01/20/2009 | KB0HH The conditions were pretty tough at the Bunkhouse this contest. Our furthest contact was a little over 200 miles. The 2 meter amp broke early, the 2 meter tower control broke. We used 100 watts on 2 meters and turned the tower by hand. We got pretty good at pointing in the right direction by the end of the contest!

We used a new 3CX800 amp and 4 new 19 element antennas at 75 on 222 MHz. They have been added since last January. Many local rovers came past the 4 corners of EM06, 16, 07, and 17. Many thanks to them for keeping us busy!

Many thanks to Lisa, KE5HQR, and June, KC0CEX for helping with the cooking and cleaning. We ate steaks, ribs, loin, red beans and rice, ham, cathead biscuits and sausage gravy, breakfast burritos, shrimp .. .. and more!

The ops were KA0KCI-Dave, N5VYN-Jorge, KE5HQR-Lisa, KC5DPT-Tad, KD5EZV-RL, and KB0HH-Gary. We had about 20 visitors during the contest with rovers and onlookers coming by for refreshments.

We look forward to better conditions, station improvements, and the next contest .. .. 73 -- KB0HH