Originally licensed in 1959 as WN5CGI (12 years old). Took the novice test in Ft Worth, TX with my mother and father. (WN5CGH and WN5CGJ). Moved to Southern California in 1960. Didn't know anyone, so studied and took General Test in 1960. License was WB6BEE. Mom and Dad became WB6BUW and WB6BUX. Took Advanced test a few years later. Received the Heathkit Maurader transmitter as a Christmas gift. A year later, received the Heathkit Warrior 1kw amp.

Left Southern California for Hawaii in 1967. Stationed at CINCPACFLT with the Navy. While there, primary operator for KH6SP, the submarine base amateur station. Moved to Northern Californa (above Sacramento in 1970). Very active on RTTY during those years. Built homebrew amplifier with 2 4CX250B's. Amp could operate in Class C (RTTY and CW) or Class AB1 (SSB).

Pretty inactive during the 90's. Moved to Colorado in 2004. Forgot to renew my license and let the 2 year period go by. A good friend emailed and said my call was on the "available" list. Couldn't believe I let it go by. Took the General exam in Durango, CO in 2011. Received some weird KD0 call sign. Immediately applied for my old call back and was successful. Who wants a 2X3 call anyway. Took the extra class in 2012, just before 65th birthday.

Now running a street rod and vintage land cruiser shop in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. At 7,500 feet above sea level, you really don't need much of a tower. You can check out that website at www.wolfcreekrodworks.com. If you like street rods and vintage land cruisers, you will enjoy all the photographs of past and current projects.

Two personal vehicles, 1965 FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser and 1938 Chevrolet Coupe.

Don is married to Wen Saunders. Wen is a 35 year professional photojournalist that specialised in photographing rodeo, weddings, families and street rods. Her real passion was for black and white photography. We have a darkroom built in our home. You can check out her web site at www.wendysaunders.com. She is now a real estate agent in the beautiful Pagosa Springs area of Colorado. You can check out that website at www.wensaunders.com.

The QTH in Summer: View from Front Deck and Rear Deck

And in the Winter:

And, our guard dog, Abby, taking her job seriously (and a bit grayer in the face now days).

And, the equipment. Vintage Icom. IC 761 transceiver, IC 2kl 500 watt amplifier, IC 500AT automatic antenna tuner. Antenna is Steppir Big IR vertical, ground mounted with 60 radials. Also have a W5GI mystery antenna set up in inverted V form for 40, 80 and 160. Wattmeter is a N8LP LP 100a. Logging program is DXLab Suite. LP-Pan using 9 Mhz tap on the IC 761. IF tap driving CW-Skimmer and NaP3 SDR using LPBridge for virtual ports. Vibroplex Presentation purchased new in 1967.