April 2003 - Spring Fling

April in the Four States means it's time for the Spring Fling. A great opportunity to operate in the NorCal QRP To The Field contest, to celebrate 4SQRP's first anniversary and to enjoy a day or two outside in the warm, sunny Four State weather.

Our Spring Fling/QRPTTF operation was from the Twin Bridges state park on the shores of Grand Lake near Wyandotte, Oklahoma. The weather was perfect with temperature around 70 degrees. Several of us camped out overnight at the operating site. All of our meals were prepared over charcoal and sure tasted great!

The QRPTTF theme this year was "Ghost Towns" and we qualify for the Ghost Town multiplier. When Grand Lake was created, several homes and buildings were inundated by the lake. The foundations of these "ghost" structures can occasionally be seen when the water level is low.


Gene, NØMQ's field station. Gene set the record for the number of different rigs available for use!	Bill, AB5XQ working a bit of 20 meter CW with his Elecraft K1.

Jay KØETC trying out Nancy, NØFNZ's new Argonaut 5 that she won at ArkieCon.	Steffen KCØNQE, Jerry KCØIUC and John WØJRP facing the camera while Jay, KØETC copies some fast CW.

Tom, N2UHC and Dolly, K9DOG working 20 meters CW. Is this a multi-op contest entry?	Jay is trying to figure out how Joe, WØMQY got his mobile loop antenna under the highway overpass.....

Dennis, KK5PY arrives on his Russian-built motorcycle.	Looks like Joe, WØMQY is enjoying the day in the park.

Jay KØETC is showing J.C. K5DMI how to use a pencil to draw an arc off the PA tank of J.C.'s new Ozark 20.	J.C. K5DMI's home built Ozark 20. This little transceiver puts out 250 milliwatts and made two contacts today on 20 meters.

A close up view of Tommy, WD5AGO's homebrew 30 meter rig. Tommy put it on the air after the QRPTTF contest ended. Nice!	Tom, N2UHC talking with Joy, NQ5R and Lee, KD6OVU. Lee is on vacation from California and was camped next to the QRPTTF operation.

Joy, NQ5R and Walter AG5P discussing the dinner menu with Jeanette (N2UHC's XYL) and Gil, K6KIF.	Joe, WØMQY used his 12.5 inch reflector telescope to demonstrate the wonders of the universe. The moons of Jupiter were clearly visible. Pretty good DX.