Kerrie the Merry Pup stuck her nose in my face at about 3:30 a.m., and insisted on going out. So...on with the pants, shirt, boots, coat and out we went. When my blurry eyes cleared a bit I realized that it was clear skies, moon had set, and the temperatures weren't that cold, so I got the tracker and camera bag and headed down to lake to try for some shots. Conditions were good but photography was total frustration. Could not for the life of me figure out Polaris, so couldn't set the tracker. While I was wandering along the lake shore looking for it I set the camera for a few minutes, thought I may as well get a star trails shot. Took a few 30 second shots, I'm *sure* I had set the camera for 1600 IS0 but found out later that it was set for 400 IS0, not good.

I then headed over to the dock to see what the viewing was like there. Still couldn't figure out which star was Polaris, with the field of stars turned many degrees at that time in the morning (now 4:26 a.m.) it was confusing, not a view I'm used to. It finally occurred to me to set for a star trail shot for about 3 minutes and then check the viewfinder in the camera, the one in the middle's gotta be Polaris. So, having done that, could finally set the tracker. At the far end of the dock Orion can be seen *just* above the trees at "the point". I love trees, but being down in the valley with trees on a hill, ain't good for astronomy.

Another source of frustration is the Manfrotto ballhead. It's a squat shape, the release knob is large, doesn't allow the camera to settle into the angle that I want for some shots. Again, I had set the camera for some 30 second shots at IS0 1600, was *sure* I had set the IS0, but they were on 400 IS0 where I had it set for the tracker shots.

At least the dew held off, I could see a bit of steam rising off the lake in the flashlight beam while setting up, that's usually an indication that you don't have much time before the lens fogs up.

Finally gave up around 4:45 a.m. and went back to bed.