Saline Valley Thanksgiving

This is the turn off to the springs. They are in sight from here, but still a loooong drive over a horrible road.

2009-01-16T03:58:17Z

civex
This is the turn off to the springs. They are in sight from here, but still a loooong drive over a horrible road.

This is miles and hours from Saline Valley as seen from the middle of nowhere.

2009-01-16T03:57:09Z

civex
This is miles and hours from Saline Valley as seen from the middle of nowhere.

The tent is symmetrical. The fly has the poles in it (three across, one along the length.

2009-01-16T04:01:37Z

civex
The tent is symmetrical. The fly has the poles in it (three across, one along the length.

Our new tent was tested our first night with very high winds.

2009-01-16T04:01:05Z

civex
Our new tent was tested our first night with very high winds.

It has standing headroom dead center inside, but of course, you can never stand in the middle of the tent because of the air mattress.

2009-01-16T04:01:17Z

civex
It has standing headroom dead center inside, but of course, you can never stand in the middle of the tent because of the air mattress.

The tent is square and suspended from the fly, so you only have to set up the fly and the tent is up, too.

2009-01-16T03:54:38Z

civex
The tent is square and suspended from the fly, so you only have to set up the fly and the tent is up, too.

There is a small landing strip for ultra-light aircraft.

2009-01-16T03:59:54Z

civex
There is a small landing strip for ultra-light aircraft.

A photo of the landing strip.

2009-01-16T03:54:53Z

civex
A photo of the landing strip.

Another view of the Chicken Strip.

2009-01-16T04:01:25Z

civex
Another view of the Chicken Strip.

A video of the view from the strip.

2009-01-16T03:55:43Z

civex
A video of the view from the strip.

That flyspeck is the ultra-light flying around.

2009-01-16T03:59:54Z

civex
That flyspeck is the ultra-light flying around.

Louise watching the ultra-light.

2009-01-16T03:55:09Z

civex
Louise watching the ultra-light.

We had some great views, and not a tree to spoil the view.

2009-01-16T03:59:04Z

civex
We had some great views, and not a tree to spoil the view.

Nope, no trees.

2009-01-16T03:56:11Z

civex
Nope, no trees.

Thanksgiving turkey ready for eating.

2009-01-16T03:59:24Z

civex
Thanksgiving turkey ready for eating.

Full moon while we were there.

2009-01-16T03:54:49Z

civex
Full moon while we were there.

The MAN in the back belongs to a Dutch couple. For photos showing the Tarheel installation from inside the van, click here.

2009-01-16T03:59:30Z

civex
The MAN in the back belongs to a Dutch couple. For photos showing the Tarheel installation from inside the van, click here.

My understanding is that the ground plane is along the roof of the van, giving us some directionality to the north, since the van is facing that way.

2009-01-16T03:59:31Z

civex
My understanding is that the ground plane is along the roof of the van, giving us some directionality to the north, since the van is facing that way.

We could hear stations all along the eastern seaboard, from Tennessee, Georgia, and Idaho, but we could be heard only along the West Coast.

2009-01-16T03:59:05Z

civex
We could hear stations all along the eastern seaboard, from Tennessee, Georgia, and Idaho, but we could be heard only along the West Coast.

I worked stations in Eureka, Alameda, and Redwood City, CA and Vancouver BC.

2009-01-16T03:58:31Z

civex
I worked stations in Eureka, Alameda, and Redwood City, CA and Vancouver BC.

I used a Kenwood TS-480 for the first time, powered by the battery you see in the background.

2009-01-16T03:55:57Z

civex
I used a Kenwood TS-480 for the first time, powered by the battery you see in the background.

The Asus EEE PC has no fully functional ham logging software as yet, so I jury-rigged a spreadsheet to keep track of the information I would have logged on paper.

2009-01-16T03:46:20Z

civex
The Asus EEE PC has no fully functional ham logging software as yet, so I jury-rigged a spreadsheet to keep track of the information I would have logged on paper.

This was Mike. If you can see (or view a larger size), he has a Coleman gasoline stove in the back of this pickup, with flames up about twice the height of the stove. He did this every morni ...

2009-01-16T04:00:30Z

civex
This was Mike. If you can see (or view a larger size), he has a Coleman gasoline stove in the back of this pickup, with flames up about twice the height of the stove. He did this every morni ...

One of our camp mates has an old 3-watt cell phone, and he had a dial tone with that Yagi.

2009-01-16T04:02:14Z

civex
One of our camp mates has an old 3-watt cell phone, and he had a dial tone with that Yagi.

Tioga Pass on our way home through Yosemite.

2009-01-16T03:57:23Z

civex
Tioga Pass on our way home through Yosemite.

Our location on the map.

2009-01-16T03:59:07Z

civex
Our location on the map.

Ah, yes, locksmith and giftshop in Oakdale, CA.

2009-01-16T03:55:55Z

civex
Ah, yes, locksmith and giftshop in Oakdale, CA.

civex's photo

2009-01-16T04:02:59Z