[NLRS] 10g 2nd weekend recap for W9FZ and KA9VVQ

[Bruce Richardson]

Janice and I just finished processing our logs from the 2nd weekend of the
10 GHz and Above contest. Wow and whew!

We had a great time and made a bunch of contacts.  We made 138 contacts
each.  We had two full days of activity.  Since it takes two operators to
make a QSO, we thank each of the other ops for participating this weekend.

We pre-located to Fargo on Friday and scouted out the location we would use
first thing on Saturday morning. We were blown away by the growth of West
Fargo.  Mile after mile of new apartment buildings and homes seemingly put
up in just the past 3 years (based on landscaping).  It meant lots of
traffic.

Saturday dawn had a brief bit of sunshine but then a cloud deck rolled in
for the rest of the day.  Temperatures were mild for Saturday and winds
steady but not annoying.  We activated 6 spots starting west of Fargo and
then moving northward towards Grand Forks paralleling I-29.  We used one
overpass (over I-29) for an operating location and found it windier and
noisier and not as much fun.  Our targets were Twin Cities ops at Monticello
(6! N0KP, W0ZQ, K0MHC, K0KFC, KC0P, and KC0IYT), VE4MA (Winnipeg), NT0V
(Devils Lake, ND), K0AWU/WA2VOI roving Grand Forks and northward,
VE4SA/VE4DDZ portable in southern Manitoba, and the Rover pack consisting of
K0HAC, N0UK, WB0LJC and K0CQ (Elbow Lake MN to north of Fargo and back).
Additionally, Jim K0MHC activated spots on the Buffalo Ridge on Sunday.

Saturday night, we met up with Donn and Jerry (GF local) for dinner in Grand
Forks.

Sunday, we activated 9 spots.  Sunday, we tended to make 20 mile moves
instead of 10 mile moves.  This put us south of Fargo by Sunday evening.
Sunday, although sunny, was WINDY and hot!  Temps were 90 to 94 from noon
onward.  And the wind was at least 30 mph with gusts to more.  The wind was
fatiguing--but at least the high temps were bearable because of it.

We think conditions were pretty darn good!  Sure, we made a few CW contacts
but usually because we were blasting through trees on a shorter path.  The
volume of contacts that were SSB and over 300km was amazing.  Our long for
the weekend was 367km from EN17lq to EN35cg.  With VE4MA our Q's were (in
km): 338,310,297,278,259,241,218,246,280,316,339,and 352.  With Monticello
our Q's were (in km): 304,315,324,341,354,367,338,326,308,287, and 284.  We
appreciate all the contacts with the other rovers--generally they were
pretty easy because they were fairly short distance.

I whipped up a little graphic of just our activity at:
http://w9fz.com/hamtrips/images/2018sept10g/2018sepRRVroveactivity.jpg
As you look at it, imagine the line from VE4MA to the hill at Monticello.
Also imagine the lines from K0MHC up to VE4MA and the myriad of lines from
the other two rover groups to the main fixed sites like NT0V, VE4MA, and
Monticello Hill.  There was a BUNCH of RF flowing around.

We had a bunch of activity thanks to OTHER operators willing to play
"radio".  Thank you to all of you!

W9FZ  2800 QSO points + 57279 distance points = 60079 total 
KA9VVQ 2700 QSO points + 56834 distance points = 59534 total

This was a good year of activity.  Next year, new adventures await.
73
Bruce W9FZ and Janice KA9VVQ