It was a less then stellar contest.  My new partner on this contest goes by the name of "Murphy",  I am sure you know him also.

This was going to be the best trip ever, finally bought commercial antennas, retired the loops and home-made "Cheap-Yagi's" (which were indestructable).  Spent hours getting everything tuned up a week before with KA5D.  It was all perfect!  But had to dis-assemble it because the antennas were on my personal ride.  took it all down intact and took over the garage to "protect" it till the contest. (Airport parking does not have space for a car witha 12 ft antenna mast.)

Returned from a business trip at midnight on friday, assemmbled the rover on Saturday morning. Started out a little late from Austin and decided to head south, got stuck in a traffic jam for an hour before the contest, did not have the radio's set up since i had "planned" to do that at the first stop.  But Mr. Murphy joined me in the traffice jam and stayed with me the whole way, made a few contact on 222 when I pulled over in the construction zone to turn on the transverter.  Made two contacts then it went dead. 

It was an hour and a half before i got to my destination and was going to meet up with KA5D/r who was working with a new driver also to teach him the art of roving... Well, Mr Murphy had already been with him in his rover, took out the 6 meter loop with a low hanging tree as they worked their way around the traffic jam (they got an early warning) but had already pick up Mr Murphy.

The scores were low, multipliers we few, we had a few gool laughs as we tried to work across the parking lot and could not raise each other.  (should have brought a hand-held for some FM work) Spent some times troubleshooting every wire and fuse, I thought I pulled all the fuses, replace one and through i was done, nope Murphy was back, had shorted out a coax after contact with a tree (lost 432), (those live Oaks do have strong and low branches in the parking lots)....  end up with only a few 222 contact, the 432 amp was now working either so it was barefoot at 20 watts.  

Called it quits early, took everything back home for a rebuild.  Radio is back now back from the repair center with a new driver board.   

But everything will be ready for January, no business travel before the contest for that one!