Warning, gratuitous Volvo photos ahead.


so last week, I went on an annual road trip, hauling my telescopes and camping gear from my Santa Cruz home to the far northeastern corner of the state, very remote and rural, 100 miles northeast of Redding, and 60 miles to Alturas or Susanville. First, I had to stop Monday afternoon in Reno to retrieve some of my gear that my son had borrowed, so up I80 I went...



the red bike is my old festival bike, and I'm giving it to my son to use for /his/ festing. its a fast light cruiser with 7 speeds.


We camp on a cattle ranch, about 400 astronomers. Many folks have RVs, but most of us just pitch camp. there's zero shade and low horizons 360 degrees around, so its almost always hot and sunny from the first crack of sunrise over a low horizon until sunset, and all afternoon there's a strong west wind. I setup my camp east-west aligned, with shade at both ends, east so I can sleep in after being up all night, and west so I can nap before sunset. also the west shade doubles as a wind block.



my astronomy club uses my awnings as the afternoon shade cave...



the other side, with my telescopes, but almost no volvo visible...




a good time was had by all... the 4th night (of 5), it thunderstormed, very late it cleared and I took this pic...

 

Awesome!