[MAMS] Central States VHF conference

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

The bikers have been well roasted. They may get slightly dampened 
tonight with thunderstorms going through central Iowa. In the Ragbrai 
news on TV yesterday, one county west of here had all their ambulances 
on the road most of the day for bikers. A few were hurt in car/bicycle 
collisions from riding early in the morning before daybreak and without 
lights. Today on the scanner as they passed through this county 
deputies, sag wagons, and ambulances were busy mostly with heat 
problems. It was over 100. Forecast is for cooler for a couple days. The 
temperature here at 9 AM wasn't too bad, but it was steamy hot by noon.

I heard one biker on the local repeater, he had made 25 of the day's 61 
miles before 9 AM and was puffing as he talked.

One satellite dish distributor near here included a precast concrete 
slab under their commercial dish mounts (for broadcast stations) with a 
10 foot dish on a nice steel post (6 or 8" diameter) with a 10 foot 
dish. They delivered them assembled, with a trailer having rollers. The 
slab was about 4 x 8' by 6". I could have one from the retired sales guy 
but I've not figured out how to get it home. I don't care for the dish 
or the slab but he wants it all gone. I have a 12' Prodeline that 
probably is a better dish than the 10 fiberglass dish ever was. I 
haven't been able to find a tractor loader of my own or my tenants that 
we get into that back yard strong enough to pick up that slab. I was 
working on that last fall and got overwhelmed and its not moved yet. 
There's a chance someone else or the scrap man got it. I'd like the 
post, can tolerate the dish and feed, I'd rather grind off the bolts 
cast in the slab and leave it as a foundation for a bit of garden 
pavement where it sits.

Moving a 10 foot dish flat might be safer with some flags at the 
extremities and much more legal with a wide load permit and signage.

73, Jerry, K0CQ

On 7/25/2012 10:41 PM, Zack Widup wrote:
> Mostly they were 8 foot dishes. I remember we did manage to sneak an
> occasional 10-foot dish on the flatbed "under the radar" so to speak,
> taking back roads. No one ever stopped us. I don't know if I'd try
> that again now. I'm a little more cautious in my old age.
> :-)
>
> I'm finalizing my plans for the trip to Cedar Rapids tomorrow. I think
> it's going to be fun. I hope those riders in the RAGBRAI haven't had
> to contend with 100 degree temperatures like we've been having here.
> It's bad enough when you're standing still. Maybe bicyclists who are
> used to long trips have adapted to it. I don't think I've ever quite
> adapted to those temperatures. I'm taking along a 2-liter jug to put
> ice water in for the Dish Bowl. Also have a couple antennas I want to
> have tested.
>
> See you in Cedar Rapids if you're going!
>
> 73, Zack W9SZ
>
>