It's that time of year again, and I'm running another CodeCon. That's
coding and camping, for the uninitiated. Real tents, no Internet, no
phones. I do hire a generator, so the laptops still work.
This year we return to Olney State Forest, in the NSW Central Coast
hinterlands. Last time we were there, several ultra-urban geeks
learned the binary chop technique as applied to logs by fires.
When
Friday 30-Oct-2009 noon (or whenever the second person arrives),
until about 3PM Sunday 1-Nov-2009.
Who Is It For?
The expected attendees will be coders, usually open source coders.
Cost
About $30 each, depending on numbers.
Contact
Peter Miller <pmiller@opensource.org.au>
Please let me know if you are thinking of coming, so I have some idea
of numbers. This helps me rent the a 240V generator of the appropriate
capacity.
What To Bring
- a laptop (it is a codefest, after all)
- A 5 to 15 minute talk on a coding subject. Whatever you are
passionate about, or some problem exercising your brain cells at
the moment.
- a tent (some people have big tents, and are willing to share)
- a sleeping bag
- You need to bring your own food, although there are shops about 30
minutes away. A stove to cook it on would be handy, but there is a
camp fire, if you are adept at that kind of cooking.
- Flavored ethanol is traditional.
- Optional warm clothes (it won't be as cold at night as last time,
but we are in a valley)
- Optional folding chair, although the organiser has a few spares.
- Some folks find torches useful.
What Will Be Provided
- 240V generator
- shade (for screen contrast) and a roof
- the camp ground has a pit toilet
- the camp ground has a water tank
Activities
Coding, talking about coding, accidentally walking in the forest, coding,
whale watching, coding, avoiding the Honey-Do list, and coding.
Getting There
Once you are on the Sydney to Newcastle Freeway, it takes about 25
minutes to reach 77m high Money Mooney Creek bridge with the bars to
stop people jumping off, and then the Gosford Exit (Kariong) exit; DO
NOT take this exit, but take the next one about 3 minutes later
called Peats Ridge Road Exit.
Turn left and proceed along Peats Ridge Road for 8.1 km, about 8 minutes.
This crosses a small road bridge and turns into Wisemans Ferry Road
which you follow for a further 3.35 km, about 6 mins.
Turn right at George Downes Drive (a fairly large intersection) and go
20.43 km, about 20 minutes. You really really want your odometer
for this bit, the turn sneaks up on you. Along the way you will see the
Kulnura General Store on your right, about 5 minutes before the turn.
Turn right at Walker Ridge Road and go 2.18 km, about 4 minutes. This
is where the nice sealed road turns into a dirt road. Take the 4th left
turn at Walkers Ridge Forest Road (the sign-post is behind you) and go
5.56 km, about 7 minutes.
Turn left at Basin Forest Road (the signpost is on a high bank to your
left that only the passenger can see) which winds down into the valley,
and you will be at the Basin Camp Ground in about 2 minutes. Total time
about 1 hour 15 minutes (about 90 km).
The unsealed roads are well maintained and easily accessable by ordinary
2WD cars, except after heavy rain, or unless you have pimped your ride
by lowering it too far.
You can get almost adequate driving directions from Whereis.com.au
by entering
From: SYDNEY NEWCASTLE FREEWAY, WAHROONGA, New South Wales
To: WALKERS RIDGE FOREST ROAD, CEDAR BRUSH CREEK, New South Wales
(Note that while the destination map shows Basin Forest Road, you
can't enter it as the destination address. Presumably two different
databases are involved.)
Here is a
Google maps link.
Debrief
We use state forests because they permit generators. However state
forests can bet very noisy, because state forests also permit dirt
bikes... and Saturday saw a whole snoot-load of them.
Teens with sub-woofers on Sunday morning can be tedious, too.
Somewhere less well loved would be nice for next year.
The southern highlands offer many possibilities.
Attendee Blog Posts
History
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times since 7-Oct-2010.