CA BayArea Get together

[unnerv]

We'll it has been about a month now since our last get together so I figured we should start planning another one. The new moon is next week, but I have a feeling that that will be too soon so when do you guys think we should have the next one. The next new moon will be 6/17. With the long days of summer coming, I think there won't be a whole lot of dark no matter what day we pick anyway. Also, so far all of our meets have been on a weeknight. I would be open for a Saturday if anyone wants. Just throwing some ideas out there /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JimH]

I like Saturday. Any weekend in June except 19/20 is good for me. If during the week, Thursdays are almost always bad for me.

Patrick, now that I know how you work, I'll be prepared /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/poke2.gif/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif. I can't afford to get sucked into any more expensive hobbies /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/broke.gif.

Jim

 

[unnerv]

Anybody? It is too dangerous for Jim and I to hang out, I make him spend too much money?

Back on topic, any ideas for the get together?

 

[gadget_lover]

Saturdays are good for me. I think we don't need a new moon as much as we need a moon that rises late. Over here in Pleasanton we have a valley with hills on all sides, so the moon rise is a little later than other places. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I was hoping that we could find somewhere that Darell can get to. He has a round trip range of about 130 miles in his EV, so maybe the Concord or Walnut Creek area? I do appreciate Patrick's hosting the last two get-togethers.

I can't host it at my house here in Pleasanton because my cats would freak out. That would upset my wife and.... well, you know. When momma aint happy, there aint nobody happy.

Ideas for the get-together;

A SHORT hike would be cool. It would let us use our lights in real life condition. We have to keep in mind that some of us think that walking across across the Walmart parking lot is far enough.

Competitions? We could compare lights according to class. Classes could be by size (under 1oz) or by type (2 D cells) or or other criteria. The objective could be to throw the farthest as measured by light meter, widest flood, or general consensus.

Food. Yes!

Show and tell. Pick a favorite and explain to others why it's your favorite. Like we'll be able to get anyone to talk about their favorites. Hmmm. This might not work.

Show and guess. Shine a hidden light against the wall. Have people guess which light it is. Winner gets a prize.

Hot lights. Everyone turns on a light for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes the temperature is taken using infra-red thermometer. Prize for the hottest and the coolest.

Make-a-light. Demo of turning a flashlight body or bezel. Just the final part.

Soldering 101. Those of us that know how show others the proper way to solder wires to a badboy or buckpuck.

I'd like to suggest no green lasers, as the modified ones can be dangerous to bystanders. It's impossible to NOT look at the silly green dot.

These are just thoughts. I'm not really advocating anything in particular.

Daniel

 

[JimH]

Daniel,

Great list. Concord/Walnut Creek/Pleasanton works for me, especially for a Saturday - stay up late, play with lights, sleep in on Sunday.

Add to list maybe - smallest & biggest in category (led, incan, fluorescent, hid, what did I miss except laser)

Jim

 

[Darell]

Hey, thanks for thinking of me, Gadget. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

If I can borrow about $1 of electricity (30A, 220V like a dryer outlet), from wherever the host place is, I've got quite a bit of range. Really, it is the drive time that usually gives me pause, not the range. I drive too much already, and try to do as little of it during my 'off' times as possible. I'd love to go to one of these. I will be going to the CA get-together in Cambria in Sept!

 

[gadget_lover]

Cool... How much charge can you get in 3 hours, Darell?

We have a park with cabanna club here. I can check to see if it's available, but it does have to be reserved in advance. Are others interested in coming over here (Pleasanton, that is)?

Oh. Pleasanton is located where 580 and 680 meet, just 10 miles north of Fremont and 15 miles east of Hayward. We are at least 10 miles from the nearest nuclear reactor.

Daniel

 

[unnerv]

If we did it on the weekend Pleasanton works for me. I might be able to swing it on a weekday, but would have to bow out a little early. Weekday wise, Fridays are the only day I am regularly busy.

 

[gadget_lover]

If we do it here in Pleasanton, I can donate a few kilowatts to Darell's ride.

Daniel

 

[Darell]

[ QUOTE ]
gadget_lover said:
Cool... How much charge can you get in 3 hours, Darell?


[/ QUOTE ]Loaded question for me. The vehicle was designed to be *completely* charged in under an hour, but was then crippled before release. As marketed, the Rav4EV gains about 20 miles/hour while charging from 240V.

