DXpeditions

Updated: October 22, 2009 hit "REFRESH" for frequent, sometimes daily updates and to reload stubborn photos)

Home Link

several DXpeditions life experiences

2000 Just Before Retirement

Adirondack Mountains, New York

Catskills, New York

2001 Retired April 30, 2001

Door County Wisconsin and our 1st real DXpedition

Before this we had been taking little trips lasting a few days to get used to our New Airstream

Door County is known for its fall Colors

I take the New Retirement Kayak out into the frigid Waters of Lake Michigan

January / February / March of 2002 Chihuahuan, Sonoran, Mohavae and Death Valley Deserts

Big Bend National Park Southwest Texas How big is your living room? w/ Javelina's, who want Martha for dinner in front of the trailer

Organ Pipe National Park, Arizona

"Quartzite" Arizona "Slabs City" east of Niland California by the Salton Sea, by far the goofiest camping area in the country

June 2002 Airstream Caravan to the International Rally in Rapid City South Dakota

WBCCI Airstream Caravans, "If you don't do something fun today, you wasted the day"

January - February 2003, 20 days in the Florida Everglades

w/ Gators

Hiking the "Big Cypress National Preserve" and Gators stack like Cords of wood, definitely not a petting zoo

w/ Crocs, a very large old Crocodile jumped up on shore as paddled by -- A 10 foot Alligator in the water sits at the edge of the pier in the boat ramp as I return to shore.

Alone and deep into the Mangrove Swamp with the Gators, Crocodiles and w/Snakes, absolutely spectacular!

Spectacular Northern Light type Sunsets, as the sun reflects nightly off the clouds, waters of the Everglades, Gulf and Florida Bay

In Shark River area the Everglade water is clear as it recycles plant life

Gator just off the bow in Everglades National Park, Fl. --- Florida Bay with the Alligators, Crocodiles, Sharks & Flamingo's

Kathleen and Martha relax in the Florida Everglades, with Gators under the Airstream

Being a Generating Station

with our 150 watt pollution free solar panels with AC inverter @ the Sarasota Rally

Atlantic Ocean at Flagler Beach, Florida

2003 Minocqua, Wisconsin October 2003

woke up to our first Airstream Snow,

w/people @ Essex Junction, Vermont Summer 2003

w/ moose, standing in the water at Lake Umbagog on the Maine & Canadian border in New Hampshire

Kayak with Loons and Moose on Umbagog Lake in northern New Hampshire with Canada and Maine in the background

Amateur Radio Report: July 8, 2003 at Lake Umbagog in northern New Hampshire. Out of cell phone range used 20 meters and contacted Ham operator Roger W4EI in Virginia. He called Brett on the phone to get the twins status report . July 9th at 0800hrs a second contact was made and Roger W4EI relayed that we our Grandparents x2. We broke camp and headed to Boston.

2004 Texas cowboy tour Jan - March 2004

On the Gulf of Mexico @ Padre Island National Sea Shore, Texas. Dry camping aka Boondocking with no facilities, just pull on the beach and use solar electricity & re-supply the 50 gallons of fresh water every 4 days to keep the hot shower working. As the tide goes out notice the wet sand & how close the tide comes up at 4 am & pm.

"If you need to ask how do you know were to go? You probably don't need an Airstream."

Jan. 2004, ...Padre Island National Seashore 4 WD to mile marker 2 1/2 & we are the

last RV on the beach

Oblate Mission Trail ...La Lomilta Mission dates to the early 1700's and is one of the oldest churches in the U.S., Mission, Tx.

Martha interested in the Jack Rabbits & Bobcats @ Seminole Canyon State Park, Tx.

