The drive up to Adin usually takes about 5 hrs from Lincoln, but today, with road closures it took about 8 hrs. Missed a short downpour just before I got there, but not long after I got there there was another downpour that lasted about 20 minutes. I took shelter in the U-haul cargo van. The winds were around 25 mph and the rain came down so hard that it got through the door seals. There was about 10 minutes of penny-sized hail that sounded like it was cracking the glass on the windows. Quite a welcome! The rest of the week was great weather with highs in the 70s. Usually it's around 90.

Setting up. It's always nice to be one of the first ones on the field.

Bill and John

Bill and John

A nearby neighbor with an unusual configuration for his telescope. Instead of the eyepiece being located up near the top of the tube, it's fixed at the pivot point.

One afternoon some of us went into town and had burgers and milkshakes at Oney's Frosty in town. Fantastic shakes - real ice cream! Perfect for a hot afternoon.

An early shot of the Valley of the Dobs.

Mount Shasta off in the distance.

More folks showing up on Wednesday.

Some of the big Dobsonians in the Valley of the Dobs

Some of the scopes are BIG! One of them was a 30". You wouldn't believe how many photons they can collect. That means they can see faint objects that I can't even get close to seeing with my 9.25" scope.

One of our neighbors with his home-built telescope. He built it himself out of cherry. He did a beautiful job.

John's Dob.

Sunsets are always colorful at GSSP. That's my gear on the left.

Andy and Jeff.

Some folks getting ready for the evening's observing.

One of the Santa Cruz guys brought along his binocular telescope. I think it's a 10".

Jeff brings new meaning to the phrase "Herding Cats."

I met Tracy (center) at CalStar. A very nice young lady with three scopes. She brought along her friend, Ember (left). Ember had a couple of brand new kittens with her. Always a conversation starter. Who doesn't love kittens?

Under the Big Top as the swap meet is getting ready to start.

Steve, left, still trying to get his homemade scope working.

Tracy's three telescopes.

Astronomers in line for dinner. This one was sponsored by the Adin General Store. It's soooo nice to see the chocolate syrup on the right. You know what that means.

Jeff, John, and Miguel.

Tracy's telescopes.

Steve's Scopes.

Taking advantage of John's Shade Cave. John, Bill, John, Jeff and Al.

Same group as on the previous panel.

John, Bill, and Jeff.

The only way to spend the afternoons - with a nice nap.

Jeff.

Miguel emerging after his afternoon nap. He got some Aluminet and stretched it over his car and camped in it.

The Big Top tent is a great place to take refuge from the sun or just visit with friends.

Jeff putting on his warm nighttime boots.

Tracy's rigs again.

Bill with his telescope. Unfortunately, the one on the left belonged to his neighbor.

This fellow has a very unusual Dobsonian setup. The eyepiece is centered at the fulcrum, and so doesn't move.