“Friendship” - Motto of the State of Texas - “The Lone Star State”

THE EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN - No. 167 
- 15 JULY 2003 -

A Weekly Bulletin for ARES and other EMCOMM Operators and Public Safety Officials in “the west”...and beyond.

D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ- Chief Editor - k6soj@arrl.net
Bill Frazier, W7ARC - Associate Editor and Webmaster - w7arc@arrl.net
Ed Ewell, K7DXV - Assoc. Editor for Training/Technical - ewell2@cvc.net
Paul Cavnar, NN7B - Associate Editor, Nevada - nn7b@arrl.net
INTERNET: www.emcomm.org  E-MAIL: k6soj@arrl.net
A.R.R.L. HQ: www.arrl.org/ (Check it daily!)
---------------------------------------------------------------
• RADIO WATCH • MONITOR • CALLING • TRAFFIC • EMCOMM • GUARD •
• EMCOMMWEST: 7111 KHZ DAY / 3711 KHZ NIGHT / 146.52 MHZ 24/7
• ALASKA WATCH/TRAFFIC/CALLING: 3534 // 7042 // 14050 KHZ
• NEVADA ARES MONITOR/CALLING SSB: 3965 KHZ
---------------------------------------------------------------
L = Current local time in the [PST winter / PDT summer] zone.
Z = Universal Time Coordinated - UTC (same as ZULU and GMT.

    HOMELAND SECURITY ALERT LEVEL:   ELEVATED    (Yellow)

    FIRE SEASON ADVISORY: INCREASE FIRE AWARENESS AND READINESS
    • Know and obey all fire rules and regulations.
    • Monitor for “Red Flag Watches/Warnings”.
    • Survey your perimeter/horizon hourly (or more often).
    • Report all suspicious smoke immediately.
    • Carry a shovel, rake, water hose, bucket, radio, and personal
      safety gear with you when in rural or remote areas.
    • Keep a dedicated hose of sufficient length ALWAYS ready at home.
    • Tell your family, friends and neighbors to do the same.
    • REMEMBER...EARLY REPORTING MAY PREVENT A MAJOR DISASTER!

+++ FLASH! - FCC DECLARES COMMUNICATION EMERGENCY FOR TEXAS COAST
             (Read ARLB047 at: www.arrl.org)

IN THIS EDITION ...
+ WELCOME NEW SUBSCRIBERS
+ ARES VOLUNTEER KILLED
+ TRINITY COUNTY NEWS
+ DIGITAL DIMENSIONS - UPDATE
+ COMING EVENTS
+ EMCOMM MANAGEMENT BOOK AVAILABLE
+ TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
  • ARES vs. RACES
+ NWS SKYWARN WX SPOTTER NEWS AND INFORMATION SECTION
  • MEDFORD NWS
  • RENO NWS
  • SACRAMENTO NWS
+ SPECIAL SUMMER FEATURE
  • THE CAMPOUT - Part V
+ EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN INFORMATION
  • HOW IS EMCOMMWEST AND EMCOMM.ORG FUNDED?
  • RECENT CONTRIBUTORS
  • SUBSCRIBE TO EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN
  • BACK ISSUES LINK
  • SEARCH FEATURE AT EMCOMM.ORG

+ WELCOME NEW SUBSCRIBERS
  • Jerry Bennet, KD7OPE, Buckley, Washington - Pierce County ARES/ECRT
  • Sheldon Fisher, N5CAE, Plano, Texas - Collin County ARES, and Dallas County RACES
  • Jerrold Christensen, W6WWL, Meadow Vista, CA - Placer County ARES

+ ARES VOLUNTEER KILLED IN PARADE ACCIDENT
  by Bill Lewis, KG6BAJ, AEC - Nevada County (CA)

  It is with a heavy heart that I report the loss of Nevada County ARES
member Richard Earl, KE6TT.

  Richard was involved in a fatal accident at the 4th of July parade in Grass Valley when the float he was driving lost its brakes.

  Apparently, Richard tried to avoid as many people as possible while going down a steep hill, and it is the theory that Richard deliberately overturned the vehicle to get it to stop and not run through a crowd of people, and cause the crowd serious injury or death.

