Well here we are again after three years, and COVID. This year my friend Bob let me borrow his C11 for some visual observing.

The only condition was that I take an image of some object for Bob so he could see how well his scope would do for imaging. So here is Bob's scope with my camera gear attached.

Another friend from the Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society, Richard, getting set up. Usually he sets up way out in the Oort Cloud, but this year he came in and set up with the Santa Cruz gang.

Our first sunset on Tuesday evening.

OK, one more closeup of this year's observing rig.

Richard enjoying the sunset. During the day temps were around 85 with 10-15 mph winds. But during the evening it would eventually get down to 46. Sure beat previous years when it was up in the 90s.

A view looking down our "Street," Neptune. Most folks show up on Wednesday afternoon, but some of us that help with the setup or gate duty arrive a day early.

Jeff on the left and Richard on the right getting set up on Wednesday afternoon.

Jeff on the left and Richard on the right getting set up on Wednesday afternoon.

Here's Walter and Carol in their "Shade Cave." It was great to see them both again after three years.

My next door neighbor, Miguel.

Jeff, standing, helping John with his homemade Dob.

My other neighbor, Andy, setting up his tent. Right behind him is his new toy, a small solar telescope. We had a fun time checking out the filaments and prominences on the Sun.

Jeff collimating his Dob. Unfortunately, Jeff was plagued with collimation issues all week. So he definitely has a project for when he gets home...

John with his homemade Dob. John also had some challenges getting everything working properly.

Yeah, that's me, Ron. This year I've moved away from imaging at GSSP and started working on the Messier and Herschel 400 observing lists. Using my friend Bob's 11" really helped. Up at Blue Canyon near home I could only get to mag-9 with my 9.25", but with Bob's scope I was able to get objects at mag-11. Darker skies and a larger aperture made way more objects observable.

I always seem to catch Bill on the ground working on his Dob.

Miguel looks like he's ready to go as the Sun sets. Temps dropped dramatically just as the Sun hit the horizon.

Jeff and Miguel doing what we do best - finding any bit of shade.

Here is a view looking to the North West.

...and another view a bit more to the North. See what we have to endure? :)

Carol and Walter heading over to get in line for a fantastic tri-tip dinner.

Waiting under the big tent for dinner: Andy, John, Bill and Miguel.

Carol, Walter and his friend, Sheldon.

Just to prove that I was there :) Bill on the left, Jeff on the right.

Bill and Miguel assessing the conditions for the coming night.

Another John. If you called out for John in our neighborhood you'd probably get 6 or 7 answers.

It took all week, but I finally got my group picture: Jeff, John, Bill (kneeling), John, Andy, Miguel, Walter and Carol. I looked for Al and Annie, but they were wandering about somewhere. Sorry to have missed them in the picture. We'll get them next year.