[CQ-Contest] Bananas

[James Cain]

The second time I went to Montserrat and stayed at Chod Harris's (VP2ML) place ((I was VP2MDC), in February 1988, I thought I knew the ropes. I went with my Significant Other, Joan, getting there a couple of days before two friends, Russ and Regina, were to join us. 

The first morning, a vender came by and we bought a bunch of fresh (semi-green) bananas. We left them on the kitchen counter overnight and, the next morning, a giant RAT was walking across a ceiling fixture wire that was strung across the high ceiling. A RAT. Holy shit, Batman. This sort of messed up the Tropical Ambience.

I later figured out that RATS had got into the house because the idiot ham who had been there a few weeks before had run some cables through a window and left the screen open ... making a Rat Interstate right into the house. 

I called Chod's property manager, Bobby Martin (VP2MO), who suggested we buy some rat bait and spread it around. This didn't seem like a real quick solution to a major problem. 

That night, Joan and I barricaded ourselves in a bedroom, which was not real effective because the door had slats. I heard scratching on the door and when I opened it there was a RAT running back down the hall to the bathroom, maybe for a shower. 

Somehow we survived and that weekend I operated the ARRL DX Contest CW (made Top Ten, too). Russ and Reggie had arrived earlier and we warned them about the RAT situation. They were non-plussed. 

On Saturday afternoon of the contest, I heard pounding noises in the house, right through my headphones. I took a break and went to the living room to discover that Russ had brained a RAT with a wrench. The RAT apparently had taken the bait and was somewhat confused which only proves "don't go out if you're intoxicated." 

I went back to the pileup. 

I published two stories about my Montserrat adventures, one in QST and one in the National Contest Journal, but I don't think either story mentioned the RATS. Rats.

Joan bought an original wall hanging on Montserrat, and it features a big RAT. I'm sure she still has it. 

I guess ever since I've associated bananas with RATS. Probably not fair to either. 

R.I.P., Chod, 

Jim Cain, K1TN/2
Atlantic City