Another SKN come and gone and it was a good one. I stayed on 40 meters with my two-tube W1TS transmitter and my Swedish Pump straight key and managed to get on the air several times during the 24 hour event. My station total was 14 and no one was in a hurry. The majority were classic "Old School" CW ragchews and the relatively few short QSOs were the result of QRN or thoughtless interference. Too many really good QSOs to pick the most memorable.

The quality of the fists was up again this year, something I would credit to the on-air activities of the Staright Key Centjury Club (SKCC). My Best Fist nomination goes to Dan (KA9PQB) of Ribfalls, Wisconsin. His Morse was not fast but it was beautiful to listen to!

The number of vintage rigs seemed to be down compared to past years, but that may be an artifact caused by all the new participants who do not have a basement full of boat anchors! All of the vintage rigs I heard sounded great - some may have drifted very slightly, but I heard no chirping signals,

So, come and gone, and now the long wait until next year!

Ralph WB8DQT