Melbourne APUG Get-Together Soonish

wotalegend

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This time I'll be there...no more excuses. With bag and monopod (tripods are a no-no in the CBD...remember)
 

markbau

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wotalegend said:
This time I'll be there...no more excuses. With bag and monopod (tripods are a no-no in the CBD...remember)
Click to expand...

Who says tripods are a no-no in the CBD, I use one in the CBD all the time, how else are can you do time exposures?
 

wotalegend

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markbau said:
Who says tripods are a no-no in the CBD, I use one in the CBD all the time, how else are can you do time exposures?
Click to expand...

I believe that it's a Melbourne City Council by-law. Can't quote the by-law: I just know that I read it somewhere some time ago. Apparently you can use one if you get a permit and/or have tripod insurance. (Also see earlier in this thread.) We don't want to add "Grey Ghosts" to Connex inspectors, do we?
 

nick mulder

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Saturday 23rd - I'm out, work from 8am until 22:00 ... free the 23rd tho in case it turns into an all night party

Have fun everyone
 
OP
OP

Kevin Caulfield

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Do you live in Melbourne, Nick? Sorry you and Shane both can't join us.

But it's looking like there'll be a fair few of us there. Thanks for cancelling your tennis, Wyno. Some things are more important than tennis.

Please keep posting to advise if you can or can't make it and as we get closer, we'll make a list of attendees.
 

Oxleyroad

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Sorry, but I will have to miss this get together and expedition about the city. I will endeavour the make the next one.
 

OldBikerPete

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Oh! count me in to those Otways expeditions!!!1!

As for Saturday 23rd at 11:00. I will be there if I can, at the steps in Fed. square looking for tripods!
My daughter is getting married the following weekend, so a higher authority may dictate my plans


 

Poisson Du Jour

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Forward notice for Melbourne APUG members

OTWAY PHOTOGRAPHY EXCURSTIONS — EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SOUGHT

I am thinking of / planning a small-group photography expedition this winter (June, July, August) to a few remote Great Otway National Park waterfalls. One or two of these 'falls require a second leader (from the Otway Ranges Walking Track Association) with detailed flagged-route knowledge. The walks are short (about 3 to 4km one way), some along established vehicle tracks, then off-track and into the "hideous defile" (one person's description after an attack of leeches) of rainforest.

The thought came to me of a central rendezvous point (i.e. Geelong); depending on numbers, it would be necessary to car-pool and travel in-convoy; if people are interested and dedicated enough, we could camp in the old timer-sawmilling township of Forrest and use that as a 'staging post' for trips outward. If a group is really enthusiastic, we can camp at a clearing on the margins of the rainforest (the atmosphere — as well as the chill morning air — is breathtaking). None of the waterfalls are flowing at the moment and several tracks are congested/overgrown (track clearance crews only go out once, less commonly, twice a month to clear up); we'd need at least a few hundred mm of rain to "make a scene". With the rain comes the quagmires of the tracks (delightfully gluggy) but the reward is waterfalls that very few people know about, much less seen.

One of the most beautiful waterfalls is Upper Sabine Falls, but getting there is quite a Boy's Own Adventure, with a bum skid on the final near-vertical approach! The most adventurous in terms of just getting to it is Wild Dog Falls: 5km of virgin rainforest to push and shove through with more twists in the track than a corkscrew! For any and all being visited in winter, shorter daylight hours dictate early starts and early exists (rainforest is dark by about 3pm), so places like Wild Dog Falls are best left to early Spring (guaranteed beaut flow then, too).

Perhaps this idea (and I think it is a good one!) could be discussed at the APUG meet 'n greet. I do not know what the level of interest is for rainforest/waterfall photography but I suspect those with a serious interest in photography here in APUG will be fired up; the only "photographers" (read: snapshooters) I know of who go down there on track-flagging and/or clearance sorties are digital-freaks more intent on "snapshots" than works of art! A prerequisite is a willingness to enjoy the journey, not just the destination: these places are very cold, very wet and the terrain often challenging. It's not for armchair enthusiasts looking for a "short walk in the bush!".
 
