Good morning from Outback South Australia.

[Santalum]

Good morning all, just a short post to introduce myself.
I live with my wife Heather our dog Jess, Burmese cat and numerous tropical fish in Roxby Downs South Australia.
I am approaching retirement age and we will be moving to a a home we own at a coastal location in SA within the next 2 years.
Have had an on and off interest on photography for over 30 yrs, in a past life was a rodeo/horse show photographer and spent countless hours in my dark room, no longer have a dark room set up though this may change when I retire.
Will be visiting the US in April this year and taking my Nikon FM3A I have also purchased a Nikon D200 body, that is waiting for me in Florida.
We plan to spend time in Florida, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and California, needless to say a good part of our time over there will be spent looking through the view finder of an SLR.
I am a member of another forum, one of our members is also a member of APUG and his comments caused me to check out this site, so here I am.
Jon.

 

[Dave Miller]

Welcome Jon, A D200 you say; should make a good doorstop for the new home.

 

[Aggie]

Welcome

Pm me and I will give you contact info. I live right next to Zion National Park in Southern Utah. I know the southern end of this state and northern AZ. very well. Plus it gives me someone to go out with and take pictures.

 

[roteague]

Hi Jon, welcome from Hawaii. Looks like our Australian contingent is getting bigger - we have a number of members, close to you, relatively speaking that is, from SA and WA. There is also a pretty big group in Melbourne. So you will feel right at home (except for the D200 comment ). I'll be in Australia in October, and may come up your way as well - not sure yet, my plans haven't been finalized.

 

[roteague]

Welcome Jon, A D200 you say; should make a good doorstop for the new home.

Yeah, I could have gotten him a good one from WalMart for $1.50 or so. Of course, there isn't much need for one in Florida - too many bugs.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Hi Jon, and welcome from Melbourne. I am a frequent visitor to Roxby Downs and was there just last Thursday. The Motor Inn was full again, so I had to stay in Andamooka for the second time in the last few months. At least my colleagues from overseas got to see some kangaroos.

 

[roteague]

Hi Jon, and welcome from Melbourne. I am a frequent visitor to Roxby Downs and was there just last Thursday. The Motor Inn was full again, so I had to stay in Andamooka for the second time in the last few months. At least my colleagues from overseas got to see some kangaroos.

I was seriously considering driving from Adelaide to Alice Springs and back. Aside from distance and time (I love long distance driving) would you or Jon recommend against this?

 

[Santalum]

Robert, it is a long drive, would I recommend against this, certainly not, in fact just the opposite, with a couple of proviso's, suggest you dont do it during the summer months, unless you enjoy extreme heat, allow time (couple of days) to detour into South Australia's Flinders Ranges, beautiful landscape and seriously good photo op's.
You would enjoy the drive.

I was seriously considering driving from Adelaide to Alice Springs and back. Aside from distance and time (I love long distance driving) would you or Jon recommend against this?

 

[Santalum]

Morning Kevin, small world aint it? I have lived in this area for close on 20 yrs now, first 13 or so mining in Andamooka and then took a job with WMC and have lived the last 7+ yrs in Roxby.
Seems like nowadays the Motor Inn is always full, things are moving fast up here since BHP Billiton have taken the reins.
What field are you in? we should try to catch up on one of your visits.
Plenty of roo's, emu's and wedge tail eagles up here, the unstoppable rabbit is making a come back as well.
All the best.

Hi Jon, and welcome from Melbourne. I am a frequent visitor to Roxby Downs and was there just last Thursday. The Motor Inn was full again, so I had to stay in Andamooka for the second time in the last few months. At least my colleagues from overseas got to see some kangaroos.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

I would also encourage you to do the drive, and yes, allow PLENTY of time. The Clare Valley is very nice, too.

 

[JBrunner]

Hi Jon,

Another hello from Utah, this time from the northern part of the state.
You can consider me a good source of info as well, Especially the northern part and the San Rafeal in so central. Welcome to APUG.
Pity about the doorstop.

 

[roteague]

I would also encourage you to do the drive, and yes, allow PLENTY of time. The Clare Valley is very nice, too.

Thanks Guys. It will be mid to late October, depends upon time and whether I can get a good deal on the airfare from Qantas. Hertz has horrible mileage charges in Alice Springs; I was thinking I could get a better deal in Adelaide. Then again, I may just keep the car I pickup in Sydney - I wonder how Hertz would feel about me putting 5000k on the car. I have friends in Broken Hill that want me to come by.

