Final Results for W1NN/M in the IL QSO Party
CW QSOs = 420
SSB QSOs = 54
Tot QSOs = 474 Mults: 92 Final Claimed Score: 82,248
Comments:
Business appointments in Chicago and a mother to see in Ohio gave more
than ample excuse for me to operate the Illinois QSO Party, something I've
wanted to do for a long time. I picked up a rental car in Connecticut on
Friday evening and drove to Ohio Saturday morning, spending the afternoon
and evening with Mom. Departing Ohio at about 5 AM on Sunday, I reached
the IL border about 11 AM and had three hours to eat lunch, get to a good
starting point, and set up the gear before the 2 PM local start. But
before that, I stopped at the first truck stop I came to and bought the
most essential operating aid: the IL Atlas & Gazetteer, without which it
would have been impossible to find the back roads needed to get to many IL
county lines.
This contest was really fun. It was basically an 8-hour Sprint and I did
not take a break the whole time. There was plenty of activity from both
IL and non-IL stations and lots of mobile competition. The beautiful back
roads of Illinois provided the perfect backdrop for operating a contest.
80 percent of the time I was on smooth, gravel roads running straight as
an arrow through the state's flat corn and soybean fields. I practically
had these roads to myself, as there was almost no other traffic. I made it
to nine counties, managing to avoid interstates, major highways and all
but the smallest towns along the way.
A clear, sunny day eventually grew into a vivid sunset and then gave way
to a pitch-black night with no light but the faint illumination from a
zillion stars overhead. Great 80 Meter conditions provided a 55 Q last
hour, a perfect end to a really excellent adventure.
I will do this again.
73,
Hal W1NN
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