Musings on IFAS Turkey 2006

Folks, rather than post my own eclipse report (others here have done a far better job than I could have) I just wanted to say a couple of words about the trip to Turkey.

1. A huge thanks goes to all those involved in organising the trip and keeping the tour informed throughout the week in Antalya. As testament to those folks, absolutely nothing went wrong. Myself and Fiona had a trip of a lifetime thanks to you.

2. A personal thanks to John Flannery - my eclipse buddy - for telling me (and everyone else) to look in all the right directions at all the right times - stunning horizon colours. The moment when John spotted Venus was classic - I'll never forget it!

And whilst everyone else was carefully packing filters, lenses, tripods, reducers, cable releases, focusers, diagonals, batteries, John packed the most essential item - a bottle of Champagne! John, you are a Diamond

3. To everyone else on the trip, thanks for the fun, the late night chats, dinner, drinks in the bar etc. Special thanks to Michael and Denise for their technical presentation on the pathway of light between two mirrors, to Paul and Catherine for literally lighting up the evening from the fourth floor, Seanie (my bong buddy) and Dee for the lightning observing session and the unusual alternative to Bailey's Beads...

4. A big thanks go to all those who endured the event from home. Whilst you missed out on a truly awe-inspiring event, we were all thinking of you whilst we were on the beach drinking champagne and smoking cigars. I hope that the written reports and the images to come will at least convey some sense of what we experienced. But I'm sure over the coming weeks and months you'll all get the personal accounts over a drink or two. So thanks in advance for listening to the event for the nth time...

5. Outsiders reading these boards must think we're all mad. Yes we have the odd spat, the odd convoluted thread and some bizarre discussions. I like to think that its because we're a passionate lot. But, as a testament, this trip for those who travelled and those who didn't shows that IFAS *does* work. So I think we all deserve a big pat on the back and a round of applause.

Dave and Fiona

Outsiders reading these boards must think we're all mad. Yes we have the odd spat, the odd convoluted thread and some bizarre discussions. I like to think that its because we're a passionate lot. But, as a testament, this trip for those who travelled and those who didn't shows that IFAS *does* work. So I think we all deserve a big pat on the back and a round of applause.

Here here! Next one in Canada August 1 2008........

Keith..

Seanie (my bong buddy) and Dee for the lightning observing session and the unusual alternative to Bailey's Beads...

Dave trying the bong...



Seanie doing the bong...


Jimmy, the bong master...


In reality, its called a Hookah, and looks like this:


We had the Cappocino flavoured tobacco, and it did in fact taste and smell like one. There was also banana, apple, and cherry on offer. Personally, I don't smoke, but when in Rome...

The alternative to Baileys Beads that was mentioned during the observing session (of the lightning storm) cannot be mentioned on these boards, for legal reasons! Dave & I will happily tell you in private, providing you are over 18 (or over 21 in most US states! )

Seanie.

All hail Jimmy the Bong Master. His bong was far better than his Irish Coffee (made with Strawberry ice-cream nontheless... yeuk).

Seanie - your bong technique looks marginally superior to mine though neither of could match the bong-master - he had extraordinary sucking power.

The beads are best left unmentioned - ask Seanie or me at COSMOS...

:lol:

"Spaced" out or what.....

Keith..

We both (myself and Denise) had great fun with everyone there. Roll on 2008!