[AZ Ham] QRPTTF Run For The Boarder?

[Michael Baker]

It should have been called Run for The Propagation!
You talk about a bunch of DEAD bands!
I guess I was not destined to operate this contest.  
I did an exploratory trip to Prescott Valley AZ to see if I could operate
from the parking lot and there was NO room to spare so rather than deal with
the local Law Enforcement folks trying to keep me moving and not "Camping"
in the lot I opted to use the usual city park in Glendale, Thunderbird Park.
Not a good plan as there was a LARGE group of folks having an event of their
own going on and there was NO available Ramada to use when I got there.
Crap!  Go Home. Check out the bands to see if the magnetic storm that was
predicted was doing any damage.  YEP, Dead as a cold fish.  Listened for 3
hours and only heard 2 stations, one on 40, Doc in New Mexico, and another
zero call in Colorado on 20.  I could only hear one side of the contacts.
Not good.
So after spending $70 for new batteries, $50 in food and ice and beverages,
spending the time to pull everything together to make the voyage to the park
and ending up back home to a dead band, I should have gotten my fishing
license and went to the lake and just sat there enjoying Mother Nature and
sipping on a Very Cold Guinness.  It would have been more productive. ;>)
My batting average for this event so far is not good.  Last year when we
went to state parks was a bust due to poor bands as well so I think the
propagation gods are not looking favorably upon this contest and my
operation.
Oh Well: Mr. Murphy was a guest at my place again.  :>)

Michael Baker  K7DD
k7ddmjb at qwest.net