[SECC] W8JI GQP Experience

[Van Richardson]

Am an avid turkey hunter, really love the Masters Golf tournament and for the last few years have contributed a small amount to the GQP effort.  Therefore, every year this particular weekend in April is always a very busy one for me.  This year I had decided to devote the weekend entirely to turkey hunting at my hunting camp near Barnesville.  Last year I took a 706 and a wire antenna to the camp and spent a few hours contributing a little bit to the GQP effort.  It was fun.  I was really beginning to feel a bit guilty about not doing anything to contribute to the GQP effort this year, when I read on the reflector that Tom was making his station available for the GQP.  However, I had never met Tom, but I had heard great things about him and his super station.  After a few emails/phone calls, I showed up at his QTH one hour prior to the GQP's start.  What a class gentleman!  I had the time of my life working CW.  He had a prior engagement at 6:30pm and I wanted to chase more turkeys prior to sunset, so I operated only about 2.5 hours.  It was an experience I will long remember.  Did I mention his model train project?  It was well worth the trip just to see that.

Many thanks Tom!

Van Richardson, N5VI
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