  The ensuing rollover caused Richard to be thrown from the tractor and his head came down on a curb causing sever blunt trauma.  He was flown by helicopter to Sutter Roseville Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

  It is duly noted that Richard gave his life on Independence Day, so that others may live.

  The Editor of THE UNION NEWSPAPER here in Grass Valley wrote an article that can be viewed on-line at: www.theunion.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030708/COLUMNISTJEFFACKERMAN/
107080056/-1/OPINION

  EDITOR’S COMMENT:  THE UNION NEWSPAPER story is very worthwhile.

+ TRINITY COUNTY (CA) REPEATER BACK IN SERVICE -
  Reporter: Greg Greenwood, WB6FZH/AAT9IS - Trinity County AEC

  Amateur Radio Repeater W6HOR/R located on Bully Choop is now back in service on 146.925- (85.4).  Recent snow removal, and improved road access allowed repairs to be made on site.  The repairs were made by members of the Hayfork Bally Repeater Association.

  The repeater provides wide-area coverage for FIRES, WILDERNESS SAFETY, SEARCH and RESCUE, as well as, regular "Ham Radio" communications.

    USE THE OUTPUT FREQUENCY for Trinity County ARES if the repeater is out of service, and check WB6FZH-1 7/24 Packet BBS on 145.050 for updates during emergencies, etc.

  ALSO, the Hayfork Bally Repeater, WA6BXN/R on 146.730- (85.4) is also in service, with a new receiver and other improvements.

  Status, information, and pictures about repeaters accessible within and around Trinity County is at: www.tcoe.trinity.k12.ca.us/~tcarc/tcrptr.html (Trinity County ARC website: www.tcoe.trinity.k12.ca.us/~tcarc/.

TrinityCam INDEX page:  www.trinitycam.com

+ DIGITAL DIMENSIONS - UPDATE
  Warren Olney, KB7EKF, Coordinator - warren@broomshop.com

  As of today, 12 packet stations have registered in our “Digital Dimensions” data base.  The list is for active packet stations/operators who maintain a 24/7 mailbox and who are also active in ARES, NTS, or other bona-fide EMCOMM organizations.  

View the current list at: www.emcomm.org and click on: Digital Stations. (To PRINT a copy use LANDSCAPE format.)

+++ COMING EVENTS +++

+ NET REMINDER - (3rd Wednesday of the month)  +++ TOMORROW +++
• Regional ARES LEADERSHIP NET.  A multi-county, multi district, multi-section, multi-state, multi-division net for SECs, DECs, ECs, AECs, and other ARRL leaders.  Visitors may check in at end of net.
• Meet your ARES leaders!
• 1930L 3987± kHz LSB (1982 kHz alternate)

+ ON-THE-AIR RADIOGRAM PRACTICE SESSION - TOMORROW NIGHT!
• MESSAGES will be transmitted twice a month on 3987 kHz ±.
• TRAFFIC will begin shortly after the ARES REGIONAL LEADERSHIP NET
  (3rd Wednesday of the month).
• Each session will consist of one (1) or (2) formal traffic RADIOGRAMS.
• The RADIOGRAMS may be ACTUAL or TEST MESSAGES.
• FIRST: TWO MESSAGES will be transmitted in slow speed CW.
• NEXT: The SAME MESSAGES will be transmitted in SSB.
• All messages will be published in the ECWB the following Tuesday.
• A SPECIAL QSL WILL AVAILABLE to those who submit a correct copy
  postmarked within three (3) days after each practice session.
• RADIO AMATEURS OF ALL LICENSE CLASSES ARE INVITED TO TUNE IN AND COPY
  THE RADIOGRAMS.
• NON-HF HAMS AND SWLS ARE WELCOME TO SUBMIT REPORTS.
• Use standard ARRL RADIOGRAM format and send to: EMCOMM, P.O. Box 99,
  Macdoel, CA  96058.  (Enclose a #10 self-addressed stamped envelope.)

! FLASH ! --- RENO, NV VHF stations...The RADIOGRAM(S) will be re-transmitted on the Western Nevada Noon Net (WNNN) on 147.12+ (123.0) on the following Thursday.

