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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Yesterday was not my day. It was Murphy's
day.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>It did not start off well. I left the
box with all my maps and route information on the dining room table. I
realized it after driving for 20 minutes and went back for it.
This threw off my setup time.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I did make it to my starting point in LAKE with 20
minutes to spare so if nothing else had happened I would have been okay, but
other things did happen. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>First I discovered that the K3 memory keyer would
not work right. I was counting on using the four built-in messages for my
CQ and TU messages but it would not accurately play back what I recorded and it
took four or five tries to get the message correct. I finally had to
get out my spare memory keyer and set it up.</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>When the contest started conditions were awful and
there didn't seem to be many stations to work, especially on 20. My
first hour was a massive 33 QSOs. Normally I am able to make 60 or more
contacts in the first hour. I did pickup some instate mults on
40 but after a while skip lengthened out and I couldn't hear anyone in
state. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Then the real problem reared its ugly head when I
started driving: terrible ignition/fuel pump noise in my Chevy Impala
rental car. The K3 was unable to do anything about it without
causing an unacceptable level of signal overload. It
made operating while underway nearly impossible. I had to ease off on
the accelerator whenever a weak station would call or I couldn't hear. Not
a safe way to drive. Since I was planning to drive most of the time, it
completely foiled my route plan. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I encountered two detours in my first hour of
driving and </FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I missed the county sign for
ASHT and drove halfway across the county before I realized that I
missed my turn south. Then the road I was driving on suddenly closed and I
had to figure out how to go around. </FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The sun
was blazing down on my black car making it very uncomfortable and difficult
to see. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>It was clear that Murphy wanted to ride along
with me so I decided to let him out and spend the evening with
the XYL. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Total around 100 QSOs from five
counties.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Next year will be different!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I hope everyone had a better experience than I
did!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>73, Hal W1NN/murphy </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
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