[PaQSO] BIG News from Ohio

[Hal Offutt]

QST QST QST

Following tense, protracted negotiations, Ohio neighbors W1NN and K8MR have
agreed to team up this year to conduct a joint mobile operation in the
Pennsylvania QSO Party.  The two bitter rivals have long operated separately
in this, the world's greatest QSO party, and were extremely reluctant to
abandon their separate efforts, but intervention by President George Bush,
who lectured them in a three-way conference call from the White House by
saying "Y'all guys better get together and save this country some 
gas-oh-leen
so's I can keep using my SUV down on the ranch," the two finally agreed to
cooperate.  Following the agreement signing ceremony, held yesterday in
Cleveland and attended by the Governors of Ohio and Pennsylvania, K8MR was 
heard to grumble "I can operate circles around that 'NN but the guy just 
keeps winning this contest, so if I can't beat him, I'll just have to join 
him."  The duo will use the legendary call sign W3USA/M.

Both operators denied reports that they decided to team up to defend 
themselves against the threat of marauding Pennsylvania mobile teams seeking 
revenge after the expected pounding of Penn State by OSU on Saturday night. 
W1NN remarked  "We're confident that our radio friends in Pennsylvania will 
accept defeat in a very gentlemanly and gentlewomanly fashion.  However, 
just in case, we will probably employ some camouflage techniques on Sunday 
and stick to the back roads.  And of course we'll have to do something about 
that Ohio license plate."  He added "I hope everyone will keep in mind that 
I lived in Pennsylvania for over five years and that I feel that 
Pennyslvania is my second home.  The fact that I graduated from OSU is 
completely beside the point.  The only contest I'm taking sides in is the 
PAQP."

Here is the route they have put together.  Note that they will enter several 
counties more than once.  Mid-course corrections are possible, even likely, 
but they will do their best to cover these counties.  Their plan takes them 
to 36 different counties.  Centre County could not be avoided but time there 
will be held to the absolute minimum.


Saturday

Armstrong
Indiana
Cambria
Somerset
Bedford
Fulton
Huntingdon
Franklin
Huntingdon
Franklin
Cumberland
York
Dauphin
Perry
Juniata
Snyder
Union
Northumberland
Montour
Northumberland
Union
Snyder

SUNDAY

Columbia
Montour
Northumberland
Union
Clinton
Centre
Clearfield
Cameron
Elk
Clearfield
Elk
Jefferson
Clarion
Forest
Venango
Warren
Crawford
Venango
Crawford
Mercer
Lawrence
Butler