The SLAMS and BARS groups have once again scheduled their November meetings together. The reason is simple - November meeting is where we decide the meeting schedule for next year. We have met at the Chandler Hill winery for a brunch today, Saturday November 16th, 2019.
However, there was some activity before the meeting today. Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF went to the "Maker Space" close to Herbert's home in St. Peters to look at the machinery and tools available at the maker space (Herbert is a member of the IFMS group).
Bridgeport Mill and Tormach CNC Mill
The IFMS offers membership for a monthly fee. IFMS Members can use all the machinery available (after being properly trained). Milling machines are crucial for building microwave technology, so Herbert and Harry paid most of their attention to the two mills on pictures above (and some more to metal and wood working lathes, carving lasers and 3D printers).
From the IFMS, Harry and Herbert went to a hilltop in Klondike Park, about 10 miles West on Missouri Hwy 94 (just out of the city of Defiance):
There is a nice hilltop marked as "Overlook" on the maps above. It's open to nearly all directions. Following picture shows Harry WA0CNS looking at his GPS for location and bearings:
This hilltop is nice and flat, with public restroom nearby .. too bad that we can't drive all the way to the top. We will have to carry our microwave equipment on our backs. There is a beam gate at the bottom of the hill, because this location is a county park. At least it isn't too crowded - the road from the parking lot is a little steep.
We intend to use this location for our VHF and microwave operation somehow. Not sure what contest, but we will figure something out. Probably carry a solar panel with spare batteries up the hill from our cars.
Our next stop was the Chandler Hill winery near Defiance. Following picture shows Harry WA0CNS in front of the winery building (and Herbert's car):
This is a nice place. Very busy in the afternoons and too crowded on Sundays (which is why we choose to have early lunch here on Saturday). Some more SLAMS/BARS members joined us at this location. The waitress let us select a table, so we picked one at a beautiful (and warm) fire place:
This was not the first time at this location, the BARS ate lunch here two years ago, in December 2017. It was as good today as it was last time, plenty of food, friendly waitress and cozy place to meet. We have discussed several ham radio and optical communications related topics and Herbert received several comments on the meeting schedules. We left after two hours when the music band started tuning their instruments for the winery afternoon event.
Ron KO0Z will write some more details about this meeting and publish them on our other blog site of the BARS group. Please click on this link to read more.
Last picture shows how beautiful the location of this place is:
73 Herbert
AF4JF
