12/28/2004 | KD6HUC well, for starters I hadn't even planned on operating this contest, so I was scrambling to get set up about three hours after contest began. I am antenna restricted here, so I usually use Hamsticks and Hustler resonators to keep the neighbors satisfied but quickly realized that I needed a little more antenna efficiency. Digging in the garage I found the trusty Antron-99 vertical and a good chunk of coax. A little more searching and I had some PL-259's to solder on, but no U bolts anywhere to attach antenna to mast... Well, duct tape to the rescue again. Fortunately there was virtually no wind during day one, so that worked fine. The Icom 746 worked flawlessly as usual and I was fortunate to work most of the east coast as well as many southern states the first day. Sunday was a little tougher, but netted me much more DX and a million Islands. was I the only west coast statio who didn't hear a single JA? I also had a strange contact into Klamath falls Oregon which is only about 350 miles north of me and the only Oregon station I heard. I think this is why ten and six are my favorite bands,as you never can tell what will happen. thanx a million to everybody I worked and I am getting quicker with logging so I can make more contacts. Maybe next year I will do computer logging but the paper log seems to be more natural to me. Who knows? looking forward to next year already. 73 DE KD6HUC -- KD6HUC