Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!stanford.edu!leland.Stanford.EDU!shafe
From: shafe@leland.Stanford.EDU (Mathew Shafe)
Subject: Re: California Coast Sightseeing
Message-ID: <1991Mar23.120226.13817@leland.Stanford.EDU>
Organization: AIR, Stanford University
References: <1991Mar22.021115.3032@cbnewsh.att.com> <1991Mar23.095742.14378@cimage.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 91 12:02:26 GMT
Lines: 44

In article <1991Mar23.095742.14378@cimage.com> gregc@dgsi.UUCP (Greg Cronau/10000) writes:
>In article <1991Mar22.021115.3032@cbnewsh.att.com> mrb1@cbnewsh.att.com (maurice.r.baker) writes:
>>Hi ---
>>
>>On a trip to the West Coast last week, we had a chance to drive up
>>Route 1 along the Pacific Coast from Monterey area to San Francisco.
>>
>>The scenery was beautiful, many of the coastal cliffs were breathtaking
>>with the waves pounding up on them.
>>
>>In any case, I noticed what appeared to be a satellite tracking installation
>>right by the shore at one point.  If memory serves me correctly, it
>>had 2 dish antennas....one larger than the other....and the bigger one
>>looked like it was tracking something while it was in view.  Couldn't spot
>>any signs or (obvious) roads leading to it;  kinda stuck out into the
>>water away from everything else.  
>>
>>When I found our location on the road map, it looked like we were at
>>(or near) "Moss Beach"....there also was a little airport symbol on
>>the map in the immediate area.
>>
>>Out of curiosity, what exactly is this installation?
>
>I have been wondering the same thing. When I went out to SF a few years
>ago to visit some friends, they took me over to a stretch of beach just
>south of SF. I believe it was Half-moon bay. The installation was on a
>peninsula on the North end of the bay. Couldn't find it on any maps.
>

Last month, some friends and I went to Mirimar Beach in Half Moon Bay
at about 2:00 am.  We noticed the string of lights and decided to check it
out when we left.  We had to drive though a tuna fishing district to
reach the difficult-to-find entrance.  We passed a sign saying it was an
Air Force Missile tracking station, northernmost in U.S.  Not sure whether
I remember it exactly word-for-word.  A guard was posted at a pretty
serious looking fence-gate.  We did a quick U-turn and probably alarmed the 
guardquite a bit, considering the Gulf War at the time.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
<Spock>: "Captain, it is illogical to eat chocolate cake without frosting."
<Capt. Kirk> : "Shut up, Spock.  Eat your Count Roddenberry cereal!"

---shafe@leleand.stanford.edu

