Central Florida GTG - February 15-16

02/04/2008 07:22:24 AM · #1

I hate to call this a "GTG" as I am notoriously bad at getting groups together. I do have a good track record of hosting meetups with one or two great DPCers at a time. At worst, this will be the case as I have Dave

dknourek as my captive guest for four days, and Robert (

yakatme) planning to drop in. So, it's going to be an exciting meetup and can only get better with the participation of more people.

Friday, Feb. 15 I will be dropping Dave off in Titusville at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in the am and then to Kennedy Space Center in the pm. Unfortunately, I will be working; so he is left to his own devices. Anybody going to be in that area to make sure (accident-prone) Dave doesn't get eaten by an alligator?

Friday night we will be cooking out in the trailer park. Y'all are invited if you aren't too scared;) The menu is surf and turf.

Saturday am is open for suggestion; perhaps Pelican Island and the McLarty Treasure Museum? I'd like to stick to the Sebastian/Vero Beach area, because we are hitting the lagoon in the afternoon for Island camping Saturday night. Everyone is invited for that too, we can ferry people to the island from the shore. My husband and I did this last year, and it was really fun. This is the view from the island, so you can see it is not far to land.

Sunday we will spend on the lagoon. Our boat is big enough for a couple of people at a time, so anyone else may want to bring a kayak or canoe for exploring the waterway (otherwise you can hang out on the island and fish with me).

02/04/2008 09:08:32 AM · #2

This coming weekend sounds like a great time. I have to clear up a few things before I can confirm, but I will at least plan to drive up Saturday morning and plan to camp out that night and then head back late Sunday afternoon or evening. Maybe I can even head there on Friday evening but that�s pushing it.

I�ll let you know as soon as I can clear a few hurdles.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

02/04/2008 10:27:28 AM · #3

Damn, Friday and Saturday, eh? This makes it harder for me to make it. ;)

I have a shoot scheduled for Sat AM.

PhotoDave

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/04/2008 02:35:28 PM · #4

Originally posted by _eug:

Damn, Friday and Saturday, eh? This makes it harder for me to make it. ;)

I have a shoot scheduled for Sat AM.

I think she was hoping for someone to keep an eye on me on Friday at Merritt Island LOL. I did recently get my license here for Basic and Basic Plus Emergency First Aid :P

If anyone else lives in the area that can join me and or show me around Merritt Island in the mornin that would be awesome also.

-dave

Kamlan 28mm F1.4 MF for APS-C

02/04/2008 03:32:24 PM · #5

Originally posted by _eug:

Damn, Friday and Saturday, eh? This makes it harder for me to make it. ;)

I have a shoot scheduled for Sat AM.

Why don't you come up Sat. PM and go camping with us?
We will be out in the boat on Sunday. Not a ton to photograph, but you are welcome to go for a ride and/or fishing. When we get back Sun PM we may have another cookout or just order pizza. Sunday will have to be an early night for me, 'cuz I have to get up at 6:00am Monday.

Manic

DJI Mini 3 Pro

02/04/2008 03:34:46 PM · #6

Shame you didn't give much warning! I've got other things planned for that weekend now :o/

02/04/2008 05:59:33 PM · #7

Originally posted by yakatme:

......I have to clear up a few things before I can confirm, but I will at least plan to drive up Saturday morning and plan to camp out that night and then head back late Sunday afternoon or evening......

Done! We will head that way first thing Saturday morning (if not late Friday evening) and stay through Sunday evening.

We'll be taking the car so the only kayak that we will take will be the inflatable (it's a good one, we'll keep up) and we'll bring a couple of tents. It'll be a full car but please let me know what else you all would like us to bring. What about food, drinks, snacks, a cooler, lanterns, etc.?

What is the name of the campground? Are ground fires allowed? How far from the mainland is it? Chris wants to know how the fishing is.

I'm really looking forward to this weekend!

Message edited by author 2008-02-04 18:08:22.

02/04/2008 06:01:49 PM · #8

Originally posted by yakatme:

I'm really looking forward to this weekend!

You mean NEXT weekend, right?

02/04/2008 06:09:44 PM · #9

Originally posted by _eug:

Originally posted by yakatme:
I'm really looking forward to this weekend!

You mean NEXT weekend, right?

Uh oh! I have to start over now. I really confused my calendar this time, but it shouldn't be a problem to make it from Saturday morning through Sunday evening. Being the following weekend instead should actually make it easier to get there Friday night anyway.

Message edited by author 2008-02-04 18:20:00.

02/04/2008 06:32:03 PM · #10

I almost didn't question the 'this' part. It could have gone either way. What a disaster that would have been!

kellian

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/04/2008 06:39:25 PM · #11

Merritt Island! I went to high school there. But I live on the other coast now and I've got stuff going on this weekend. Besides, I was a teenager when I left there, so basically I'd only be able to point you to the good places to hide from the cops and drink beer underage. :-\

02/04/2008 06:43:54 PM · #12

Originally posted by kellian:

and I've got stuff going on this weekend.

