[PaQSO] N3FR preliminary results

[Bob Crossland]

Well, this year was a some what different PaQP for me as I operated only
about 10 hours total AND I got soaked installing my dipoles (it has
never rained that I can recall during my PaQP antenna installations).

We had quite a few people in our rented camp this year, including
friends who we invited to come up and enjoy the fall foliage and the
nearby Allegheny Seneca casino.  Bottom line is that I spent a lot more
time with family and friends this year as opposed to putting in a
serious effort. 

We arrived Thursday evening, unloaded all of our luggage and my
operating equipment, and decided to spend that evening around the camp
fire.  Amazing what some nice wine and several very tasty pizza mountain
pies can do to calm the soul.

Friday was spent erecting the dipoles in pouring, drenching rain.  All 5
hours of it!  It took me longer this year to install 3 antennas (20, 40
and 80) than it has in past years to install 6 dipoles.  I was soaked to
the bones.  Did I mention I had no poncho?  My bad.

Saturday's 40 meters operation was weird, as many of you have already
attested to.  Verrrry long.  I stayed on the air until around 5pm. 

Sunday was much better, and I had a good time handing out WAR to many
ops for their first contact from that county.  In fact this is the first
time I gave WAR out to an 'out of stater' for a sweep, and quite
frankly, that made my day.  I operated off and on from noon Sunday to
the end of the contest.

I still enjoy operating portable.  The trip up to Warren County is
absolutely beautiful, and my family and I have turned this event into a
mini vacation.  I realize that it "interferes" with my operating time
but that's okay.  Watching the family enjoy themselves is worth the
abbreviated op time.

Here's my totals:

80 meters:	38 CW,  149 SSB
40 meters:	134 CW,  262 SSB
20 meters:	3 CW,  0 SSB   (I spent only about 10 minutes at the
beginning of the contest on 20 meters)
Total score:	72,420  (includes working the bonus station 2 times -
thanks K3YTL)

I missed ADA, GRE and WAR for the sweep.
 
Thanks very much to all of the mobiles, rovers and other portable
operators who put a lot of sweat (not to mention $$$'s) into their
endeavors just to hand out the rare ones.  I really do appreciate your
efforts.

And of course thanks to the NARC for all that they do to make this
simply the best QSO Party around!!

Note:  We took some pictures and I'll see what I can do to have them
posted somewhere.  Someone did ask for that earlier but I have to dig
back through my emails to see who it was.

Best regards,

Bob, N3FR