After installing locks to slow down the bad guys, a handle for pulling down the east wall, the scope, and tinkering with polar alignment, there wasn't much time for anything else, so I started to button things up and realized I didn't take any pictures. So I got the camera and snapped a few shots to document the occasion.
Here's a view from the east with the scope in the stowed and hibernating position. I still have lots to work out, for instance you may notice how far forward the guide scope is sitting. Everything has to be below the roofline when stowed, so once I have the guidescope in it's permanent position, I'll still have to rack in the focuser and remove the camera. I planned it that way to keep the roof height low.
Here, the north and west walls are raised and you get a better idea of how the scope is housed and how much space there is to work with. Plenty of room inside the ol' doghouse for various odds and ends!
And now the south wall has been raised and we're almost ready to slide the roof on. Not a lot of room to stand inside this observatory unless you're a munchkin from the land of Oz. Oh! Looks like a ghost has stopped by to see what all the commotion is about. See right above the guidescope focuser?
Last thoughts. Dealing with the heavy roof wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I mean, it's still really heavy, but after you lift it, take a few steps and get over the initial shock, "Holy frijoles! This is freakin' heavy!" you realize you are half way to the patio retaining wall. A couple more steps and you're sliding the behemoth onto the top of the wall, and you're done. Ha! That wasn't such a big deal! Same thing in reverse to close up. It's practically a non-issue.
