[CQ-Contest] Georgia Storms

[Rick Dougherty NQ4I]

Hi all...I am on the road in Newark, NJ and on the way to Rome, Italy...was
home last nite and awakened by a tremendous storm system that was moving
across the county...it happened at 1:30 am...for almost 1 solid hour the
wind blew and howled like none i have ever heard in my qth in over 40
yrs...at about 3 am I went outside to assess the damage...using a
flashlite, I looked up on the big tower where the 80m 2 el KLM was
installed...the reflector element was bent back against the boom...looks
like it is totaled...then when I looked at the 130 footer with the 3 el
Telrex 40...it was bent in a u shape...it is total scrap...and the KLM 6 el
20 on the same tower at 100 ft was like wet spagetti...it too was
totaled...

Needles to say I am very frustrated...no amount of insurance coverage can
begin to make up for the labor of love that was involved in putting that
equipment up and using it in the contests...I am very thankful that my home
and family are intact...but how do I get the energy to take all that junk
down ...rebuild it and put it back up...if its not obvious...I am off 20m ,
40m and also 80m....I have excellent coverage with my State Farm
Policy...but it is small consolation when it comes to the effort that will
be required to put it all back up....

Maybe it sounds like I am a crybaby..and just need to get back on with
life...but a feel of dread and dispair is enveloping me at this time...hope
most of you don't have to go through this to this extent...

look for me on the radio as I head for europe...3.795 starting at
2200z...de Rick


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