Chester Zoo - 10th April

[Matt Charlton]

You know the drill by now guys, biggest zoo in Europe and all that...

For those of you with kids, the new maps are out and there aren't any free entry vouchers on the new ones unfortunately.

Will give an update re the weather later on in the week.

Attendees

Matt
Sue
Philbyuk
Moomike
Staffitaxi
Namlihs
Fatgit and son (Daniel)

Meeting:

Meeting at the elephant enclosure shortly after opening (10am)

Information
(Shamelessly copied from my last Chester Zoo thread meet ;) )

The Chester Zoo website is here:

http://www.chesterzoo.org/

Admission prices and opening times are here:

Prices (http://www.chesterzoo.org/visitorinfo.asp?Page=3)
Opening Times (http://www.chesterzoo.org/visitorinfo.asp?Page=74)

Directions to the place are here (http://www.chesterzoo.org/visitorinfo.asp?Page=73)

A copy of the zoo map can be downloaded here (http://www.chesterzoo.org/downloads/44751%20TKL%20Map%20580x1220.pdf) - its a pdf file.

[staffitaxi]

I don't know anyone but I might be interested in this. Its not too far for me to travel.

I'm very much a newbie though, does that matter.

Thanks

Andrea

[sue]

It does not matter the more the merrier, we were all the newbie at one point, come along, I might learn something from you ;)

Will also be nice to have another girl along.

[Matt Charlton]

I'm still a newbie Andrea, you're more than welcome to join us and I promise we'll make you feel comfortable and welcome.

:)

[staffitaxi]

I've just done a route map, Looks like an early start is in order!!!

Fortunately (not sure if that's the right way to look at it) my exhaust started falling off this morning and its being fixed today so car should at least be in good order.

Andrea

[sue]

:) takes us about an hour and a half to get there, but well worth it. But if you dont want to set off too early then just meet us when ever.

[staffitaxi]

Hi Sue

I'd rather be there for the meet, at least then I should be able to spot everyone.

Its saying 1 hr 46 mins so if I give myself just over two hours I should be there in plenty of time.

Andrea

[Jimmy_Lemon]

Its a very easy drive too - well it is from Skipton. Motorway all the way really :)

[staffitaxi]

Hi Jimmy

Your not that far from me, I live at Ingleton.

Although I'd be picking up the M6 from Lancaster.

Regards

Andrea

[sue]

You coming tom?

[Jimmy_Lemon]

Cant make it I am afraid :( that weeks is going to be stupidly busy. Its not fair! :(

[namllihs]

I am off all that week so count me in Matt.

[sue]

:) will be nice to see you again steve

[Matt Charlton]

Thats why I decided on that week Steve, didn't want to presume to put your name down without you seeing the thread though ;)

[namllihs]

No problem mate, looking forward to it.

[moomike]

I'll be there :thumbs:

[Keltic Ice Man]

I've got the builders in at the mo - so think its too far to go - to leave them in charge of the house - have a fun day though

[Jimmy_Lemon]

I've got the builders in at the mo

well aslong as it aint the decorators, we would have to call you KIW then!

[Matt Charlton]

Weather is forecast to be 14 degrees and Cloudy for Tuesday (yay no harsh light!)

Monday/Wednesday are cloudy with sunny intervals so its looking quite good for us really.

Just hope there aren't all that many people there this time, it can't be any busier than it was last sunday, can it?

[staffitaxi]

I've just driven past the South Lakes Park it and it really looks like one to avoid today. You can't move for a sea of people.

Its also bright blue skies and glaring sun.

Hopefully everyone will have spent up over Easter and will be skint by Tuesday.

I'm really looking forward to it. Haven't been to Chester for about 1o years.

Andrea

[Marik]

If I wasn't off to Whitby next weekend, I would've came, havn't been to Chester zoo before :)

[philbyuk]

well im looking forward to this meet be nice to cya'll anyone got a moby in case anyones late or cant find the group?
btw another newby here too

[Matt Charlton]

I'll pm you and the others who dont already have it with my mobile number in the morning :)

[Alan.F]

Hi all

I am a mate of philbyuk would you mind if i tagged along on this meet i will be bringing my 15yr old son Daniel who i bought a 350d for xmas want him to gain some experience.

Cheers
Alan

[Matt Charlton]

Not at all mate, the more the merrier.

Does your son have a telephoto lens? Or just the kit lens?

We've got Sue's 90-300mm as a spare if he wants to use it for the day.

Matt

[sue]

first outing will mt 100-400L cant wait:)

more than welcome to borrow my old lens :)

[sue]

Anyone else fancy a day out? Still looking cloudy on the bbc website so hopefully light should be good.

[Alan.F]

Not at all mate, the more the merrier.

Does your son have a telephoto lens? Or just the kit lens?

We've got Sue's 90-300mm as a spare if he wants to use it for the day.

