| This year we had a fun Bumble Bee Contest.
Tom, KQ6DV, and I went to the top of the highest ridge of the Santa Rosalia Mountain in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. The ridge at about 2600 feet, is the highest location around. It is located about 2 miles north of the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake |
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After carefully scouting out our sites, we went to the task of antenna
raising. I used my trusty 100ft flat top fed with 300 ohm ribbon
cable. Tom set up his antenna about 1/4 mile away and used a resonant
dipole for 20meters. During antenna raising it was cool as the fog
was just beginning to lift.
The mosquitoes were having a party and we were the hosts. |
| I found a nice little spot nestled between a group of rocks to set up the K2. It was a very comfortable spot, and I got everything set up just right before the contest. As the contest began, I worked my first QSO, then my second. I noticed a stinging pain on my leg, then my arm. I looked down to find myself covered in biting red ants. |  |
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I quickly had to retreat and move my station to another spot. I looked around and the ants were everywhere. So, back to the truck off the ground and away from the stinging little buggers. |