The 2011 Straight Key Night (SKN) was my first.  Even though I've been licensed for nearly fourteen years I've done little with CW except to learn it enough to pass my tests.  Every year I see SKN and think "I want to do that" but it's too late.  This year was different.  I set a goal of 15 WPM for myself by the end of 2011 and started working on my skills in November.  So far so good!

I spent the first five hours of Straight Key Night in the backyard of the in-law's house with my portable station. The station is a Ten Tec Argosy running less than five watts into a Buddipole and using my J-38 key.  The first couple of hours were pretty rough. The crowded 40m band and poor conditions yielded only a single contact with K3Y/7. I took a bit of a break and returned to find conditions much better. I was able to put WA5TCZ, WA0YEI, K3Y/9, and K3Y/5 in the log before retiring for the evening (it was getting chilly!).

Unfortunately rain kept me off the radio during the rest of the event but I had fun during the hours I was at the key.  I can hardly wait for next year!