12 months ago I didn't know CW. After the year of learning the code, practice sending, endless hours of copying, and just over 100 QSOs in LoTW, here I was an hour before the contest nervous. Me a guy who spends most of time in the digi modes about to do a CW contest. What am I doing here? Deep breath. I've checked out the contest logging software and the keyer for the Kent twin paddle the week before and all was well. If I run 10 to 12wpm I should be able to copy the exchange in one pass. The seconds ran down to the top of the hour and sent my first CQ. Nothing! Some glitch between the logging software and the keyer. An hour later got it working and started to work 20m. Wasn't making the QSO rate I wanted but was doing OK. Worked as many as I could by search and pounce then found a spot and ran the frequency. Then bang. Computer lockup. Reboot and get the keyer working again. Pickings were getting slim on 20m so switched to 15m. Here I found a fine group of gentlemen who patiently worked me one by one to help the rookie along. Thank you. Then the computer locked up again. Ugh. Went back to 20m and found a few new contacts to make and after 6 hours it was over.

Going over the log I had to throw out about 20% of the QSOs as my contact didn't give me the proper exchange of Name, Year Licensed, and State. Many gave me a 599, State, a 73 and left. Busted. Another 20% I had to throw out as the call was busted even though I got a RR on the call exchange. As much as I would have liked to QSO with AW7 in India I'm sure that didn't happen.

Listening to W6NN Anna and K6YL Jo duke it out for the top spot was worth a few minutes of contest time. Although my final score was a lot lower than I had hoped it was fun and a big learning experience. See y'all next year.