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Industry Circles => Tortuga Audio => Topic started by: tortugaranger on 9 Jun 2023, 03:19 pm

Title: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 9 Jun 2023, 03:19 pm
Hi All,

After much discussion and consideration, I've made the decision to relocate from Southwest Florida to Bend, Oregon. Bend is located in central Oregon on the eastern edge of the Cascade Mountain Range where the pine forests soon give way to the scrubby high desert (3600 feet) as you move east. Bend is approximately a 3.5 hour drive to the Pacific coast and roughly the same to Portland.

While the exact timing of this move hasn't been nailed down, I expect to stand down Tortuga Audio operations around mid-July (about a month from now), in order to focus solely on preparations, packing, and relocation which I'm guessing will happen in the August/September timeframe. Once I'm established in Oregon, I intend to stand Tortuga Audio back up and carry on from there.

The primary reason for the move is simply to be closer to family.

More on the move as it unfolds.

Cheers,
Morten

(https://tortugaaudio.com/images/map_bend_oregon.jpg)
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: glynnw on 9 Jun 2023, 03:24 pm
Where the heck are you gonna sail?
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 9 Jun 2023, 03:28 pm
Where the heck are you gonna sail?

Probably hang up my sails in exchange for a paddle. The Deschutes River runs through the town/area and my son-in-law is a semi-pro whitewater rafting guide.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: kd4ylq on 9 Jun 2023, 04:22 pm
I was very impressed by Bend when I spent a few days there a long time ago. The Deschute river goes right through town - great for fishing! and the Bachelor mountain ski area is a short ride up into the mountains. A vibrant & lovely town as I recall. Good luck with the move and let us know how you like it!
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: mresseguie on 9 Jun 2023, 04:24 pm
Good choice of location. Bend is 2.5 hours east of my location. Lots of beavers in my location.  :wink:

Michael
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: ArthurDent on 9 Jun 2023, 07:44 pm
Good luck with the move Morten. No small feat going cross country. You'll be trading weather big time. Humidity will be much better, no hurricanes, of course you get volcanoes & earthquakes in exchange. The odds are much more in your favor in that regard though. In 40 years in the PNW I've only experienced 1 noticeable eruption & 1 quake. Enjoy being close to the family, and don't forget to pack the warm clothes.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: dynaflo on 9 Jun 2023, 08:02 pm
Probably hang up my sails in exchange for a paddle. The Deschutes River runs through the town/area and my son-in-law is a semi-pro whitewater rafting guide.
Sailing meca for windsurfing, foiling, kiting. The Columbia River Gorge.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 9 Jun 2023, 08:22 pm
Good luck with the move Morten. No small feat going cross country. You'll be trading weather big time. Humidity will be much better, no hurricanes, of course you get volcanoes & earthquakes in exchange. The odds are much more in your favor in that regard though. In 40 years in the PNW I've only experienced 1 noticeable eruption & 1 quake. Enjoy being close to the family, and don't forget to pack the warm clothes.

Yeah, I know I'll never again achieve my all-time record of wearing nothing but cargo shorts, t-shirts and flip-flips each day for an entire year. But I won't miss hurricane season. On the other hand, my new home is quite literally a few hundred yards away from the edge of a huge black lava flow field from a 7000 year old eruption which in terms of geologic time just happened...and could happen again tomorrow....like Mount St. Helens.  :o

(https://tortugaaudio.com/images/bend_lava.jpg)
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: Brad on 9 Jun 2023, 11:47 pm
Awesome little town.  Had a great trip through there several years ago.  Saw Jack Johnson at the riverside venue.

Enjoy!
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: uncola on 10 Jun 2023, 08:16 am
Good luck with your move, Morten!  I'm still hoping you resume building so I can get my Ferrari red preamp ;)
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: kd4ylq on 10 Jun 2023, 12:39 pm
If you are a sailor then you will know what I mean when I say you'll soon be the "DRY Tortugas", Ha Ha!
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: JakeJ on 10 Jun 2023, 01:58 pm
Do try some of the locally brewed beers.  Bend has become quite the beer mecca over the past decade or so.  Maybe you can show your wares at Lou's Pacific Northwest Audio Show next year.