Langtry and "The Jersey Lilly," Judge Roy Bean's Saloon & pool hall

(the only law west of the Pecos)

"The Shaman" of Seminole Canyon State Park / Historic site & ancient Indian picture writings

15% grade in Big Bend Ranch along the Rio Grand, the V10 stick F250 working fine ...Dry camping right on the Rio Grand in Big Bend Ranch

Martha watching for Mountain Lions, the mountain is Mexico

"It ain't wilderness unless something out there can eat you"

.....Feb 2002 ...Big Bend Ranch and very much alone on the Rio Grand, Kathleen brake's out the hardware

, 450 Marlin Rifle, "Martha," & one Girl Scout Leader

Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park ...Rio Grand Campground, Big Bend National Park Feb. 2002

camping on the Javelina Highway

evening sun reflects off the Chiso Mountains behind our Airstream in Rio Grand campground

Old Ore road to Ernst Tinaja

Big Bend National Park, Texas (Feb.2002)

"Ain't no mountain high enough," Time to head for Big Bend National Park

Black Gap Road ...a non maintained 4 wheel drive only road n/o the Mariscal Mine ruins. After 30 miles of rocky road we got into an area that was not more than a wide donkey trail. I was in 1^st & 2nd gear low transfer for over 20 miles, had to take the hitch off because I was dragging with the 2-4 foot drops, ruts, huge 6 – 10 inch boulders etc.. The road was more suited for a track vehicle, we couldn’t turn back because what we went over was so bad so continued up and down the side of the mountain up and down, up and down for 20 miles. On big boulders the truck bounces around and leaves the ground and when you are one foot from a 300 foot + cliff you crawl with 1^st gear low transfer. No time for pictures, just hang on.

Now that it is over it was a chance of a lifetime, very cool.

26 mile of 4WD on Old Ore road through canons and over mountains, this road was used for pack mules to hall silver ore 100 miles to the north in Marathon, Texas.

on Old Ore road to Ernst Tinaja (800 ft. straight down off to the right ....Ernst Tinaja aka "Jar"

Check out the retirement smile at this Hot Springs that empties into the Rio Grand, We hiked 7 miles through the mountains to get here for the 105 degree hot spring. When would I have time to go to work?

Braking in the new walking stick in the canon to balancing rock

located ruins at Roys Peak on Old Ore road

Kathleen loves this narrow trail up the cliffs of the San Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park

Santa Elena Canyon Javelina

Telingua Abajo ruins off Maverick Road Ruins of the abandoned Mariscal quick silver mine aka mercury

Kathleen masters the canon leading to Ernst Tinaja aka "Jar" Ernst Tinaja

Hot Springs ...A flood destroyed the 3 story walls of this pool that was built to hold the spring water flowing from the hill in the late 1800hrs

Off the guided trail we located the early 1900 silver ore tramway that ran from Boquillas, Mexico 6 miles north into the U.S.

Hiked to Mule Ear Mountain in the background

(goofiest hiking hat award, purchased at Chisos Mt. Lodge)

26 mile unimproved 4wd Old Ore Road Kathleen looks for a souvenir from a Cholla

March 2004 @ Telingua Ghost town

Sipping a couple afternoon Lone Star's on the porch bench of the Telingua Trading Company overlooking the Ruins and Graveyard. No bar, no bartender, you purchase the pops from the Gal inside and sit on the porch with a few other Telingua Residents. Empties go in the barrel. The mountains in the background is Big Bend National Park that we just spent 17 days. The locals lease these ruins and do minor repairs and live in them. This area seems to have collected eccentrics from all age groups and from all over the country. Most appear to be highly educated beat nic types that serve as rafting guides on the Rio Grand, do odd jobs or just work full time restoring their one room adobe ruin homes. They live pretty much like people lived 100 years ago except the quick silver mercury mines are closed.

Texas Cowboy DXpedition ends March 10th

2005 Lake Michigan & Horse Shoe Island Door County October Adventure October 14, 2005

Early week practice runs in Nicolet Bay, Door County, Wisconsin ...retired guys in tights are not always pretty!!!

On Thanksgiving Day 1968, while on my 1st Marine Corps tour in the Republic of Vietnam,

I decided that from that day forward, I will make sure I do one fun thing every day for the rest of my life.

