The car is unloaded and the perishables put away. I've removed my shoes and had my nap. NOW I am ready to write about Field Day!
My radio club has put a lot of advanced planning into our Field Day preparations over the last few years. Rather than relying 100% on the contributions of members for the items that we need for FD, we have made some purchases, obtained some logging software, made a map of the FD site to determine placement of antennas, etc...and generally have gotten the whole setup down to a fine science. And, for a few years, anyway, we have been blessed with good weather to make the experience run smoothly. We usually come home physically pooped but none the worse for wear.
WELL! This year was a little different! The guys put up the antennas and operating tent in nice shape, complete with orange day-glow tape on the guy wires. The Salvation Army canteen was on site early, providing the generator with which we operated our radios, lights, and fans. Saturday was sunny and bright but not exceedingly hot. At 2:00 PM, the radios were ready to go, as were the still-fresh operators. "CQ, FIELD DAY! CQ, FIELD DAY!" And that's about as well as it went. Before the day was over, we had two broken rails on the park's split rail fence, one broken arm, a dented car, a broken radio...and then there was Sunday, taking down antenna masts and tents with thunder all around!
The groundskeeper at the park came to shut the park down at 9:30. He hadn't gotten the memo about us, so he was reluctant to leave things open. (Like the restrooms.) He did, however, consent not to lock the restroom and leave one gate with the lock open so we could come and go. Thereafter, after dark, some of us noticed teenagers playing on the park playground equipment. (These were older boys--like very late teens.) When I moved closer to observe, a couple of others joined me for support. One of our number stepped over the top rail of the split-rail fence and caught it with his foot. It cracked and broke...then came down on the second rail, which also cracked and broke. I figured I would report it to the gal in charge of the park on Monday when I call her. (The rails were replaced before I got there on Sunday!) The teenagers left, only to return later with two friends. We chased them out, politely, a second time. It was my decision not to call the police....
Also just about dark, I was talking to one of our members when I noticed that there was a small crowd over by the canteen, all looking at something on the ground. I've been a teacher long enough to recognize a "situation," so we went over, only to discover another one of our members on the parking lot asphalt, having fallen off the back of the canteen. He was pale. One of the Red Cross visitors with first aid training was going through a litany of responses with him. He was having trouble moving his arm, so his arm was immobilized; one member transported him to the hospital ER, just a couple of miles away, while another couple accompanied them and kept in touch via radio. "Confirmed fracture of the proximal humurus, just below the shoulder ball joint." Mark returned to us about midnight, still in a hospital gown, with arm in sling, and Vicodin in his gut. Life will be a little different for him and his wife for a little bit!
The dented car was a direct result of Mark's fall. The "funny" part is that the car whose door he dented when he hit it is the newly-prized possession of another member who had been car-less for awhile. The car has seen a few other dings and dents, so it wasn't a critical injury, but it does link Mark and Travis (the car owner) in a moment forever caught on digital camera--never to be lived down. Poor Mark! Poor Travis!
As for the broken radio, what can I say? It was brand new and being used for contesting. There was something about using a headphone configuration in a phone jack not designed for it...or something like that. The radio now has no audio. Methinks it could have been a design failure and is still under warranty, but poor Dan!
I got home from the contest site at about 2:00 AM, having given up the thought of operating because I was too tired. Overslept this morning, but checked the weather forecast before heading back to the park: possibility of thunderstorms late this evening. Contesting was to continue until 2:00 PM. We were good to go! I got to the park and puttered around the gazebo organizing the food remains and getting things ready to pack up. Then the sky darkened with sprinkles, and another member in Danville called on the radio to report that a gully-washer was approaching. It was only noon, but we made the "executive decision" to tear down the contest site. I got concerned when I looked out to see "my guys" taking down an antenna pole with thunder all around. The tent was barely down before the rains came. I left just before that with my stuff and Mark's...and listened on the radio to the guys doing the remainder of the work as they got soaked waiting for the rains to pass. The weatherman lied!!!!
A couple of highlights of FD, for me, included the unexpected appearance of my son-in-law with my grandchildren! I was sitting at a picnic table and noticed my old Taurus go by. My babies! We had a good time, for the time they were there. Also, we made some new friends in radio. Some folks showed up to contest that we haven't seen before...and that is a good thing. And, as always, the dedication and friendship of the members of our club. They make me look good! It has ever been thus...
I haven't mentioned the trip to Kroger when the gal at the cash register couldn't manage to check me out with a flat of water bottles and two bags of candy on the club's money, and a pack of cigarettes on my money. It took two cashiers, a manager, and the patience of the people in the checkout line behind me to get the job done...but now I owe the club the amount of the pack of cigs. Some things are just too difficult to figure out, I guess.
