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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
After doing 5 IOTA Expeditions in the last 6 months, I decided CQP for me this
year would be pretty laid back. I selected two of my favorite food locations
in MONT and SBEN Counties for the very part-time County Expedition operating locations.
THE PLAN
I was originally going to MONT on Saturday Morning, and to wrap up in SBEN on the
way back. A surprise phone call on Friday resulted in changing the plan to do
SBEN on Saturday morning, come back home, and then go to MONT on Sunday morning. You
will understand why next.
A DISTINGUISHED GUEST VISITS ME IN SBEN
My longtime friend Jim/N6TJ (ZD8Z, et.al.) called on Friday to say he and XYL Marilyn
were driving up to the South Bay Area on Saturday. When I learned the route was via US 101, I
invited them to take a slight detour for several miles and be my guests for "killer" BBQ'd
Tri-Tip sandwiches & 807's at the Dunneville Cafe & Market QTH in SBEN. We had a real nice
visit together over lunch. A special TNX to Bill Regentz & his daughter Laura for their
CQP (SBEN) QTH hospitality again this year.
THE K6VVA (SBEN) SETUP
Part of the CQP plan this year was to test out a new "Locust Special" portable
antenna configuration. I parked my Tahoe in partial shade on the West parking
lot and obtained A/C power via extension cords run over the fence. The antenna
was about 70 feet on the other side of my SUV. OQ5M called me with a good 579
signal and also worked some other EU stations with the weenie antenna (10m
radiator version shown in the antenna photo). The kinda-sorta fixed-mobile
SUV "lap station" worked pretty well using a TS-480HX at 200 watts.
THE K6VVA/6 (MONT) SETUP
I headed out early Sunday morning for Montery where it was still quite
foggy. My destination was the Bayview Delicatessen BBQ & Market located
on the Monterey Bay Boatwork & Breakwater Cover Marina next to the U.S.
Coast Guard pier. After a hearty big breakfast burrito, with approval by
the Harbormaster Eric, I setup the "Locust Special" right at the end of
the deck (over salt water, of course!), with the rig/station on an outside
patio table. More EU callers this time, and UT7QF was a solid 599. I love
salt water proximity locations :^) When the fog finally lifted and the sun
came out, I had a great homemade pastrami sandwich before leaving for the
short one hour journey back home. A special TNX to Lenny & Valentina for
their CQP (MONT) QTH hospitality again. In the parking lot I met "Tasha"
the SuperDog :^)
TNX!!! TNX to all who participated in CQP 2011,
and for all the Q's & Mults.
73...
Rick, K6VVA * The Locust
NCCC Co-Founding Member
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