2003 will mark 10 consecutive years of Dx-Peditions to Martha's Vineyard Island with hams from 3 states, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut attending.  This 3 day Ham Radio extravaganza, which I organize for the Fall River ARC, has been the single most popular operating event for the club.  We get nearly 20 people every year who brave the ferry ride to the island, and travel to the remote, but very scenic, Gay Head Cliffs of Aquinah.  Atop the cliffs is the picturesque Gay Head lighthouse, and one of the most exposed locations on the entire island.  This site is basically surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on 3 sides, and the weather has proven to be an extreme challenge on several occasions, but on nice days, you just cannot imagine being anywhere else.

This is the Dx-Pedition location as seen from 1000' AGL.    I was flying Cessna 172 - N3568E.   To the right you can see the Gay Head Lighthouse, which constantly beacons it's red & white spotlight to sea goers.   This is a great location for being in the public eye as many tourists travel to this location to view the cliffs, and browse the small gift shops along the way to the public viewing area.

This is a closer shot from around 500' AGL.  In the center you can see my radio trailer, and several camping tents to the left are used for radio positions, and sleeping quarters.  This is a large field, and we have plenty of space to string out antennas and coax.  The surrounding view is breath taking on clear sunny days, but when the weather turns bad, it's an ugly place to find yourself sitting.  Challenge and beauty - it's an interesting mix. 

Being well fed is an integral part of this event!   Everybody brings their special dish for the troops to munch on.  Here are some of the gang eating my now famous New England Clam Boil dinner.  Nobody leaves hungry after this meal!

Here is the gang who attended in 1999. Call signs & names in no particular order: N1RHS, N1JOY, N1TZM, KB1CGH, KA1LH & Colleen, N1YEW, N1UFU & Kevin, AA1VU, KB1DOY, N1TTR(SK), N1ZRD, WA1LBK, KB1CMD, N1YCQ & Sarah, KE1LI, N1SXK, & N1OCY.  This group alone becomes a significant population jump for the town during our stay.

Inside my radio trailer can be a real hive of activity.   Shoulder to shoulder operating positions, several radios on HF, VHF, ATV, & a Satellite station complete with PC control all running simultaneously can be challenging.   It's a bit cramped, but very functional, warm, and dry when the weather turns bad.  

Here is the group photo from the first year we went to the island. We used large tents the first several years, and with mixed success at battling Mother Nature, the radio trailer became an obvious necessity.   Dense fog, cold, rain, and high winds are difficult enough, but to live in a tent under these conditions for 3 days straight was more fun than we ever should of been allowed to have. ;-)  One year we battled sustained 80 MPH winds for nearly an entire day until the main supports of the tent failed, and we had to do a speedy retreat into the local fire department to stay the night.  Look around; there are no trees in these photos for good reason.  This is a harsh place to live.

It takes quite a bit of planning, and infrastructure to support so many people, even if it is only for 3 days and nights.   The event planning starts early in January with getting permission from the town of Aquinah to use the Aquinah Circle.  Next we have to get the announcements into all of the magazines, typically 3 months ahead to insure publication.  Ferry reservations for vehicles are always challenging as tourism is the mainstay of Martha's Vineyard, and there are a limited number of vehicles allowed on the island every day.  I first get the reservation for the radio trailer and tow vehicle, then the setup crew tries to schedule their vehicles onto the same boats as I will be travelling.  We try to arrive early Friday morning, but have had to go on Thursday afternoon simply because no other ferry reservations were available, even several months ahead of time. 

In preparation for the trip, I get a taste of what it must be like for one of those big Dx-Peditions to an exotic location.   Every piece of gear is tested in the weeks prior our departure.  Coax cables are swept, antennas tested, the trailer is cleaned, loaded, repaired as needed, propane tanks filled, guy ropes are tested for strength, generators serviced, fuel jugs filled, food is bought, clothes for all weather packed, PC software updated and tested, radio gear installed and tied down for travel, site setup plan is drawn, and every aspect imaginable is double checked.  It is a fairly remote location, and not possible to go home to pick up something you forgot.   Detailed equipment lists are drawn up, and everybody is responsible for their slice of the pie.  Since we have had many people attend year after year, the coordination has become second nature for all of us.  

The site setup is kept clean and organized throughout the weekend, as we are quite visible to passer by.  Many locals, and tourists, stop in to see what we are doing.  Over the years, we've met nearly every ham on the island, and many from around the world who were very surprised to see such an ambitious Amateur Radio event during their vacation trip.

The trailer has a 23 foot crank up tower attached to the rear.  Atop that I can install antennas for 50 MHz through 1.2 GHz, but typically only use 50, 144, & some times 432 MHz to reduce wind loading while on the island.  They are all turned by a HamIV rotor.  It is supported by 3 guy anchors that are hammered into the soil, and I always attach a fourth rope that can be positioned as needed in case a heavy wind tries to wreak havoc with the antenna array.   The HF antennas are a mix of end fed long wires, dipoles mounted from support masts, or verticals in short guyed masts.  I normally string out 500+ feet of wire at this location between the trailer tower and a flag pole across the circle, and the performance is impressive.  The key is to find an antenna that will perform well, and still be simple to set up and take down.  A lot of work has been incorporated to make this setup speedy, and complete over the years.

No matter what view you take, the Clay Cliffs of Aquinnah are a spectacular site, and there are many scenic vistas on this island.  It's always a treat to visit for the weekend, break away from the reality of the real world, delve deep into playing radio, and enjoying some of the best company I have ever spent time with.