The XT-8 Scope Cart:
Loaded and Ready to Roll
I live in an apartment. The apartment complex has garages and storage units for
rent. Each garage unit has a 4 x 12 foot storage closet and the storage units are 8
x 12. We rent both a garage and a storage unit. The XT-8 lives in the storage
unit along with its cart, eyepieces, and Denver Observing Chair.
The apartment complex adjoins a 5-acre empty field that is surrounded by trees and
brush and covered with grass and weeds. Management mows a wide path into and around
the field where those of us who live in the apartments can go to watch birds, and the
like.
The field makes a good observing spot -- it's shielded from the security lights by the
trees. But, it's a good 200 yards from the storage unit to the observing spot.
At first, I made 3-4 trips between storage and observing spot -- hauling the XT-8,
observing chair, eyepieces, and the like -- all at night. For Father's Day 2003, my
wife found a BIG cart with pneumatic tires. And here it is: the scope cart
loaded up and ready to roll.

From the left: (1) the XT-8 scope standing straight up; (2) big eyepiece case;
(3) small eyepiece case; and, (4) Denver Observing chair.
The cart has a big pull handle on the left side of this photo -- you can barely make it
out leaning against the door on the left edge of the photo.
Here's a look inside the cart. XT-8 is on the left, too dark to see. The
shiny object at the left bottom is the headlight of a red LED light with an elastic band
that fits around my head -- put it on, turn it on, and enjoy hands-free red light while
observing. Next is the big eyepice case, the small eyepiece case, and the adjustable
chair.

Now, all I do is pull the cart out of the storage closet, into the parking lot, down
the path, and there we are -- ready to observe.
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