Well this was the last year I could be a rookie. Time has seemed to fly with work, DX, learning CW and NTS Nets. I ran my IC-718 into my Mosley TA-33 @50ft. The contest started and it took three calls and I had company on 20M with the beam at the NE USA. I ran 20M for 3 hours and then finished with 2 hours on 40M. I did try 75/80M but there was a bit to much noise with the sun still high in the sky. There were stations to work out there that really were fun to meet and have a fast QSO with on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

There were a few pile-ups I got to work through, and also I had very few times that there were not stations wanting to work me. I worked 57 rookies in 43 states, two canadian stations and 3 DX. I scored just over 10K point on 175 Qs. It was nice to meet so many rookies and work them. Many people did not know the exchange but were very willing to learn and then let me know they were going to go work other rookies stations.

Thank you, ARRL, Sean KX9X and everyone that made this a completely fun afternoon. I hope to see most of these rookies in the SSB contests and the Rookie Round Up in August. Also the Rookie Roundup CW in December.

73

Glen Smith, K4GSG