I stumbled upon something pretty interesting while perusing the internet of things the other day - the Scooter Cannonball. Seems they do a "Cannonball Run" every couple of years on motor scooters. 300cc limit, step-through frames and small diameter tires. Next year they ride from Oregon to Texas. I checked out a Kymco scooter at Speed City Cycle, where I bought my Royal Enfield. They've got a new 2022, 150cc scooter that lists for $2495.00. I'm sure Mike would give me a decent break on the price.
I don't know what the best way to get myself and the scooter to Oregon would be, or how to get home from Texas. Have to look into that before I put any serious thought into signing up. The rest would be a matter of cost estimation and taking a long hard look at the logistics. I think my experience doing long distance bicycle trips would be helpful. Pulling a trailer would allow me to carry all my gear without making the scooter work too hard.
The trip would be similar to the Giro my buddy Bob did over in Italy. It's not a race but a rally - check points along the way. Need to be able to read a map and a GPS. Sounds like just the thing for a last great adventure. Sign-ups start today.
I went to help with the set-up for Field Day yesterday. For the HF radios, the antennas are long wires that are anchored in the trees. They've got an air gun made from PVC pipe with a fishing reel on it. They charge it up with air from a SCUBA tank, drop a heavy sinker down the barrel and then shoot a line over the top of the tree. They tie the fishing line to a heavier line and use that to pull the antenna wire up into the tree. If you look closely at the photo, you can see both the line hanging down and the air gun.
Pretty interesting but hot out there. And it's going to be hot today again. There's a couple more antennas and some other set-up required which they're planning on doing at 8:00 AM again. I'd like to help, but if they don't start operating until noon, I'm not so sure I want to hang around in the 90 degree heat for 4 hours waiting to get on a radio. I might help with the set-up, go home and then come back later in the day.
I picked up my new radio and the rest of the gear needed to outfit my truck while I was there yesterday. I'm going to try and contact Rich from Kentucky when I get on the air. He's been a regular reader of the blog for quite some time and quite the ham himself.
2 comments:
The oldest grandson (12 yrs) and I logged some contacts, then it got way too hot for us. I have a window air unit in the shack/shop, but it got up to 97f, and that little unit just wasn't enough. Church on Sunday kind of leaves the field day exercise out of the picture. Ran class 1E, using emergency generator power, and totaled around 50 qsos, I think.
Field day was my first ham radio experience with the Silver Creek Amateur radio Assoc. in Ohio back in 1977 or 78. I didn't have my license yet, but they let me be the keeper of the "dupe sheet" (an organized chart of callsigns worked that you can check to make sure you don't work them again - as a duplicate). Today a computer logging program does it all, but back then it was all written on a portable chalk board. But good memories.
As I recall it was blazing hot back then too! We have a cold (kind of)front coming through this afternoon that might bring us some needed rain, and temps in the 80's, Mrs. In Ky is watering things in the garden from what little we have left in our rain catch barrels. Probably enough for a few more days, at best. Five minutes of rain will fill up the three 55 gallon barrels, so hoping that happens soon.
73,
Rich in Ky.
I went over Saturday early to help set up and stuck around until about 1:00. The trailer has a Yaesu 400 like I just got for my truck and I got some instruction running it before field day actually started. I didn't get any air time but I learned quite a bit. A former student of mine brought his portable setup. Everything fits in his backpack and weighs only 35 pounds.
I went back Sunday thinking it would be easier to get on the air, but they were already breaking down by the time I got there. I did help getting things put away and got a chance to get to know a few of the guys better.
I've got some things going on this week, as always, but I'm going to try and get the radio installed in the truck. I think I've got everything I need. I bought a study guide for my general license, so I'll be working on that as time allows. I'm going to need eye surgery, so I'm planning on using the time I'm laid up for that. Get the license and then think about getting a radio for the house.
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