Sending good vibes for your move and re-establishment of TA.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 27 Jun 2023, 05:12 pm
Hi All,

Effective July 1, Tortuga Audio is suspending operations in Florida in preparation for relocating to Oregon and will not be accepting new orders until such time as the relocation is complete and we are stood back up in Oregon. Work on outstanding orders will continue beyond July 1st through completion & shipment thereof.   We anticipate that the relocation process will take 2-3 months to complete.

Cheers,
Morten

Title: Website relocation completed!
Post by: tortugaranger on 9 Aug 2023, 01:17 am
I may still be in Florida for a while longer yet, but the website has left the building and already arrived Oregon.

Today, I managed to complete the transfer of the Tortuga Audio website from its Florida server here in the shop to a remote server located in Hillsboro, Oregon just outside of Portland. The server here has been connected to a 1 GB/s download/upload fiber optic pipe for the past few years. I don't know about Hillsboro but Portland is a major west coast US internet hub so it should be plenty speedy. After completing the transfer, I turned off the Florida server for the first time in over 3 years. I built that server myself from parts a few years back. It's a mighty dual processor beast that has run flawlessly running on a Ubuntu Linux server operating system. Can't say enough good things about Linux.

Cheers,
Morten
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: aldcoll on 9 Aug 2023, 01:29 am
Welcome to Oregon Internet.

There are a few things in Hillsboro area.  The first one that comes to mind is Intels plant.

Look forward to seeing you in Bend.

Alan
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: JakeJ on 9 Aug 2023, 05:28 pm
Hopefully the rest of the move goes smoothly.  Moving is such a PITA.

Learnin. the Linux luv too.

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=255528)
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: wgraft5 on 10 Aug 2023, 02:34 pm
Man thats awsome :thumb:

I know you are moving to CO(Central Oregon), the "Valley" is also nice. I live near Salem.

Good luck on the move. And oh its 76 degrees today as compaired to FL 100+.

Wayne in Oregon
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 3 Oct 2023, 05:57 pm
Hi All,

Just a quick update on the move to Oregon. While the preparation phase lasted longer than I'd hoped, I now have a hard move date of Nov 3rd, 30 days from today. That will put me in Bend by mid-November. Realistically, once I get there I will probably chew up the rest of the year getting settled and putting Tortuga Audio back together again. More on that once I'm in Oregon.

Tortuga Audio's new address:

60275 Ochoco Circle
Bend, OR 97702
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: abd1 on 3 Oct 2023, 10:12 pm
congrats on the move. Bend is heaven, but don't tell anyone.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 14 Oct 2023, 07:53 pm
There's an official target move date:  Monday, Nov 6th.
Moving truck departs for Bend and I leave on a 3100 mile road trip later that same day.
Going west.
 :thumb:
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 6 Nov 2023, 05:10 am
On the road starting tomorrow. 3100 miles. Arriving in Bend, Oregon by next weekend. Goodbye Florida!
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: uncola on 6 Nov 2023, 06:43 am
Good luck on the Oregon trail :)  just don't go through Donner Pass ;)
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 12 Nov 2023, 06:41 pm
Arrived safe and sound in Bend, Oregon on Nov 11th after a week on the road. Back online. Now the unpacking and setup begins.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: wgraft5 on 12 Nov 2023, 08:36 pm
Very Cool. I was thinking it was about now when you would be showing up. Hopeing the weather will hold wile you get un packed and set up.

Good Luck in Central Oregon,

wayne
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: stvnharr on 13 Nov 2023, 09:36 pm
Arrived safe and sound in Bend, Oregon on Nov 11th after a week on the road. Back online. Now the unpacking and setup begins.

Good to read that you made it all that long way.
Now you can just let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: ArthurDent on 14 Nov 2023, 12:13 am
Good to hear you've landed safely. Hope the unpacking goes well, and the settling in is smooth. So started replacing all those shorts & sandals yet ?  :wink:
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 14 Nov 2023, 04:14 pm
So started replacing all those shorts & sandals yet ?  ;)

Long pants...yes.
Still holding out with the flip flops.
#floridacoldtoes
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: rollo on 14 Nov 2023, 07:33 pm
On the road starting tomorrow. 3100 miles. Arriving in Bend, Oregon by next weekend. Goodbye Florida!