Now see the mess I've caused? It's not this weekend. That was just my blond side getting confused with the calendar. It's the following weekend.

I hope to see you there :)

02/04/2008 07:31:26 PM · #13

YAY! I'm so excited!

Robert, I'm glad NEXT weekend works better with your schedule.

I guess I should go into more detail about the camping.

Any camping that takes place Friday, the 15th would be at Donald McDonald Campground. The website sucks, but there is an aerial photo at the bottom. Robert, this is about .25 mile up the road from the boat ramp where we put in the river that day. They have great bathrooms and showers. As long as there is no red flag warning, fires should be allowed.

Saturday night is wilderness camping on a spoil island, in the lagoon; (weather permitting).

Here is a photo of the campsite where we stayed last time. This all depends upon whether or not we get there first to stake the claim. The island is pretty big, so there are multiple places to camp if this beach is taken. Mind you, there are NO showers and NO toilets.

Now that we all know that it is NEXT weekend;) maybe someone will be free to meet Dave at Merritt Island and/or the Space Center.

You are welcome to bring anything you like. I suggest lots of water and your beverages of choice. We normally do something like instant oatmeal for breakfast and sandwiches etc. for lunch. Anything grillable is good for dinners. I'll bring some veggies and shrimp. We can do chicken, steak etc. for the landlubbers.

The fishing is great. We have enough gear for five people to fish and plenty of bait. We also have plenty of coolers.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

02/04/2008 08:32:22 PM · #14

Originally posted by _eug:

I almost didn't question the 'this' part. It could have gone either way. What a disaster that would have been!

Nah! We would have had a great time and made him drive back up here the next weekend, too:)

Message edited by author 2008-02-04 20:38:19.

CorySmith

02/04/2008 09:42:43 PM · #15

how perfect is this?
i put my leave days in for these days. i might be able to come but only for the 15th.

PhotoDave

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/04/2008 10:03:46 PM · #16

Originally posted by Fetor:

how perfect is this?
i put my leave days in for these days. i might be able to come but only for the 15th.

awesome :)

Message edited by author 2008-02-04 22:09:03.

02/09/2008 10:34:44 AM · #17

I guess it sounds like

Fetor can't make it. Sorry to hear that, I was looking forward to meeting you Corey:(

So we are wide open for Friday the 15th. We are willing to go just about anywhere within Brevard, Indian River or St. Lucie counties. Sadly, I must leave

dknourek unattended while I work; so I know he'd love to be entertained by a fellow photographer.

As it stands we are probably heading up towards Titusville, but this is not set in stone. Is there anyone available for an outing on Friday?

And don't forget the camping excursion on Saturday and Sunday! We have room in the boat to ferry people over, you just need to bring a tent and some chairs.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

02/09/2008 10:47:42 AM · #18

That's short notice. I am going to Nashville, and across Tn this coming week, then back to work. It's a 600 mile round trip from here to the space center, so I don't think I can make it because the Tn trip is going to use up all my time and cash for a little while.
PM Cindi

idnic. She lives nearby and may feel left out if she don't get an invite.

02/09/2008 11:20:04 AM · #19

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Sorry you can't make it. I didn't even think to PM Cindi, 'cuz I always assume she is reading the forums nonstop;)

Cindi, you there? Wanna' come down?

02/09/2008 11:27:01 AM · #20

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Waddy, I think you're confused. Cindi lives up in St. Augustine.

02/09/2008 11:32:51 AM · #21

Originally posted by _eug:

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:
That's short notice. I am going to Nashville, and across Tn this coming week, then back to work. It's a 600 mile round trip from here to the space center, so I don't think I can make it because the Tn trip is going to use up all my time and cash for a little while.
PM Cindi idnic. She lives nearby and may feel left out if she don't get an invite.

Waddy, I think you're confused. Cindi lives up in St. Augustine.

Yeah, she's about 2.5 hours north of my place, and 1.5 hours north of Titusville. I PMed her, though, 'cuz I'd love it if she could make it down.

I also PMed

Gracious. She has the inside scoop on ORCA (Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area), which is another cool place to photograph. I know it's short notice, but I'd love to meet her, too.

02/09/2008 11:39:04 AM · #22

As for me... I might have a license Monday.

02/09/2008 11:40:24 AM · #23

Originally posted by _eug:

As for me... I might have a license Monday.

Yippeee!!!

Gracious

02/09/2008 01:24:41 PM · #24

Hey all! I recently spent a year in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, and returned to the Treasure Coast a few months ago. I am no longer a volunteer at ORCA, but it is a very cool place to visit. I know for a fact they have 'gators, and all sorts of aquatic birds, like egrets, and herons. Closer to Fort Pierce I know of a few other great places. But I think the plan is to stay somewhat north, as in northern Treasure Coast, and the Space Coast. I'd actually love to explore up that way too. The only day I'll probably be available is Saturday. Gotta check with Drew first, see if he has plans. (It's our 35th wedding anniversary this week.)
I can't really jump into the planning, unfortunately, since I am extremely busy all this week.

I'll stay tuned here to see what unfolds.

//www.graycedillon.com a work in progress.