"Today it will be Horse Shore Island in October"

After looking at Horse Shoe Island for 9 days it is time to get on the dance floor and meet the Strong currents running across the front of the island

Trip back was against a 10 mph wind, this does not look like much, but you can see how the water rises up as you leave the shelter of Horse Shoe Island. No room for error in the October open waters of Lake Michigan.

...morning coffee on the beach ...after 11 days in Door County, Wis., a "Inukshuk" is built,

the Eskimo's (Gwich'in Aboriginal people's) sign of a safe camp

16 barefoot Amateur Radio High Frequency contacts this DXpedition

Summer 2006 Around Lake Michigan DXpedition left August 19, 2006

in search of a warm Pabst in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, OKay!

Kayak Lake Superior, Hike the Porkies aka Porcupine Mountains Michigan, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore & Dunes, Mackinac Island, Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore

easy start @ Mequon & Weyauwega, Wisconsin

Day 3 - 4, in the North Woods ...Nicolet National Forest @ Franklin Lake, Eagle River.

...Kayak with the Loons

Camped right on the water with a bit of an opening in the Forest to run the Airstream Solar Panels

clouds reflecting in the morning water

Camp Porkies, aka Porcupine Mountains Upper Peninsula Michigan

on the Beach in the Porkies

hike to the Nature Center

Lake of the Clouds hiking to the copper mines of the Porkies

rolling waves heavy fog & great Kayaking on Lake Superior, not for the timid! Aug. 26, 2006

...Copper Harbor & Silver Mine Tours

Hiking Castle Rock, Picture Rock National Sea Shore

Munising Aug. 29- 31, 2006 ...Picture Rock National Sea Shore Boat Tour

Oldest existing lighthouse on Lake Superior, closed in the early 1900's

...Hiking Picture Rock Dunes

"YOOPER WOMAN " Kathleen Kayak's Lake Michigan outside of St. Ignace U.P. Michigan

Mackinac Island ...Maine street ...Grand Hotel

September 4, 2006 Labor Day 0700hrs & the 49th annual Mackinac Bridge Walk led by Michigan's Governor

...up the Bridge ...Coast Guard Patrol Boats

Finished in 1 1/2 hour walk

...on top of Sleeping Bear Dune National Sea Shore

last night on the road on the beach @ Grand Haven, Michigan

...in 21 day this is only our 5th night of Shore Power electricity, our Solar Panels worked well even in the Forests of the North Woods

Morning coffee @ Grand Haven Pier

...Home after 21 days Friday Sept. 7

15 barefoot & mobile Amateur Radio High Frequency contacts this DXpedition

2009 Michigan Fall DXpedition Sept 25 - October 1, 2009

Day 1 Sept 25 - 26, 2009 front row right on the Beach @ Grand Haven State Park, Michigan

..Waiting for the Sun Set as some clouds approach from Chicago, it has been a Sunny day in the mid 70's

Can't beat the view

Day 3 Sept 27 While in route to Airstream Courtesy Parking in Wyoming, Michigan @ the home of WBCCI # 3113 members Ken & Petey a mile from our scheduled wheel alignment tomorrow. From the grinding noise it appears our right front Ford F250 Super Duty blew a right front wheel bearing. w/ the truck issues we crash land at Grapewood Frame & Axle & spend the night in the parking lot w/ plenty of time for a for some Brats on the Weber grill.

Day 4 Sept 28 Up early get the trailer repairs going and off to the Ford Dealer for a wheel bearing and by 10:00am we head north for a wheel alignment on the Airstream. At the same time right down the street the Ford Dealer replaced my right front wheel bearing.

Airstream Wheel Alignment note: Not knowing what to expect this was a pleasant experience. My right front wheel had been wearing slightly uneven for some time. Ever since I pinched a curb in downtown White Horse, Yukon Territory. I learned that over time & as the trailer ages that all wheels sag a bit and all 4 wheels needed adjustment. Grapewood has been in business since 1973. $190 for both axles, & don't forget the free camp site..

Then roam north to the Manistee National Forest. Hit the sandy fire roads looking for the perfect camp. We find the secluded Minnie Lake that we will explore to tomorrow.