Ramon Gandia, Nome, Alaska

Hello! I am Ramon, owner and webmaster of  XAlaska.com  

Hey! That's me at left fudzing with some amateur radio equipment!

Photo by R. Gandia

At left is Sydney,  my AKC German Shepherd. I acquired her on 9/8/2011 when she was 3, from Sierra Johnson. Sydney is a wonderful, friendly, protective dog that goes out on every ATV trip I make. She runs about 4 miles each day summer or winter, rain or shine, and is a very healthy, happy dog! You can read about my dogs, here.

Daughter Uugiinisi, born 1985 is youngest, lives now in Palmer with her significant other, Doug Deering.

Stepson Thomas, born 1979, completed 4 years in the Marine Corps. He resides here in Nome and works at the Polar Cafe. He was married to Pamera Simpson and baby daughter Josslyn (2012) lives with Thomas.

Kandie, 3/4/1980, is a construction and maintenance worker in Nome. She is my double former daughter in law, and is like a daughter to me. Alas, Kandie crossed into the summerlands on March 2, 2018.

Son Tony, 1976, lives in Lynwood-Seattle area.

Natasha, 1969, is a heavy equipment operator and laborer, currently residing in Lynwood, Washington.

Skipper, Ramon's late but beloved dog, was veteran of many a 4-wheeler adventure, helicopter rides, sailboats, powerboats, canoes, trucks trips....you name it. He went anywhere, but crossed the rainbow bridge to the summerlands on September 24, 2004, at age 17.

Ramon is also a veteran Amateur Radio Operator, AL7X, and a member of the Seward Peninsula Amateur Radio Cluband Ragchew Amateur Magic, the two ham radio clubs based in Nome.

Check out my new toy ...

This blue beauty came on the first, spring 2011 barge from Seattle. Just in time for my fat arse to ride in style.

The AL7X Ham Radio Shack

I redid the shack with the advent of my brand spanking new ICOM IC-7410 radio, which arrived mid September, 2013. It now sports an 11 ft (yes, eleven feet!) desk, all covered with formica. Pretty pleasant operating position.

Here you can see the radio, the computer monitor,keyboard and the morse code telegraph key: a Virbrokeyer.

Oh! Where is the microphone? Well, I haven't hooked it up yet because I do very little voice operating and don't really care for it.

Headstart Driver

Ramon was formerly employed as a school bus driver. I retired at the end of the school year in May, 2013. Here are some pictures of my Headstart Program driving. This is a Federal early education pre-school program for 3 and 4 year old children. In Nome and most of the area villages it is administered by Kawerak, Inc.

The bus and its route are dictated by Kawerak; but the bus is operated for them by Morgan Enterprises, the local schoolbus company. Ramon wored for Morgan's.

Here are some shots of the Headstart operation, in no particular order:

Ultralight

Quicksilver after Sunset. Taken by Chris Rowe as I approached to land on the beach.

Ramon at the Controls. A few moments later I was handed my helmet and I took the Quick for my first test flight.

First Flight! There go I!

Wheeling

Ramon loves to go out summers on his wheelers. He currently owns two: a 2004 Honda 350 4x4 Rancher ES, and a 2012 Polaris Ranger 6X6. Links to his trips, with photos, is on the Home Page; look in the blue column on the right.

Snowmachining

In the winter, Ramon goes snowmachining. He is not a racer, but rather a conservative cross county machiner. He has completed the Iron Dog Trail Class twice, in 2006 and 2007. He currently owns one snowmachine, a 2007 SkiDoo Tundra 300F. Love those Tundras!

During the All Alaska Sweepstakes dog race, where he was the Checker at the Boston Checkpoint. Over 1000 miles were riden in preparation and support of this event which took place in 2008.

See his snowmachining links on the Home Page; look in the blue column on the right.

Copyright © 1999-2011, Ramon Gandia. All rights reserved. Three pictures Copyright © 2010-2011, Alvin Ivanoff, with permission. Two pictures copyright © 2010-2011, Leah Keller, with permission.
Web page Updated 8/22/2018