+ SACRAMENTO NWS SKYWARN CLASS SCHEDULED FOR YUBA CITY JULY 23
  (Details in NWS section below)

+ NORTH VALLEY HAMFEST 2003 AUGUST 9, 2003
  • Anderson River Park, Anderson, California
  • Sponsored by: Shasta Cascade Amateur Radio Society (SCARS) and
    Amateur Radio Club of Anderson (ARCA)
  • Admission: $5.00.
  • 0700 Social hour, coffee and doughnuts for a small donation.
  • 0800 the event will kickoff and will end at approximately 1700.
  • Several seminars and activities including, ARRL and ARES updates,
    local information, county hunting, antenna modeling/building,
    digital communications information and demonstrations.
  • There will be HF/VHF/UHF stations on the air throughout the entire day.
  • APRS, slow scan TV and other modes will be demonstrated.
  • Lunch available for a small donation.
  • Organizations or individuals may rent a table for $5.00 to display
    their activities.
  • Swap meet tables will rent for $10.00 each.
  • VE testing session. Walk-ins accepted. Candidates provide photo ID;
    upgrades must provide original CSCE’s plus a copy.
  • $12.00 is the fee for testing.
  • For more information contact:
    Jim Beemer, KK6MM    KK6MM@aol.com                 530-222-8001
    Gary Fryer, NT6E     fryer1@shastalink.k12.ca.us   530-365-3175
    Richard Cloyd, WO6P  wo6p@arrl.net                 530-474-3096
    Al Pina, KQ6YW       kw6yw@arrl.net                530-246-3880
    Sue Elsmore, W6SUE   w6sue@comser.com              530-365-8394

+ MANAGEMENT OF THE AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTION
    by Jerry Boyd, MS, KW7J is “hot off the press”.
  • Available from:
    WORLDRADIO BOOKS, 2120 28th St., Sacramento, CA  95818
    $8.00 plus $2.00 postage and handling. (CA residents add 62¢ sales tax)
  • (Mention that you “heard about it” in the EMCOMMWEST Bulletin!)

+++ TRAINING and CONTINUING EDUCATION SECTION +++

    Ed Ewell, K7DXV Associate Editor for Training - ewell2@cvc.net

  Ed is off this week.  The “Q” in the “Q and A” below, was recently submitted by a new EMCOMM operator.  The “A” is by D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ.

While it comes under the general heading of “Basic Training”, it is worth the time for all to review.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Can ARES and RACES be combined?

A: Ah...the eternal question!  Or at least it seems like that.  Down through the decades, the great radio philosophers have pondered, learned barristers have argued, and pseudo-academics have studied this question. Ascetic hams have ascended to mountain tops in search of some repeater guru who might provide insight into the age-old question..

   The “RACES vs. ARES” controversy has been around since the RACES provision was added to the FCC rules in the early 1950’s.  After fifty years there can be found (in some areas of the country) two distinct “camps”.

   This is partly due to the fact that some people are of the persuasion that “government” should control everything in EMCOMM, and that if “run” by government, credibility is somehow added.  Others believe strongly in the effectiveness of private, non-government, volunteer organizations.  Most of us fall somewhere in the middle, and see value in both.

   Actually the answer to your question is simple enough that all hams, (if they would just do a little homework) would understand the differences. I will try to answer your question as best I can.  But it will be a “textbook” answer, and not necessarily what you may see in practice.

   The short answer to your question is: no.  The long answer is: no...at least not entirely.  However, the ARES and the RACES should complement each other, and I have always urged skilled EMCOMM operators to register with both services.

   The reason that ARES and RACES cannot be “combined” is because RACES (and/or ACS) is sponsored and administered by local or state government, or a special government agency or district.   The ARES is sponsored and administered by a private, non-profit organization (the ARRL).  Each has a different management structure and line of authority.

   At certain times, and in some places, there may be some overlap.  For example, in states where there is only one ARRL Section, the ARES SEC (who is appointed by the ARRL Section Manager); MAY (and I say again...may) also serve as the state RACES (or ACS) Radio Officer.  (Providing, of course, that he or she is also appointed by state emergency management officials.
Of course in states where there are two or more ARRL sections, this is not possible.  There might be two or more ARRL SECs, but only one state RACES Officer.

   One of the SECs might be the state RO (1), or it may be someone not even in the ARRL/ARES structure.  (When this happens it is hoped that they will enjoy good liaison and rapport with each other.)