  Why ? Florida has so much to offer. Hope you like snow
charles
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: stvnharr on 15 Nov 2023, 01:11 am
Long pants...yes.
Still holding out with the flip flops.
#floridacoldtoes

Can't wear socks with flip flops, but you can with sandals.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 15 Nov 2023, 01:47 am
  Why ? Florida has so much to offer. Hope you like snow
charles

I spent 15+ years in Florida and did the whole beach and boating thing for much of that time. It was all great fun. Now i get to join and spend quality time with my family on the west coast. An opportunity for which I'm very grateful. Well worth a little snow. And having lived in both Norway and Chicago for many years, winters in Bend, Oregon are pleasant by comparison.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: rollo on 15 Nov 2023, 05:24 pm
  Best of luck in your new Home.

charles
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 6 Dec 2023, 05:03 pm
Hi All,

Just a quick update on the status of Tortuga Audio here in Bend, Oregon. Work on the Tortuga Audio office is almost done and should be ready for move-in and setup in another week or so. Once I have the office/studio set up, I can resume work in earnest on the V4. I have a set of prototype boards in hand ready for parts and testing and am anxious to get on with that. Otherwise, life in Bend is great albeit a bit colder than south Florida. We did get our first snow last week but that's what pine trees are for.

(view of the back yard)
(https://tortugaaudio.com/images/Screenshot-2023-12-06-083143.png)
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: Charles Xavier on 6 Dec 2023, 05:11 pm
Awesome picture
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: uncola on 6 Dec 2023, 11:19 pm
Good weather for class A amps :)
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: mresseguie on 7 Dec 2023, 07:22 am
I'd been wondering if you've had much snow there this week. The Willamette Valley has been getting a lot of rain. I imagine the Cascades are getting a thick pre-Christmas layer of powder.

Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 7 Dec 2023, 04:36 pm
I'd been wondering if you've had much snow there this week. The Willamette Valley has been getting a lot of rain. I imagine the Cascades are getting a thick pre-Christmas layer of powder.

We had some snow (2 inches) a week ago where we are at 4000 feet while the higher elevation Cascades were getting dumped on but temps went back up into the high 40's and low 50's so it was mostly rain and what snow we had was gone quickly. Been mostly on the rainy side. As a veteran of Chicago winters, I'll take Bend winter weather any day.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: xieqiao on 18 Dec 2023, 10:55 am
Hi All,

Just a quick update on the status of Tortuga Audio here in Bend, Oregon. Work on the Tortuga Audio office is almost done and should be ready for move-in and setup in another week or so. Once I have the office/studio set up, I can resume work in earnest on the V4. I have a set of prototype boards in hand ready for parts and testing and am anxious to get on with that. Otherwise, life in Bend is great albeit a bit colder than south Florida. We did get our first snow last week but that's what pine trees are for.

(view of the back yard)

Congrats! Good job done.
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 5 Jan 2024, 05:37 pm
Happy New Year to all!

Best laid plans...  As it turned out, the holidays, family reunions, the flu, and even a Covid booster dip, all conspired to delay progress on getting Tortuga Audio back up and running here in Oregon. All of that is now finally behind me so my focus the next 2 weeks will be unpacking and resuming work on Tortuga Audio matters. More on that and next steps later this month.

Cheers,
Morten
Title: Re: Tortuga Audio is Moving to Bend, Oregon
Post by: tortugaranger on 29 Jan 2024, 04:59 pm
While the transition to Oregon is still a work in progress, I can now report that Tortuga Audio is back up and operational here in Bend, Oregon and that some or all of each day is now dedicated to the actual work of moving the new V4 Max stepped attenuator & preamp controller towards fruition. I'm still unpacking and organizing as we go but the office/lab is operational and my butt is back in "the chair" on a daily basis.

I will be sending out a newsletter soon with more details and will post a link here to that newsletter when its available.

It's been a crazy year long effort that began a year ago with dialing back the workload, then shutting down altogether by July, and then several months of sorting, culling and packing up 15 years of personal and business belongings, and finally making the 3100 mile journey by road from south Florida to central Oregon.

A whole year has gone by since I started on this transition in earnest and I'm very grateful to my family and friends for all their support during this transition. But there's much work ahead including the design and construction of a new shop/studio here on our property in Bend, Oregon.

Cheers,
Morten