Located near the Jenner Headlands (60 miles north of SF) on the Sonoma County Coast, at 1400' elevation, and about 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean. We are on 45 acres, mostly forrested, and surrounded by open space, in the boonies at the end of a private 5 mile gravel road. A grid tied 6 KW solar array provides 100% of our electricity, and three other solar systems provide hot water for the house, water pumping, and solar heating for the pool. We also have a large organic garden, orchard and chickens. The forest land provides sustainable quantities of firewood for heating the home.

Nearby Fort Ross has historic significance as an early Russian settlement (1812-41) when California was part of Mexico.

I am a retired commercial/aerial photographer/business owner, as well as a blue water sailor, having spent 2 years cruising a 40' ketch to Mexico, Hawaii, and the South Pacific (1978-80). We now cruise with a 30' 5th wheel trailer and mobile HF rig, preferably to the desert in the winter.

Station Details:

Icom IC-756PROIII

Icom PW-1 ss amp

SteppIR 3 element yagi w/6m passive element @53' AGL

525' horizontal delta sky loop @ 35'-80' AGL

Palstar AT2K tuner

Yaesu FT-897 for 2m SSB

Cushcraft A147-11 2m yagi (H) @63' AGL

Kenwood TM-D710

Elk 2m log periodic (V) @41' AGL

RTV Mobile Details:

Kenwood TM-D271

Mobil Details:

Icom IC-7000

Hi-Q 5/160 w/cap hat for 40, 80, and 160m.

Hustler mast with resonators for 10, 17, and 20m.

RV Station Details:

Yaesu FT-897

Ameritron AL-811H tube amp

W6ZO Portable Delta Loop

50' end fed sloaper with tuner

M2 6m 3 element yagi

Elk 2m log periodic

Whatever else can be hung from trees, etc.

KJ6DCT (XYL-left) and Chloe (right). Not pictured: Jean Claude, Lizzie and Noonan. Note the solar clothes dryer, portable tripod mounted HughesNet satellite dish for broadband, and the now retired 12' Paraclipse "C" band satellite TV dish (behind Chloe.) (Note: this photo needs to be updated)

On the left is the new (to me) SteppIR 3 element yagi (6-20m with 6m passive element) at 53' AGL and the 11 element 2m horizontal yagi for SSB at 63' AGL atop the Tri-X W-51 motorized crank up tower. This is rigged so it can be easily tilted over for maintence.

On the right is the 31' crank up which supports the 2m log and the 525' sky loop. The other 2 corners of the triangular loop are supported by a 60' Rohn 25 tower to the SE, and an 80' Rohn 25 to the W.

Attached to the yard arm on the tower to the right is the feed point of the skyloop with 45' of 450 ohm windowline which goes to a 4:1 balun on the roof, then coax into the house and the AT2K tuner. It covers 40-160m very effectively. The Elk 2m vertical log periodic is atop the 31' crank up and 10' mast@41' for FM repeater work.

Looking to the NW from the house. The Geysers (major geothermal installation) is seen in the distance about 30 miles away.

All 4 towers can be seen in this shot if you look carefullly:

The 60' Rohn 25 tower (below) which supports the SE corner of the loop. This is a moonlit shot in the occasional summer fog.

View (below) from the 80' tower looking north.

At 1400' elevation and in a warm belt, we usually do not get the expected coastal weather, but the fog occasionally does come over the hill. Summer temperatures are usually in the high 80's, sometimes higher. Late May to the end of October, the pool is usually above 80 F, occasionally as high as 90 F. The Russians never have had it so good!

The rebar cage about to go in the hole for the 51' tower. The tractor has a PTO winch which is used for laying over (and raising) the tower for antenna work.

Three yards of concrete followed.

The "homebrew" raising fixture. The winch cable goes from near the top (when nested) of the tower, over the pully to the far side of the house, where the tractor is located for the job.

Another view from the 80' tower, showing the orchard, garden, potting shed/chicken coop and the 6 kW solar array. The wire seen over the garden is the previous position of the far leg (from the house) of the sky loop before it was moved up to the new towers.

Our land was severly burned in a wildfire in 1978. We replanted with 35,000 evergreens (Douglas Fir, Redwood, Pine) which are now 40-50' tall. As stewards of the forest following a professionally prepared forestestry plan, we look forward to a sustainable anual harvest in coming years.

Noonan, our mixed breed rescue dog.