The generosity is much appreciated.... yet Pleasanton is one of those places where I'm looking at a 3-hr round-trip from here (minimum) and that just sucks most of the joy out of the adventure for me.

 

[HarryN]

Pleasanton would be great for me. Might be able to get an after hours key to the pool club area. Then we can really test those waterproof lights.

 

[JimH]

[ QUOTE ]
Darell said:
Pleasanton is one of those places where I'm looking at a 3-hr round-trip from here (minimum) and that just sucks most of the joy out of the adventure for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, Darell,

I don't know where you are comming from, but if you can get there, I can give you a lift home. I have a diesel truck with a camper, and I tow my Jeep on an 18' trailer when I go 4 wheeling. I can just bring the trailer up empty, load you on, and give you a lift home - no problem. I'm always looking for excuses to take trips while I'm still breaking the truck in - 5000 miles down, 15000 miles to go. With the camper, I'll just spend the night and come home in the morning.

Of course this only works if we meet on a Saturday.

Jim

 

[keithhr]

Saturday would be good for me, and I suppose the east bay would be darker than the west bay, penninsula area.

 

[gadget_lover]

Wait a second! Keith has TWO VIPs?????? Now I'm <font color="green">envious</font>!

Yes, the valley gets darker a touch earlier than the other side of the hills. The moon takes longer to come up too.

I'm not sure if our cabanna club picnic area is really suitable for a get together as it appears to be picnic tables outside. That should be OK if the weather is good. My wife has offered to lock the cats in the bedroom and let us use the house if the weather turns. The "green belt" park is right next to the cabanna club. The park is only 4 houses down the street from my house, so we can do a quick field trip for long range shots at the park either way.

I'll be glad to spring for dinner. Is pizza OK with every one so far? Is Pleasanton OK with everyone so far?

Daniel

 

[unnerv]

I should be in for a Saturday. Any idea of what date you are looking at yet? BTW pizza is good in my book.

 

[gadget_lover]

I have to consult the stars... Wait a minute, make that the moonrise-moonset charts. I'll do that when I get home this evening.

Daniel

 

[Darell]

[ QUOTE ]
JimH said:
I don't know where you are comming from, but if you can get there, I can give you a lift home.

[/ QUOTE ]Wow Jim! Now THERE is an answer you'd never get on any other board! You're too generous... The deal is that I can get ANYWHERE I want... and even home again. We own a gasoline car, I just don't like using it. I'm not gonna put anybody out to get me to one of these things - I can do it all by myself if I choose to. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

No reason that anybody needs to make concessions for little ol' me. If/when one of these gets close enough to here (Davis, BTW) or I'm feeling spunky enough to drive for several hours, I'll be there, and you'll all likely wonder why you wanted me there in the first place. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

For right now, I'm saving up my big car road-trip allowance for the Cambria get-together in September. THAT's the place where we can all get together! I'll probably have my gas car down there though.

 

[JimH]

[ QUOTE ]
gadget_lover said:
I have to consult the stars... Wait a minute, make that the moonrise-moonset charts. I'll do that when I get home this evening.

Daniel

[/ QUOTE ]

As far as I can see, so far we have the following:

unnerve
JimH
gadget_lover
HarryN
Keithhr

Feel free to cut and paste and add your name to the list.

Right now, it looks like it will be at gadget_lover's place in Pleasanton. If anyone has a problem with the location or has a better place in mind, please speak up.

Maybe we'll get more interest when we get that moon report, Daniel. I'm good any weekend in June except the 3rd weekend (19th).

Jim

 

[gadget_lover]

OK, I found some moonrise charts. It looks like the 12th is the best Saturday.

From the US Naval Observatory

12 June 2004
Moonrise 2:46 a.m.
Moon transit 9:18 a.m.
Moonset 4:00 p.m.
Moonrise 3:10 a.m. on following day

19 June 2004
Moonrise 7:02 a.m.
Moon transit 2:50 p.m.
Moonset 10:33 p.m.
Moonrise 8:00 a.m. on following day
26 June 2004
Moonset 1:27 a.m.
Moonrise 2:18 p.m.
Moon transit 8:11 p.m.
Moonset 1:53 a.m. on following day


So, Is the 12th OK for everyone?

Daniel

 

[JimH]

The 12th is good for me. Keep my name on the list.