N5SJ and I violated two of my roving prime directives this year; 1) Start near a large VHF/UHF population center , and 2) Travel your route before you rove. Despite these two divergences from normative behavior, it was an epic rove! I started with a goal to emphasize QSOes on 2M to 70cm at long distances from rare grids with both W9RM and W7QQ and others if available. We accomplished that goal.  

I picked up N5SJ in Gallup, NM in DM55 and after working W9RM in DM58 and W7!! in DM65 and a few local FM ops on 2M and 70cm, we headed north through DM56. 6M was open off and on, most off, but we did make some 200mi+ QSOes on 2M and up, which was one of our main purposes for roving this year.

Near Shiprock, N5SJ had arranged to work a couple of guys on FM in Farmington, and so we had 4 mults from DM55 and DM56, which is rare. With the exception of N5SJ recent migration to DM55, I almost never work those grids in a VHF contest.

 Heading north to DM57 in southern CO, we stopped and worked several stations on the higher bands, including K0YW, who answered our CQ on 6M. after working him there and on 2M, I asked the usual question if he had any more bands, and he replied that he had 432, but no antenna. I persuaded him to try his 2M antenna on 70cm, which he did and we completed there as well.   

We headed W to Utah and then north with a quick stop in Moab. To my surprise continuing CQs on 144.2 lead to two answers from northern UT and two new grids. We stopped for a quick coffee and carb  break in Moab and then proceed through DM58 to Green River, just inside DM48. Upon stopping in Green River, I noticed that the side element of the Moxon had become disconnected and was dangling free. Too tired to think straight to fix it, I went to sleep thinking of ways to fix it without lowering the stack and disconnecting antennas. We did not travel with a tall step ladder, but I now understand those who do. 

 In the morning, after one look at the motel breakfast we decided to hit a local restaurant for breakfast and went to the Tamarisk, and had a great breakfast with great views of the Green River, which was flowing fast and full with Mesas in the background.    

We went to a truck stop, found a right height bollard to stand on  and repaired the Moxon. On the road, we quickly entered DM49, made a few QSOes and headed south through DM48. This part of Utah is desolate and beautiful country. Six opened and although slow going at first, I soon had runs going on and could not look at much of the scenery. Entering DM47, we lost cell coverage, means for assistance, and were on kurt own. We pulled in to Hite Overlook, overlooking the Glen Canyon Dam reservoir and a great spot to work VHF.  The only problem was that I had no means to reach W9RM to tell him to look down this way. Fortunately 6 was open and K2DRH was booming in. After working Bob, I asked him if he could reach Jay to tell him we were on, which he did through ping jockey, and in less than a minute I was working Jay! A nice mixture of old and new technology.    

The side element of the Moxon had become detached again and we needed to fix it. Fortuantely, there was a right sized rock that Mike backed up to, I climbed up on and reached the Moxon to fix it. One really needs to be prepared to make innovative repairs on the fly when a rover. I really need to  shorten up that reflector wire on the Moxon before the July contest.    Heading south through DM47, 6 was still open and we made a turn off to Utah Highway 261. There was a warning sign that some 21 miles ahead lay a 10% grade, narrow gravel road, and switchbacks. With 6 being open, we decided not to worry. When we reached the 21 miles. we were greeted with a sign that this was the infamous Moki Dugway (Google it)  and  promptly started our 10% grade descent to switchbacks, narrow gravel road, just like the sign said and no guard rails and washboard, which he sign omitted. I told Mike not to worry, there was only a 1000ft drop off the side. My side. We stopped halfway down for Mike to take pictures. I hung on for dear life. With the cliff to the north, 6M was effectively shut down.  We made it to the bottom safely though.  

A bit further on was Monument Valley and 6 opened a bit, but not as good as earlier. A few more 2M+ QSOes were made and we entered AZ and DM46. South through DM46 to DM45, I managed to work a couple of Phoenix area stations. We entered DM44 just north of Knife City on I-40, with a half-hour left in the contest. There was a long drive back to Gallup to drop Mike off, and a longer drive to Cedar Crest for me.