August Update

Update from Dad.

Looks like it’s been a while since my last blog update.

In June I visited a couple Ham radio clubs on what they call a field day. That’s an international, annual day where Hams around the world go out and setup stations at remote sites, using off the grid power and work on contacting as many other Hams as possible. It’s also an outreach to allow kids and others to get on the air with the help of experienced Amateur radio operators.

In July we took the camper up to Denny Creek campground for Scott to have a few days of vacation. The weather was nice, and a good change from the last time we tried that last year when it was pretty wet.

Also in July I passed my Ham “Amateur Extra” level. That’s the top level of achievement for Amateur radio operators. This gives me privileges on all of the Amateur frequencies, or Bands.

Towards the end of July, I did some community service by helping the parade marshals at the Seattle Seafair tourchlight parade. I have memories of this parade, and other Seafair parades from my Civil Air Patrol days, when I worked with a float as some Asian boy with a bald head costume, a bit later as a sponsor of a Seafair princess, and just a bit later still, when I drove my Dad’s Model T truck with a Dixiland Band and a bunch of Farrell’s waiters during the many Seafair parades.

This time, I was assigned a block of the parade route to be a a contact, and to watch for people in any kind of trouble. By and large it was fine, 95% of the people were great, 4& were inconsiderate and very self important, and 1% were out and out drunks. It was a long night starting with a 50 minute walk fro the Seattle Center to my assigned block, then working from 5:30 to 11:30, then walking down the hill to 3^rd ave to catch a bus back to my car. I was pretty sore the next day. 

On that topic, I finally ordered my High Frequency antenna for my ‘Flagpole’ in the back yard. Some fairly heave work is in store as I work through the rocks that seem to be the main material of our little yard. I need to get a ground rod into the ground, a pipe to hold the antenna, and a slit trench from the corner of the house to the antenna spot. More than a little work. We’ll see how that goes.

I “may” be tapped for a little longer business trip than usual. Seems that a group in Dubai, in the U.A.E needs some help with the kind of systems I install here in the US. It’s not a confirmed thing, but if it comes about, it’s a 14+ hour air trip, from Seattle over the North Pole to the UAE. I’ll let you know when or if I’m on my way to the Persian Gulf.

Have fun with the rest of the summer!

Dad