[SFDXA] Fw: Dayton Hamfest Update

[N2DUI--AL]

W5KUB.com is streaming live at the hamfest.  They are also streaming live on YouTube.com since about 7:30 am on Saturday.  I am watching it live on YouTube via my Roku unit.
Al N2DUI

     On Saturday, May 20, 2017 8:14 AM, William Marx <bmarx at bellsouth.net> wrote:
 

 Friday was a great day for Dayton. Sunny and hot most of the day. Inside and out. A light sprinkle early in the afternoon and rain at the end of the day when many had already left and flea market guys were folding up, so weather was not an issue Friday. 

Busiest Friday attendance I've ever seen at a Dayton. Can't tell exactly because the Greene County Fairgrounds gives a bigger feel. It's more spread but very comfortable navigating around to the tents and buildings. The Organizers did a great job. Wow what a project. 

All the major players are there of course. The aisles are wider it seems and walking around scooters and knapsacks wasn't as big an issue as Hara. 

More food than we've ever seen anywhere. More than I counted Thursday. 

Flea market was packed. Lots of hams seller my and lots of hams walking my and buying. It still takes a long time to see it all. 

Ups and downs.

Get there early. Early. Friday I was there an hour early and ran into some traffic. I've been back and forth 5 times now and taken three different routes. I'd say there are maybe five(so far).  

Friday there were large large lines to get in. A thousand or more waiting for the 9 AM opening. After all, we're all used to a 8 AM opening. Maybe that will change next year but they had their reasons. 

Anyway I was not concerned because when the gates opened, they opened several at once, and we all went in the gates in a few minutes. Get there early.... I heard about traffic and cars on lines latter in the day but I didn't see them. I was there early. Knowing there are several routes helps. 

Getting into the parking lot will have to be improved. Single file doesn't cut it. They'll figure that out.

But! There are farm wagons/carts with seats pulled by John Deere tractors to get you to the gates. Very cool! Just a little walking. And there are golf carts, if you missed the cattle cart. You can catch a tractor pulled cart to the buses for the offsite parking lots too. The main lot does fill up. 

The grass fields will be an issue in heavy rains. The path cars carve out gets muddy. The Thursday night rains made parking areas wet but not muddy. The flea market was a bit muddy in the morning but it did work out. I was in the buildings until 12 and then went to the flea market. By then it was dry with no problem walking around, but morning was a bit of a problem. It didn't stop most  

Btw I found walking on grass in the flea market was a little harder than walking on pavement. . 

Did I say get there early?

Once inside it's Dayton...buildings navigate from one to the other with no difficulty. Two of the buildings I was told, had dirt floors from the poultry and livestock, and they fixed the floors and I could not tell the difference. All was like it had always been.

There's not enough monitors to check for Door prizes but they'll fix that too. So you have to find one or remember a favorite, easy to find spot. Mine was Begali Keys. Yup the old man was there with his daughter. No door prizes yet at the Hamvention. But I did win one at the DX dinner. 

No problem with cell phone service like Hara. I could never get a signal there to call friends. No problem here that I found. 

There are issues and problems, but the staff people I talked to said they'll get together after the show and make what ever adjustments are needed for next year. They have the deal in place for three years I was told. 

Reminder, get there early. 

It's Saturday morning about 8:00. I'll finish my coffee(I'm writing this on my cell phone sitting in the rental car), and go catch the cattle cart and tractor to the entrance...I see my favorite farmer and his tractor putt putting my way.
73,
Bill W2CQ
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