Straight Key Night always takes me back to my time as a Novice/Tech, working my Nye Viking Master straight key, late in the evening after working 2nd shift, headphones on, my Drake TR4C glowing warmly. The key had been a Christmas present from my son (KF8ZV) shortly after I was licensed.. a better present was him getting his own license a year or so later and earning his Advanced ticket at the age of 12... Heck, the MAIN reason I became an Extra was because I thought he'd beat me to it!! I wasn't particularly fond of CW when first licensed.. it was something I had to do to upgrade, but it became my favorite mode on HF... it grew on me.

   In years past I never made tons of contacts on SKN, but they were generally all US stations.. not so this year. I only made 9 contacts, but all of them were 25-60 minute QSOs.. all very enjoyable. But what really stood out this year was the surprize of coming across F6HKA, HC1WDT, and ZL1NZ calling CQ SKN! What a treat to work straight key DX and ragchew a bit!! I enjoyed all 9 QSOs but I have to give the nod to ZL1NZ for best fist heard on SKN with WB0WLS being a close second and likely my most memorable QSO of the night.

   73, and see you again next year. Haven't missed an SKN in 25 yrs! N8KC