FIELD DAY, JUNE 26-2010 Field Day, 2020, turned out OK. Once again, EVARA treated it as a social event, for conversation and food, but we got
some operating in as well. Chief Operators Paul, AD5SX, David, NM5DF, Bill, WA5AW, and Daniel, KD7UFS, kept the plates plating and the grids gridding. Most of the rest of us guarded the food,
and made sure we consumed enough of it that if there were any critters, they didn't get a good share. Ray, KE5QFQ, somehow wound up as Chief Cook, though I had suggested each person do his/her own
cooking. Except me, as President, of course. Well, I would have done my own cooking, too, but Ray blocked the grill, and all of us just followed our noses to the food - hamburgers, hot dogs,
chips, and soft drinks. Laura, a friend, brought watermelon. Georgia, N5GOY, brought Glen, KD5BP (her spouse) and she also brought delicious green chile stew. It didn't linger too
long. Ray also had purchased and picked up all the food, so he did multiple duties - getting it there in the first place, and then cooking it. At least, some of us got up enough energy to
actually walk over to the grill and get the food once it was cooked. I would then hurry back to my chair and consume the new edibles. Operationally we had an antenna failure. The
suspect is a balun at the feed point of the beam, but we decided chow was more rewarding than fixing the beam. We went to the dipole and made a few contacts. After all, the object of Field Day is
to see if you can do emergency radio. Well, we did. We might not could contact Japan, but we could contact Milwaukee, and they could contact Japan for us and get emergency help if we needed it.
As is customary for EVARA, we arrived, we ate, we left. Well, OK, not quite like that. We got started with greetings and chow about 11 am. Radios went on the air at noon.
Food continued, as did conversation. Several of us did not get on the air at all, leaving it instead up to the experts. Kelly, Laura, Georgia, Glen, and I, mostly ragchewed. Minus
radios, but plus food. Ray did mixed duties, including some radio operating. Paul ate very little, preferring to be on the air, which is great. Bill did a bunch of operating, as did
Daniel. Dave was quiet, did a lot of operating, ate very little, took the photos you see on this page. More food for me. We had prepared for a crowd. Didn't happen. We did have the
editor of the local paper come by, with his son. He took a lot of photos, took a lot of notes, avoided the food. Friendly guy, and I'm glad he stopped by. He left after a bit to attend
another Field Day in the area, the one run by the Albuquerque DX Association. I reminded him of the word "Albuquerque" in their name, and the phrase "Estancia Valley" in our name, as a means of saying
"hey, we're locals!" That seemed to work. He was genuinely enthusiastic. Kelly, KE5OXN, qualified as an 'official,' for she is the EC of the county. So we marked her down in that
duty as well. We wrapped it up at 4 PM Saturday. We need our beauty rest, though, except for Georgia, it probably isn't doing any of us any good. Present were: Ray, KE5QFQ Kelly, KE5OXN
Bill, WA5WA Dave, NM5DF Georgia, N5GOY Glen, KD5BP Laura, no call sign Paul, AD5SX Ed, W5HTW Daniel, KD7UFS Elaine (XYL of Daniel) Chris, AE5JT and his friend, Mickey
Lots of food, lots of soft drinks We had fun. 73 Ed |
