12/17/2003 | VO2AAA First, let me thank Naz VO2NS and the Hams of Western Labrador for allowing me to borrow the VO2WL club station. I am especially grateful to Naz for letting me borrow his amp, and loaning me his keyer paddle when mine was damaged in transit. Naz looked in on me frequently, and really made me feel very welcome at VO2WL.

The last time I submitted a log in this contest was over twenty years ago. By chance and good planning, I had to travel to western Labrador around the time of this contest, so I packed my own rig and other essentials and made arrangements to take over VO2WL.

Like everyone else, I was disappointed in conditions. I reckon things were just that much worse at this northerly, inland location than they would have been if I had been home in St John's, but if I'd been home, I would not have worked the contest at all.

I observed F-layer, sporadic-E, auroral and scatter propagation at various times, but none of it was really very good. I found it hard to get runs going, with my best hours around a measly 60 QSOs, and hard to be heard most of the times. Western Europe was available, weakly, the first day, but almost absent the second. The reverse was true for W6/W7/W- absent Saturday, possible with struggle Sunday. Neither Asia nor Oceania existed for me, nor, for that matter, VE4/5/6, although I did hear VE4YU S&P-ing and VE6AO unable to hear me.

I still find it odd that in this contest, Labrador is a distinct multiplier from Newfoundland, as these two places together form one single province (or previous to that, Dominion or Colony) and have done since the year 1800. For you Yanks, having VO1 and VO2 as separate "provinces" is a bit like having the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan count as separare states. It is nonetheless a
harmless oddity which served to make a trip to VO2 worthwhile.

I knew that no VO2 had entered this contest in many years and thought there had been little or no casual activity from Labrador. That, combined with the allure of Zone 2, I thought, would help make this one a more exciting event.

I was surprised though, at some of the reactions I got on air. Most people recognised that they were on to a rare mult when they worked me. Others seemed oblivious until their logging software told them I was a new mult. Quite a number found the abbreviation I used (LB - check the rules) wasn't recognised by their logging software and would bleat complaints, asking me to somehow fix their software, or (a few) suggesting not even I knew where I was.

Even with lousy conditions, I had a good time in this contest.

73,

Dave -- VO1AU/VO2AAA