The first 20 years of my Ham life was primarily CW and VHF mobile.  The last 15+ have been mainly SSB.  When I first joined the SECC, I said I wanted to do CW and RTTY contests.  This is only my second or third since joining a few years ago, but I have learned some basic contesting skills doing SSB and some do translate to CW.  I plan on doing many more CW and branch out to RTTY or digital. Although very, very rusty I loved it!  Used to be 35+ wpm and now barely 25 after starting this contest around 20, but things will get better. I'm sure there will be quite a reduction in my score.  For example I tried to make Jeff KU7E and undoubtedly I've several exchange numbers wrong too.  But you have to start somewhere. 

 

Planned on a full time effort with a modest goal of 500 q's and 350,000 points -- I knew I was bad on cw and figured mostly S&P.  I'd spent some time with Morse Runner for the month prior.  Spent an hour every couple days. That really paid off and gave me confidence to try some runs.  Sunday afternoon was a great time for Europe.

 

The big wrench in the plans this time was a family crisis and spent time dealing with that. Because of it, the son decided we needed to take care of his cat for awhile and the ham shack basement is the best place to do that.  As said, I'm pretty bad at CW but it is even more difficult copying calls with a cat clawing its way up your leg into your lap.  I've a few dozen little puncture marks in my legs. It is also hard to type when there is a cat laying in your lap and you have to sit differently and hold your arms differently to reach the keyboard.  Normally I wouldn't put up with it, but the cat was scared and nervous about being in a new place without his family being around. And then he got outside and ran away from the new neighbors' dog so we spent a couple hours trying to get him back.  Also took the XYL to eat and the movies to help get her mind of the family problems.  What would a contest be without Murphy and company?

 

So, all in all I'm pleased with how things went. Good to work the other SECC stations, and thanks to the Bonaire group for working me first call every call. 

 

Kevan

N4XL