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The Family Tree
Thought for the Month The SunTree Traveler
Avoiding the Tax Man at Jardin del Sol, AZ Our Income Tax Day Weekend at Jardin del Sol was as enjoyable as all of our club events at that lovely club have been. We were able to take our minds off of that 1040 form and get down to serious eating, soaking, hiking, swimming and meeting new (as well as old, familiar) people. On Saturday evening, we joined with the Jardin del Sol members and other visitors for an enjoyable potluck meal and good conversation. The thermometer was indicating that summer is not too far off, but the shade of a SunTree member's RV and awning provided a wonderfully comfortable site to perch through the heat of the day. There was a dark cloud hanging over the weekend activities which replaced the income tax cloud. Our visit to Jardin del Sol coincided with the closing weekend of that wonderful club. We were extremely lucky to have been able to be among the final campers to enjoy that club. The members of SunTree wish the owners and members of Jardin del Sol the best of luck in their future endeavors. SunTree would love to try to coordinate a plan for some future event with Jardin del Sol people. Perhaps someday, some of you would like to join us in one of our events at Faywood Hot Springs in New Mexico. [Note: As a result of the closing of JdS, the SunTree event formerly schedule for that location on the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, in November, has been moved to Faywood Hot Springs.]
The Faywood Hot Springs New Month's Eve camping trip is occurring as this newsletter is being distributed, so there is no activity report at this time.
Last month, this newsletter reported that all of the events for May had been rescheduled due to scheduling conflicts with the various SunTree members. These two May events are the same as reported last month: We have been invited to two separate events in Alamogordo during May for a double barrel SunTree encounter. Both events will be at the same location and both will be potluck marathon events with auxiliary hot tub competitions throughout the weekend. These events will occur starting on 14 May and 29 May.
Jupiter Reins As Venus Makes a Comeback! If you can find a viewing location unhampered by mountains, buildings or clouds in the early May mornings, you will get a good view of little Mercury just before sunrise. On the morning of 6 May, Mercury and the crescent Moon will perform a duet very low on the eastern horizon just before sunrise. This month, Jupiter will continue to glow brilliantly nearly all night long (upsetting Venus to no end). You can easily find Jupiter, but as an aid, the Moon will cooperate in moving in real close on 19 May as a teaching aid. Saturn is still somewhat bright this month. You can find him well up in the west at nightfall, dropping toward the west until it finally sets around midnight. Venus, who was in hiding behind the Sun all of last month now slowly creeps out of hiding as an evening "star". She is still hanging in close to the Sun. Look for her extremely low in the west a half hour after sunset. Once again, the Moon volunteers to be the teaching aid on 8 May when the thin crescent Moon drifts alongside Venus. In the post-midnight shift, you might be able to find Mars. It is not very bright, but if you have a pair of binoculars and are able to find it (if you also have a sky chart for May, look for Mars now in dim constellation of Aquarius). What is neat about looking at it this month with binoculars is that it is hovering next to Uranus from 14 to 17 May. The view of this orange-and -green planetary combo should be neat. The Moon, in the role of teaching aid, will drive over to join Mars on the 31. © 2004 SunTree Travel Club - Site updated Summer 2008 |
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What Happened in April
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