07/14/2008 | KC2TA (Sorry for multiple comments, but I've had a couple of problems with Soapbox comments and thought the first hadn't been uploaded, hence I did this one! Well, had to repeat the exchange a few times, so why not the comments?)

After a rather long period of missing the IARU (last 2000), I made plans to have Saturday clear for operation. After the openings experienced during FD, I was expecting 10 and 15 to be hopping. Well, that was a gross overestimate! Even 20 left a lot to be desired.

Europe, normally a "slam dunk" was more like a shot from behind the 3-point arc! Had to really work to get a few I's in the log and Zones 20 -- 22 and 30 -- 32 were unheard except for ONE W-E-A-K station from 32 that I couldn't pull from the mud.

The sloping vee I threw up for 40, though not very high and poorly positioned, did give me a few surprises when signals were weak. Had a short run to western Europe of about 15 minutes that was a welcome relief to not getting much there without sweat on the other bands. -- KC2TA