I'm hoping to meet Graeme and Steve (from Adeliade) in Alice Springs then, for some LF shooting in the Western MacDonnell range. I will be my 3rd trip to the Alice.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Then again, I may just keep the car I pickup in Sydney - I wonder how Hertz would feel about me putting 5000k on the car.

You'd be looking at a bloody hell of a lot more than 5000k on the car if you take it from Sydney to Alice Springs and back. Last week, I took an Avis car from Adelaide up to Roxby and back. It had unlimited kms and we put 1300km on the clock just for that trip.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Morning Kevin, small world aint it? I have lived in this area for close on 20 yrs now, first 13 or so mining in Andamooka and then took a job with WMC and have lived the last 7+ yrs in Roxby.
...
What field are you in? we should try to catch up on one of your visits.
Plenty of roo's, emu's and wedge tail eagles up here, the unstoppable rabbit is making a come back as well.
All the best.

Aha, so you're an opal baron, then? I work in the refractories industry. Our company does a lot of business with WMC.
Yes, my overseas colleagues also got to see the majestic sight of three humongous wedgies atop a dead roo. To me that is one of the most awesome sights in the outback. On the trip last week, I spotted just one dead rabbit. I'll probably be back in Roxby at least four more times this year.

 

[Santalum]

Sad to say I'm not an opal baron, that's why I finished up taking a job with WMC.
The eagles are pretty cheeky now they are protected and no one shoots at them, one of the dangers is they will remain on a road kill till you are almost on them then decide to take off at the last moment and fly into your windscreen, not good for the bird or the screen.
PM me before your next trip Kevin, maybe we can enjoy a beer together.
And dont forget to book into the motel well in advance.

Aha, so you're an opal baron, then? I work in the refractories industry. Our company does a lot of business with WMC.
Yes, my overseas colleagues also got to see the majestic sight of three humongous wedgies atop a dead roo. To me that is one of the most awesome sights in the outback. On the trip last week, I spotted just one dead rabbit. I'll probably be back in Roxby at least four more times this year.

 

[Graeme Hird]

G'day Jon. Welcome to APUG from one of those in WA.

The "APUG Australian Outback get-together" is becoming more feasible each week!

Cheers,
Graeme

 

[Magpie]

Hi Jon,

Welcome to APUG from Sydney.

Brendan

 

[BruceN]

Welcome Jon! I knew I'd get you dragged over here! Now if you'll just come up to Wyoming and visit while you're here in April.

Bruce

 

[Santalum]

Wish I could Bruce. :rolleyes:

Welcome Jon! I knew I'd get you dragged over here! Now if you'll just come up to Wyoming and visit while you're here in April.

Bruce

 

[roteague]

G'day Jon. Welcome to APUG from one of those in WA.

The "APUG Australian Outback get-together" is becoming more feasible each week!

Cheers,
Graeme

Hmm, that is quite an interesting idea.....

 

[Glenn Mathison]

Another Aussie apuuger huh? We will rule the world one day. bwahahahah! (manical laughter) or something . . .

Roxby downs, now that rings a bell, although I've never been there. You don't glow in the dark do you? Isn't that the uranium place?

Anyway, welcome from a Sydney sider....

Glenn

 

[Carol]

Hello Jon and welcome to Apug from the southeast of Sth. Aust. Retiring by the sea sounds great. I hope you'll have room for a darkroom there.

Robert if you do drive across they aren't joking about those eagles. Friends of mine hit one on the road to Broken Hill. It was huge and came claws first through the windscreen. Also if you are travelling in October it will be spring in the Flinders Ranges which is said to be the best time for the wild flowers. Great for your beautiful colour landscapes.

 

[Santalum]

Morning Glenn,
As much as the greenies would like to portray it as a uranium mine copper in fact accounts for 70% of production, with gold, uranium and silver produced as by products.

Another Aussie apuuger huh? We will rule the world one day. bwahahahah! (manical laughter) or something . . .

Roxby downs, now that rings a bell, although I've never been there. You don't glow in the dark do you? Isn't that the uranium place?

Anyway, welcome from a Sydney sider....

Glenn

 

[David]

And welcome from another Melbournian. Are we still talking about a get together?

 

[chiller]

I would think Coober Pedy just out by the Breakaways would be a very handy place to meet up.

Welcome from Adelaide.