Saturday, 17 August 2024, 9:00 am, Debbie KC9ULA and Ron KO0Z loaded up the pickup and headed to Frenchmen's Bluff at Cuivre River State Park in EM49ma which has a spectacular view to SW, W and NW.
By 10:25 am Ron heard Greg WQ0P in EM19wf (Kansas) on CW with a 529 signal and QSB. Greg could see KO0Z on his waterfall, but wasn't able to hear his signal. Briefly, Greg heard Ron's signal for about 5 seconds. Perhaps it was airplane scatter. This was SLAMS first attempt at activating Frenchmen's bluff. Both of them were unable to hear each other. KO0Z also tried to work Pete NO0Y in EM18ct about 90 miles further west from Greg. On the up side, a young couple asked us if they could get in front of the dish which put them closer to the ledge. From there, the young man proposed to the young lady and she accepted!
The weather was nice with temperatures in the upper 80s and partly cloudy skies. No high pressure, heat dome for this leg of the contest.
From there, Ron and Debbie made their way just west of Kingdom City, EM38wf along the south service road of Interstate 70.
EM38xw looking west along I-70 towards WQ0P and NO0Y
EM38xw looking east toward Gedas W8BYA
After grabbing lunch at Arby's, Debbie and Ron arrived at Kingdom City EM38xw around 12:45pm. Ron KO0Z EM38xw and Greg WQ0P EM19wf made a two-way CW QSO around 1:00 pm for a distance of 354 km (220 mile) 3 cm contact! Ron tried Pete NO0Y in EM18ct. Still no luck. Next Ron tried to put Gedas W8BYA, EN70, a 622 km attempt in the logbook. No luck. We even tried rain scatter with a T-storm over Louisville, KY.
At least EM38 provided us with a two-way contact. From there we decided to head north via MO Route 63. Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS were heading to Frenchmen's Bluff and planned to be QRV by 3:00 pm. Debbie and Ron needed to find a suitable site. They found it at Moberly airport, EM39sl. It has a good view both east and west.
Moberly, MO airport EM39sl
Around 3:24 pm, Ron and Debbie attempted to put Herbert and Harry in their logbook. It's only 136 km to Frenchmen's bluff, but neither party were able to hear or see one another. Curious... Darn the luck. Oh well, time was beginning to run short. We all had agreed to rendezvous at Lover's Leap EM49hq just south of Hannibal with Kevin AD7OI by 6 pm. Consequently, Ron and Debbie packed up and left. Regrettably, they didn't try to see if Greg was available. They still needed to reach Macon and then take US Route 36 east to Hannibal. About 90 minutes away.
Ron and Debbie made good time. They arrived in Hannibal by 5:15. They picked up a Casey's Taco Pizza and headed up to EM49hq. By 6:00 pm they were set up. Kevin and his wife Tammy KI7GVT Herbert and Harry were waiting for them.
Ron KO0Z ready to make some Qs from EM49hq, Lover's Leap, Hannibal, MO
Kevin AD7OI with his 60 watt, 10 GHz dish, along with Tammy, Herbert, Harry and Debbie
Herbert AF4JF at EM49hq making an adjustment overlooking the Mississippi River
Harry WA0CNS pointing his dish to work John K9JK
Kevin AD7OI was able to work John K9JK from EM49hq in Illinois on SSB. Herbert AF4JF worked John K9JK from there on CW with his 5 watts but Harry wasn't able to hear John. Ron KO0Z's rig blew a fuse and his spare so it was his turn to be "dead in the water." from this location. Drats. Kevin was able to work the Minnesota rover crew WB0LJC, WA9TT, N0UK & K0HC while they were in central Iowa, but neither AF4JF or WA0CNS heard their signals.
Propagation just wasn't as favorable this leg of the contest as it was the summer before. This year a cold front passed through the area which provided much more conducive outdoor temperatures with lower humidity but poorer microwave propagation.
As Ron KO0Z was trying to figure out his rig failure, a bystander who is into astronomy wandered by and asked him what everyone was doing. Before long, Ron discovered his name is Bernard and he is from France. This gave Ron an opportunity to try out his very rusty French and they had a delightful conversation in French!
Bernard from Paris inquiring about our contest activities.
All in all, not a bad day. It was fun. Ron and Debbie put on 300 miles and make several radio attempts, but managed only 1 contact for the day. Now to troubleshoot KO0Z's rig. Would we do it again. Yes, in a heartbeat!
