Melbourne APUG Get-together?

[Wyno]

wyno

I'd like to put in another vote for the Grampians. The scenery is magnificent and there are a couple of really good wineries nearby. An added bonus is the new youth hostel accommodation that has just opened up. Cheap, comfortable and friendly and willing to accommodate people with big luggage.
Mike

 

[Graeme Hird]

About as well as a root canal.

I'm still hoping for the Grampians -- but that's just me.

Hey, that sounds even better - a photographic trip to chiller's orthodontist! We get the thrill of all the gory stuff without the personal pain of living through it. I vote for watching chiller get a root canal .....

As I said earlier, I will go anywhere because it's the company I want, not so much the location. If everybody chooses the Grampians, I'll be changing my vote quicker than a Gore voter in Florida .....

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Maybe we could do both. One in early January and the other a bit later in January.

I vote for Sovereign Hill first, the Grampians second, and chiller's orthodontist third.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I've been away for the last couple of weeks, but I'm in Melbourne for a wedding, arriving 4th Jan early and flying back 9th late afternoon.

If the get together is between those times I'd be interested meeting you folks. The wedding is on the 7th so that day is out.


Regards
Graham.

 

[Glenn Mathison]

The joys of work...

Hi folks,

I have no idea where the Grampians are or Sovereign Hill for that matter. Once you all reach consensus I'll see if I can get there. Technically I'm supposed to be back at work on the 3rd, but this could be negotiated with my boss in Singapore. (Or maybe I just won't say anything )

I just found out today I'll be in Shanghai the week of the ninth so that's out for me.

David, 20x24 ??? Scary stuff . . .

 

[Graeme Hird]

Okay guys - decision time - where to on the second of January? I'll be there with bells on.

(well maybe not bells, but you know what I mean ....)

 

[Nige]

I'm out.. only getting back to Melb on the 2nd and it will be late arvo at best.

 

[OldBikerPete]

OK, how about we start a list of votes on availability and preferred venues - otherwise this is never going to get off the ground.



My preference:



Anytime in late December/January The grampians,the otways

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Okay, that's one vote from me for Sovereign Hill and one from Pete for the Grampians. And Mike also voted the Grampians. So, that's the Grampians leading two votes to one (unless I missed some others). Glenn, Graeme, care to cast your votes?

 

[Graeme Hird]

I'm abstaining - I'll follow the crowd (as long as they are heading out of town ....). If the majority of others say the Grampians, I'll say the Grampians too.

(I reserve the right to change my vote later ..... )

(PS - I'm pretty sure Chiller wants the Grampians, so it's 3 to 1 (4 if you count my swinging vote)

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

It sounds pretty resounding then. I might have to get permission from the boss to go that far. Anybody who wants to outvote the Grampians, please chime in.
Any suggestions on where to meet? The main street of Halls Gap could be as good as anywhere.

 

[Graeme Hird]

Sounds fine to me. Can we be more specific? Does anybody know of a particualr building there? How about meeting at the Post Office?

And a time? I'm probably going to stay over night in the area on the 2nd.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

I think the Post Office is a bit of a combined affair newsagent type thingy.
There is a supermarket. Most of the buildings in the main street are on the same side of the road, and on the other side there are car parks, parkland, etc.

 

[David]

I'm in. We need a time to meet also. Perhaps we could bring prints from our last time together.

 

[OldBikerPete]

Yes, we need a time to meet - not too close to dawn as I guess some of us will not be able to stay in the immediate area overnight and will have to travel to the rendezvous. Can I suggest that the recognition device be each to display a tripod, so that those (like me) who have never sighted this group can avoid accosting a random sample of total strangers?

 

[Wyno]

wyno

Just checking to make sure. As close after dawn as possible, outside the small general store on 2nd of Jan. Byo tripod.
See you there guys.
Mike

 

[chiller]

Just checking to make sure. As close after dawn as possible, outside the small general store on 2nd of Jan. Byo tripod.
See you there guys.
Mike

Dawn????

I cannot find that anywhere on any clock I have?

I doubt in the January long weekend there will be any accommodation within a 50 kilometre radius. I would imagine Horsham or Stawell are the two closest places other than sleeping in the car by the road. The two major falls [MacKenzie and Silverband] are both accessable all day.

I have one clock with dawn on it but that is set to go off only in the event of the end of the world.

This may however be an "end of world" situation.


Steve

 

[OldBikerPete]

Just checking to make sure. As close after dawn as possible, outside the small general store on 2nd of Jan. Byo tripod.
See you there guys.
Mike

I've done a few searches.
The YHA youth hostel is booked out, the closest YHA vacancies are in Ballarat,
2 hours away.
There are probably camping spots available. No advance bookings are taken for the
National-Parks administered camps as a matter of policy. But there are at least
three minimal-facilities parks in the general Halls Gap area. You have to rock up to
the Visitor centre and find out what's available. The commercial sites web pages say
that they book by the week on major holidays and are probably booked out.
There are motel rooms available in all the surrounding towns and at least one in
Halls Gap. See the following URL
Dead Link Removed
And there are probably other just-in-time or last-minute accommodations available.
I will be travelling up to Halls' gap on the 1st and probably camping overnight somewhere.
I'll try to be somewhere rugged for sunset on the 1st. I will be outside the post office
or across the road by nine-ish at the latest on the 2nd. If anyone wants to meet up with
me on the 1st, email me direct. BYO Tripod.
oldbikerpete@nis.bpa.nu or (if that doesn't work - dynamic IP mail server) bikrpete@bigpond.net.au

 

[gbroadbridge]

Sovereign Hill is a tourist trap, not really good photography. I've never shot in the Grampians, but would be great. I wouldn't make it as I have to go to a Wedding in Elsternwick followed by painting a fence in Brunswick, and with only a day to spare would probably spend it eating

Graham.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

I'll probably be staying in Ballarat the previous night, but could probably get to HG by about 8 am. Is this going to be too late?
What's the consensus on time??

 

[chiller]

I will probably stay at Horsham overnight and get to HG the next morning. 8:00 sounds very civilised.

Steve

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

That makes two of us who agree on 8 am. Graeme, are you planning to be shooting the sunrise earlier than that?

 

[OldBikerPete]

That makes two of us who agree on 8 am. Graeme, are you planning to be shooting the sunrise earlier than that?

I can make 8AM also. See you there.

 

[gbroadbridge]

So what is the final final date time place?

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Seeing I started this thread, I'll make the decision.
8 am in front of the supermarket in the main street on Monday 2nd January.
Look for the other people with camera bags and tripods.