01/09/2006 | W1DV I enjoyed the eight years I lived overseas (Philippines, Cambodia, and Central African Republic) as a missionary/pastor, but I sure missed participating in SKN during those years. Since semi-retiring I have not missed SKN and it was another great time this year. I got off to a rather slow start due to our traditional family gathering but they thankfully left our house around 9 pm. I had intended to band hop but ended up having such a good time and a good run of quality SKN QSOs on 160 meters I never left that band until 1:30 am local time! Ended up with 28 QSOs; vote for best fist would have to go to Chris AJ1G and most interesting QSO was with George W8QDX in Connecticut who works at Electric Boat where I spent a good deal of my 27 years as an officer in the nuclear submarine service.
It was great to hear the cadences and real cw (as opposed to the sterile boring sound of electronic key cw). An added bonus was hearing chirps, drift, clunks, and key clicks from all the old gear. Instant flash-back to the 1950s and 1960s. Thanks ARRL for another quality SKN; only 51 weeks to go to the next one .
W1DV/2 Dave -- W1DV