09/17/2002 | WW5X FD 2002 found Los Chupacabranos once again prowling the shores of
Lake Buchanan, Texas. For the first time in group existence,
no scorpions were encountered! It was the 12th consecutive
year for some of the group to participate...and at the same
location, no less. New members had there first experience with
what is becoming a right of passage for a select few lucky new
hams in STX.

As usual, Murphy reared his ugly mug, giving us the opportunity
to "experiment" with ad hoc antenna strategy...the best results
were obtained from the least likely source....a 16 foot wire
vertical with the radials in the lake! If only it were sea
water....

Dr. Bill, WW5X, was greeted as a newcomer and left the weekend
as a new member and good friend...Wow, what a CW op! He was
also the brain trust of the antenna reconfiguration. As a
newcomer, he was honored with using his call for the contest...
he fell for it....only later did we tell him that the station designee was also responsible for submitting the data to ARRL.

How much longer to June, '03? -- N5JO