Matt

Hi matt

thx for the offer its very kind of you but its ok i will be using my Bigma 50-500 and he can use my 55-200 or the 70-300 cant afford L glass yet only got sigma stuff but hey we all have to start somewhere lol I am using this oppertunity to photograph something dfferent than Aircraft which is all i have done since buying my DLSR

Cheers
Alan

[Matt Charlton]

we're setting off in 5, might stop for some breakfast on the way if we're making good time. Otherwise see you all at 10 :)

[sue]

Hope everyone made it home ok :)

[staffitaxi]

Hi Sue

Got back about 7.45.

Thank you so much to everyone who made me feel so welcome.

Just downloaded my pics, now to sort through them all.

Andrea

[philbyuk]

well me n fatgit did.post some pics ltr if theres anything worth it.

btw i think moomike might be late home, saw some ducks on the motorway ,and pretty sure we glimpsed a character with a rocket launcher slung over his shoulder chasing after them shouting "hold still whilst i focus on ya. ya buggars"!!!!

[sue]

We got back just after 8, we stopped on the way back for tea due to traffic.

Just downloading my photos now :)

Andrea looking forward to seeing your shots

[namllihs]

The traffic was a pain, it took me 40 minutes to do 6 miles leaving Chester, hope you all arrived home O/K.
Thanks all for an entertaining day.

[Matt Charlton]

Going to post up some people piccies in this thread, will post up some animal pics in my regular fashion.

Didn't think I'd come away with anything today but I've got 3/4 shots that actually made me say "oooh" out loud. Quite pleased :)

We stopped at the Chester Services because TomTom said it was going to be 21:30 before we got home, so we stopped there, paid a fortune for a burger and then set off again and got home for 20:10. Not too bad I guess.

Thanks everyone for coming, glad you all got back okay, it was great to meet you Andrea, Phil, Allan and Daniel.

[sue]

Hmmmm well I am still waiting for my shots to download, so keep fingers crossed that some of my new 100-400L pictures are good :)

[philbyuk]

Great to meet you n sue too along with the others hope to have another meeting soon

three hotdogs and a burger b4 bed scandalous i say

[Alan.F]

Hi

Yes we made it back ok. Ty for a terrific day out it was nice to meet you all

Alan

[Matt Charlton]

Okay then

Moomike

http://www.mattcharlton.co.uk/TP/chester07/mike.jpg

Mike was taking a photo of a duck..........again....so we all lined up the lenses and shouted "MIKE", and he turned around and I grabbed this shot. Stupid woman in a white thing walked in front of me and the shot doesn't look any good with a crop.

Group shot 1

http://www.mattcharlton.co.uk/TP/chester07/group1.jpg

I was at the opposite end of the sealions to this lot so I sneaked a photo or two.

Here we have Sue, Moomike (Mike), fatgit (Alan), Daniel (Alan's son - who forgot the monopod), and Philbyuk (Phil).

The proper Group Shot

Namlihs (Steve), Daniel, fatgit (alan), Philbyuk (Phil), Moomike (Mike), Staffitaxi (Andrea), Sue. Also present in the shot are three monkeys. Can you spot them?



http://www.mattcharlton.co.uk/TP/chester07/group2.jpg

[sue]

hmmm hate shots of myself

[Alan.F]

hmmm hate shots of myself

So do i Sue lol

[philbyuk]

now i realised why i go behind the camera

[Matt Charlton]

no pleasing some people is there? :p

[Daniel.F]

Daniel (Alan's son - who forgot the monopod)

it wasn't my falt my dad's big enough to look after his own stuff

[namllihs]

Exactly Daniel:thumbs:

[staffitaxi]

Don't forget to post some of your pics Daniel.

It was good to have someone else around who wasn't using a lens that you could use to view Mars!!!

Andrea

[Matt Charlton]

I couldn't see Mars in mine, we had a look in the kiosk remember, all they did was chocolate eclairs :(

[Daniel.F]

i will go through my best pics and put them ***

[philbyuk]

welcome daniel. thats it, tell your dad it was all his fault lol
and dont let him use your tigger pics as his

[Daniel.F]

i won't, i'm at my nans but i've got my card on me so he can't get them lol

[Jimmy_Lemon]

wow what a bunch! :p

You been on a shopping spree since last time I saw you there moomike? you have more kit than the other Mike now :p

[Dan Leach]

Wow, some serious equipment on show there :)

[moomike]

btw i think moomike might be late home, saw some ducks on the motorway ,and pretty sure we glimpsed a character with a rocket launcher slung over his shoulder chasing after them shouting "hold still whilst i focus on ya. ya buggars"!!!!

Cheek!!! :bat::lol:

wow what a bunch! :p
You been on a shopping spree since last time I saw you there moomike? you have more kit than the other Mike now :p

:p My new toy - the kind of comments I get from people during these meetings (some are definately not suitable for a family forum :lol:)

[Alan.F]

Sorry just had to post this

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Chester%20Zoo/MooMike.jpg

[Jimmy_Lemon]

HAHA! nice one!

[staffitaxi]

Excellent, very funny.

Andrea

[moomike]

:lol::lol: Alan, you & Matt should form some kind of comedy club :lol:

[Matt Charlton]

ROFLMFAO

Thats hilarious

You've got some competition tom ;)