[NLRS] 10 GHz Cumulative, 1st weekend

[Melvynkc0p@aol.com]

Rig is working well and we had a good time. Started Saturday at St. Charles 
corner with a try to Mt. Tom but nothing heard on 10 GHz. 144.260 worked 
fine, I knew they were there but too far away for openers. Operated there 
13:30 to 14:00 gmt and packed it in for the move to Cannon Falls. We were on 
the N. side of I-90 on a small gravel road marked dead end. Boy was that 
right ! Had three Amish buggies come by but they were not too interested  in 
what we were doing.
Cannon Falls, High View Road, started up the gravel and saw a light blue 
pickup coming down the hill with a mast sticking up in the back. I didn't 
recognize the truck but I thought I should know this guy. Turned ou to be 
Gary, WB0LJC, thing are looking up. Setup by the cell phone tower, wind blew 
my hat into the corn field and sun glasses into the truck box. First contact 
with Lenny K0SHF at 16:30 at 66 km in 35JA. Also worked K0KFC and N0UK there 
in rapid succession, rig is working well and the lock holds against the wind. 
Then worked W0GHZ, K0FQA and N0NAS at Fletcher for 35FE and 95 km. Got WB0LJC 
in the log at 34PM for 14 km. Now 16:50 and time to move to N. New Trier.

Gary had told me to setup further down the hill at New Trier so I could see 
to Fletcher better. That was good advice, because there are now five stations 
to work at Fletcher and got WA2VOI and W0AUS in the log at 18:45. Continued 
working people that were moving around untill 19:30 when we quit for the day 
and went to Lakeville to visit with our son and family. Total for Saturday 
was 16 QSOs, 9 calls, and 1039 km with 95 km best dx. Now how to promote this 
for another day ?

Sunday we came up to Mounds park to pick up some more calls and meet with 
friends. Loaner WBFM rig did not work when we got to the High Bridge but we 
managed six contacts from Mounds Park.  Went to visit our daughter in west 
Bloomington and Mel thought, this isn't too far from Burnsville overlook. 

I excused myself for a couple of hours and drove over there and setup. 
Managed four additional Q's for a total of 10 on Sunday and 282 km. Have now 
worked K0SHF six times, and WB0LJC five times. While at Burnsville a van 
drove up with KB0MNK, Ed and Alice. Helped them with the liaison on the FM 
frequency to Lenny before they left for a 7PM movie.

My setup is a lot less hassel this year and the 500 mw makes it a lot more 
effective. When Lenny puts that beeper on for a couple of minutes so I can 
find the frequency, get peaked in azimuth and elevation the contact follows 
in short order. Most impressive was all the contacts we made off of the 
buildings in Minneapolis. Make do with what you got. No mountains but we got 
IDS. Where I was setup on the street at Mounds, I could not hear WB0LJC down 
the river at New Trier but over the liaison I got him to put it on 
Minneapolis and we worked that way. I  say lots of fun, glad I bought the 
rig. Not sure if I can promote another trip to Lake Superior or not but I am 
going to work on it. Thanks guys.
Mel KC0P and Carol N0HZO. 73's