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wotalegend

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Bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger!!! (Sorry if I offended anyone) My wife has just informed me that we are having lunch with old friends on the other side of town on the 23rd. And all married men know the Law of Precedence don't we. But it had better not happen on the day/s of the Otway excursion/s.
 

blokeman

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Sat 23rd sounds good, geez I nearly missed this as I haven't logged on for a few weeks. No shooting for me, just a meet and to put faces to names!
 

Wyno

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The Otways is one of my favourite places. I was down there photographing Lower Sheoak Falls and Cora Lynn Cascades two weeks ago. Not much water, but I got some shots I'm very happy with. I'd be keen on going with you and your group, coz I just can't get enough.
Mike
 

Poisson Du Jour

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Mike,

You'll love these falls.
But remember that none of the waterfalls I am planning on leading a group workshop to are visitor-friendly like Sheoak or Cora Lynn: RARE (remote area rainforest excursions) mean just that: remote, no tracks, no signs, no comfy raised boardwalks ... and battalions of leeches (carry a 35mm container of salt to deal with these) . I am joining two leaders on a reccé/track clearance working bee for Sunday 6th June to look at and fix up track conditions on a couple of walks. I'll then be in a position to put some dates up for consideration.
 

Poisson Du Jour

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OldBikerPete said:
Me! Me! Me! (he shouts, jumping up and down two or three times - after which, exhausted, he reaches for the brandy snifter!)
Click to expand...

There, there, settle down. I've put your name on the list for contact. That's five so far, including mineself.

Just keep praying for rain, which is something that looks like coming on the weekend, though we need it bucketing down!
 

Wyno

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Hi Gary,
I was just talking to one of the students here at the Gordon. She's from Forrest and she said that the weekend of the 20th June accommodation is going to be scarce due to the Forrest Fire Festival which is on that weekend. She said that you would need to book accommodation around now. Also me and at least one maybe two others would like to be included for the excursion. If you can't fit us in please let me know.
Thanks
Mike
 

Poisson Du Jour

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Forrest Caravan Park


***
Thanks Mike,
You're in along with 8 others on the list before me, meaning the total is 12, which would be the full limit. There is no room at A.B. Falls for more than that without people falling into the river or not being able to put up their tripod.

A "Forrest Fire Festival"!? A fire in Forrest!? Goodness, I'd think that's the last thing the good folk of Forrest want to celebrate. I think we're going to have to put a foot in the door, so to speak and I'll get on to the caravan park, even though I have no idea on how many we'll have and the corresponding tent sites we'll need. Darn...

We could always swap the 20-21st with 13-14th, but it all hinges on getting some decent rainfall.

******
I recommend all interested parties keep both weekends free; the Forrest C.P. only has 60 unpowered sites and 5 powered sites and this is likely to be snapped up quickly if a crowd is expected at the Festival(though I've heard of people illicitly making camp in the wide clearing near the bridge leading onto Kaanglang Road.)
******


Enquiry lodged with Forrest C.P. this arvo (19/5). Awaiting response.
Watch this space (the thread, I mean!
.:: Garyh ::.
 
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Poisson Du Jour

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SMBooth said:
Could camp at Lake Elizabeth if need anyway. Although makes going to the the pub hard....
Click to expand...

Lake Liz is usually closed from the first week in June, though I'm open (albeit remotely) to the suggestion. The Forrest pub will be a glorious source of warmth and dry — something we'll need, for sure!

*****************************************************************************
LATE ENTRY: 5.25PM
I have reserved 8 sites for 19th and 20th June at Forrest Caravan Park.
The tariff is $10 per head per night. I have to get back to Bruce with final confirmed numbers

*****************************************************************************
This notice repeated in dedicated thread >> (there was a url link here which no longer exists)
 
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Oxleyroad

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Hi All, Been a bit quiet lately.

Like the idea of a get together but could not do this weekend at Fed square, and not really able to get time off from the family to participate in this camping weekend of the 19th/20th. There was early in the piece some talk of meeting in a club room some place but htat fell by the wayside for a short time. I am still interested in this sort of get together being new to the APUG forum and to LF, and I can arrange access to a rowing club shed on the Yarra in Hawthorn.

Is the interrest still there for this sort of thing?
 
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