana
Chris
+ lots of camera gear!

[MHD]

Wow this is going to be a d70 who's who meet!
Awesome!

[W00DY]

Rick and I are driving up on the Sunday morning. We will have a few spots in the car if anyone in the hills area would like a lift up and back.

Will keep watching for confirmation on price, time and any other info we need.

Looking forward to this meet.

W00DY

[nigels]

Hi Guys,

Sorry to answer so late, still feel like something the cat dragged in.

OK- Costs Nil
Camping ground now open, will close for 1 or 2 days for road repairs, but only midweek, won't affect us.

So camping ground free of charge and will hold all of you, although it is not large. Please try to bring a little wood if possible


i recommend a start time at the bus park at about 9.00am

Bus park cannot be missed, first open area on your right after you drive through the Grand Archway. Leave any heavy gear there if you wish and then proceed onto the car park, about 150 metres further up the road.


As I mentioned earier, I will process 2 forms for free parking at the car park and free camping.

Ted Mathews, our guide, and myself will be at the bus park. You won't miss me, I'll have a Manfrotto tripod over one shoulder and a small shotgun over the other. ( to shoot the bloody stinky bats.)

I promise to have the 2 forms out in time.

Time in the caves will be at least untill 5/5.30pm with a small break for lunch ( I am bringing my own.) However there are some magic shots outside afterwards if you have the time

So in real terms, times inside the caves would be about 6.5 to 7 hours.

Regards Nige

ps I will also do the mud map to the camping ground as it will be easier to find.

[MHD]

You're a legend mate!
Free parking + Camping + tour!

I have a feeling this trip will go down in d70 history!

[gleff]

So in real terms, times inside the caves would be about 6.5 to 7 hours.

Regards Nige

ps I will also do the mud map to the camping ground as it will be easier to find.

OMFG... This is brilliant.. I second the Legend comment. This is going to be unreal.

Geoff

[sheepie]

Thanks heaps for organising this trip Nige - it's going to be great

Looks like we'll have a good sized group on Sunday, and even more impressive, a good sized camp meet for the whole weekend

Would have liked to have joined the group at Blackheath for the sunset gathering, but the camping is even more attractive to us.

MHD - when are you intending on arriving on the friday?

[birddog114]

Would have liked to have joined the group at Blackheath for the sunset gathering, but the camping is even more attractive to us.

MHD - when are you intending on arriving on the friday?

What can you guy do if there's storm and rain coming on those days?
Enjoying wet, humidity inside the tent and counting the rain drops

[MHD]

My tent is good!

Um, Not sure what time... we are spending the whole day getting there but picking up some wine in Cowra..

The aim will be to arrive before sundown... (I hate setting up camp in the dark)

[stubbsy]

I'm getting really nervous about this. I have a monopod, but no tripod and only the on board flash. Will this signifcantly hamper my success rate?

[birddog114]

I'm getting really nervous about this. I have a monopod, but no tripod and only the on board flash. Will this signifcantly hamper my success rate?

Inside the caves, monopod should be OK, can't use tripod, too crowded and no room.
Need fast and WA lens if possible.

[stubbsy]

I'm getting really nervous about this. I have a monopod, but no tripod and only the on board flash. Will this signifcantly hamper my success rate?

Inside the caves, monopod should be OK, can't use tripod, too crowded and no room.
Need fast and WA lens if possible.

phew. Thanks birddog. Have WA and some fast glass in the 70-200 VR as you know. Now I can sleep.

[birddog114]

I'm getting really nervous about this. I have a monopod, but no tripod and only the on board flash. Will this signifcantly hamper my success rate?

Inside the caves, monopod should be OK, can't use tripod, too crowded and no room.
Need fast and WA lens if possible.

phew. Thanks birddog. Have WA and some fast glass in the 70-200 VR as you know. Now I can sleep.

The 70-200VR is useless inside the caves, I was there and the most I used is 28/1.4, 50/1.4, 35/f.2, no flash