Field Day comes but once a year, and now it is over for 2006. We lost a valued member when he retired and moved to Alabama just a week or two ago. Dave, if you are reading this, see what you missed????
6 comments:
Thereafter, after dark, some of us noticed teenagers playing on the park playground equipment. (These were older boys--like very late teens.) When I moved closer to observe, a couple of others joined me for support. The teenagers left, only to return later with two friends. We chased them out, politely, a second time. It was my decision not to call the police....
CHASED them out not once but TWICE ??? decided not to call the police ????
I guess their presence just bothered you , were they destroying anything ? were they hurting anyone ? they were in a PUBLIC park !
instead of "chasing" them out why didn't you invite them over to check out FD ?
I thought one part of FD was to encourage the public to attend , I guess your club "chases" them away.
now you had a chance of getting their interest and possibly getting some new members to your club but instead you chased them away. Good Job !
No, they were not destroying anything. They were in a public park that closes at 9:30 PM. We have special permission to be there overnight from the park authorities, who look to us to maintain the rules while we are there. The park has had a lot of trouble with vandalism after hours from unsupervised "children" who are out driving around in vehicles and on motorcycles.
I guess my use of the word "chased" is more exciting than realistic. We didn't chase the boys away. We simply informed them that the park was closed and that they needed to move on. They were belligerant in return. (They stayed in the shadows. We were never closer to them than 50 feet.) I was looking for a satisifactory conclusion for everyone in that situation: I did not want to call the police, nor did I want to get our club's butt in the chopper for doing nothing about folks trespassing on land entrusted to us--at least the part we could see and be responsible for. Had the place been vandalized and the authorities heard that we knew the boys were there but did nothing, we might not be allowed back.
Look, I'm a teacher of teenagers. I take advantage of the "teachable moment" every chance I get. Trust me--this wasn't a teachable moment. The boys were not there to learn anything, nor were they interested in what we were doing. The last time we asked them to leave, it was well after midnight... What does that sound like to you??
Actually, I shouldn't have asked you to "trust me". I don't know you at all, and you don't know me, but you seem to take issue with a number of things I say. You aren't even a ham. Since you are a former military man and have radio operators as friends, and are critical of my decision in the case of the park situation, I invite YOU to join us next Field Day and put your money where your mouth is. I would love to meet
I would come but it is exactly what you said , putting my money where my mouth is , I would have to take off work to do that and anything radio related just isn't worth the money. I really don't have issues with what you say , it's how you say it , I can just picture you with a walkie talkie in one hand running after some teenage boys yelling at them. and one of your guys falls trying to jump a fence, it's just funny. and I know when I post a reply to one of your blogs Marc will be laughing , because he sent me books on getting a license then told me not to waste my time. He keeps up on the local radio stuff some but he hasn't talked on his radio in 2-3 years. that tells me something right there if a new guy with a license lost interest really quick there must be a reason and after seeing some of the websites he has sent me I see why, this one will explain it all
www.donkboy.com , this is from a licensed guy in your area who really seems to have issues , and it's hilarious !
Oh, yes....Donkboy. KK9G. I know ol' Dan, but he isn't in our area anymore. Dan's issues (as you call them) aren't so much with radio but with life. He calls himself "The ham you love to hate." Your thinking that his website is "hilarious" tells me a lot. I don't think it's funny, largely because I care about Dan as a person and know that he is truly NOT the sum of his negative comments. He is a talented individual who knows more about radio and computers than I will EVER learn. He's had some tough times...
And, you are right: amateur radio isn't for everyone. If your friend soured on it so soon, he must not have had good experiences, and I'm sorry about that. As with all things, you get out of it just about what you put in. Radio changed my life for the better, and I have never regretted a minute of it!
I write my "blog" entries with a bent toward the humorous. Glad you were amused!
Great write up on Field Day. Sorry I was not able to be there. I had hoped to go to the one here in Alabama, but was just too worn out from the move to deal with the heat, high humidity, and rain showers. Next year for sure. Dave D.
What do you mean my thinking his website is hilarious tells you something about me ? I just think it is funny how he said the "no-code techs are the welfare reciepients of ham radio" why would someone hold such a grudge against a person who doesn't care about code ? after making a call this weekend I found out code doesn't have to be used it might be a very reliable part of ham radio but if someone has no interest in doing it and would rather do voice communications why should they be held accountable to learn something they will never use ?
And as far as Mark goes he said he just lost the interest no bad experiences kept him from it , he works 6 and 7 days a week as a truck driver and never really goes to the same area so he said programming a radio would be useless as the frequencies are different and other people drive his truck so he said he didn't feel like taking a radio in and out everyday. Really I think he has more interest in his satellite radio than ham radio.
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