[Milsurplus] Hamfest - a different perspective

[W7QHO at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/30/2004 10:38:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jeffv at op.net writes (in part):

> 
> This would be my third hamfest and my sainted wife's second.  I was not
> impressed, based upon what others have told me about 
> hamfests and my own
> experiences.......... 

Jeff,

Well, there are 'fests and there are 'fests.  Believe you were referring to one at the Howard County Fairgrounds.  I lived in the Washington-Baltimore area for almost 40 years and attended many gatherings in Maryland and Virginia before moving out here to CA about 5 years ago.  Turned up some of my best finds at Howard County, and sometimes came home empty handed.  Same mixed experience at Timonium, Gaithersburg (and it's later incarnations), Manassas (VA), Butler (PA) and others.  One of my favorites was Berryville, VA. Smallish gathering but always a lot of interesting stuff there (or so it seemed) and the feed they put on at noon was worth the trip.  Here in the LA area we have three regular hamfests every month (Fontana, Pomona and TRW), and sometimes the selection is great and sometimes the pickings are slim. 

Hope you have better luck on your next trip.

Dennis D.  W7QHO
Glendale, CA