06/18/2006 | K9ILT/R What a ride! We'll all be talking about this one for a while. We managed to squeeze 10 grids into a 653 mile trip, starting early and working late. We were the K9ILT/R 88 Degree Dash Team for the weekend, running north Saturday and south Sunday along 88 degrees in Illinos and Wisconsin. EN62, just north of Chicago was our most productive stop with a convenient landfill giving us a great advantage out here on the prairie. Chicagoland has the topography of a billiard table, so anytime you can grab a little "HAAT" you go for it.

We traveled on to Upper Lake Park in Port Washington, WI. You've got to love a name like that if you're roving. It offers a commanding view over the lake with Michigan and points east just over the horizon. We managed to work as far as FM08, logging K8GP on 2, 222 and 432 from up there. Continuing our high places trip we went to High Cliff State Park in EN54. I understand that those of you from the Rockies might chuckle at a place 900'ASL called "High CLiff" but it sure works well here.

The worse part of the trip was a problem that required the use of a mini paddle with a short lead to key the 902 IF. In order to make it work, I had to kneel on the front seat twist and hang over the back.

Other than that, it was a six band romp, with the Magic Band carrying most of the load. We wound up making 544 Qs in 173 grids for a new personal best.

We had a great time and are looking forward to the UHF Contest in August. 73, Tim K0PG and Pat, K9ILT
The 88 Degree Dash Team -- K9ILT & K0PG