   The ARRL cannot appoint RACES Officers, and local or state government cannot appoint ARES leaders; any more than the Red Cross can appoint government officials, and vice-versa.

   At the local level, a county ARES EC might also serve as a RACES Officer (if also appointed by a local government emergency manager).  Or, an ARES AEC may, serve as a RACES Officer or an Assistant RO.  There is no hard and fast rule on any of this other than that ARRL Officials do NOT appoint any RACES Leaders.  However, an ARES EC, DEC, and/or SEC may (and often does) recommend someone for a RACES (or ACS) position.

   Further, ARES “boundaries” often do not follow the geopolitical lines of government jurisdictions.  A prime example of this is the ARRL Districts. They are not political/government jurisdictions, and hence cannot have a RACES unit or officer, unless the district is congruent with some state
agency or district.

   For example, in my own case, I currently serve as the SEC for the Sacramento Valley Section which is a 20 county area.  The SEC appointment is made by the elected ARRL Section Manager.  I also serve as the California OES Assistant ACS Officer for Mutual Aid Region III.  This
appointment is made by the State ACS Officer, and “MAR III” is a 13 county region, which is completely within the SV Section.  The remaining 7 SV counties are in “MAR IV”.

   In many localities, all EMCOMM volunteer operators join the ARES team; and also register (one does not “join” RACES) with a local, county, or state RACES unit.  Some may ask, why are all these “lines of demarcation” important?  The answer is short and sweet: responsibility and
accountability.

   The mission of the ARES and the mission of RACES are considerably different.  It should first be stated clearly, that neither the ARES, nor the RACES, provide fire suppression, search and rescue, law enforcement, or medical services.  Amateur radio operators often participate in these
services, but they do so only when they are duly registered and authorized in one (or more) of those other public or private agencies.

   But the one common mission of both ARES and RACES, is to provide skilled communicators (2) that know how to communicate via radio, independent of any normal or commercial infrastructure.

   The FCC Rules and Regulations prohibit the use of amateur frequencies by “government” on a regular basis.  (This prevents government agencies from using amateur radio as a “cheap” form of radio communication.) 

   As the “cold war” heated up in the early “fifties”, the RACES provision was introduced and is defined in FCC Part 97.407.  Simply stated: it allows for the use of amateur frequencies and amateur radio operators who have registered with a government agency for communications support during times of emergency.  ACS (where implemented) is local or state expansion of the
RACES concept, and may include non-ham radio services, by both hams and non-hams using CB, FRS, GMRS, and public service/government frequencies. It even may include landline communications.

What is the role of the RACES?
  • RACES provides EMCOMM to government agencies.
  • RACES is only activated by a government agency.
  • RACES transmissions must be specifically authorized by the 
    sponsoring civil defense organization.  (FCC part 97.407{e})
  • RACES cooperates and coordinates with the ARES, and ideally will
    report its public service activity to the ARES for inclusion in 
    statistical summaries forwarded to ARRL HQ.

   Ever since that icy April night on the North Atlantic in 1912, when the SS Titanic (3) sent an SOS resulting in the saving of over 700 lives; amateur radio operators have provided emergency and public service radio communications.

  The American Radio Relay League, represents over 600,000 licensed radio amateurs in the United States and its possessions.  Since 1935 the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), and (since 1949) the National Traffic System (NTS) have been the organized public service arm of the ARRL.

What is the role of the ARES?
  • The primary mission of the ARES is preparedness and training.
  • ARES (and the NTS) handles “third party traffic” nation wide (and
    on occasion, international) for agencies and the general public.
  • ARES provides skilled radio communicators (2) and (often the necessary
    communications equipment), to private, non-profit, disaster
    relief organizations; AND to government agencies at the federal,
    level, such as FEMA, which is now under the new Department of Homeland
    Security (DHS), NOAA/NWS, and others...including state and local RACES.
    (NOTE:  In many local jurisdictions, and in some states, there is
    no RACES organization.  The ARES may, or may not, have formal
    Memoranda of Understanding (MOU).
  • ARES may self-activate for drills, training, traffic, precautionary
    (stand by) nets and emergencies, other incidents and events.
  • ARES provides overall coordination of the amateur radio resource.
  • ARES cooperates and coordinates with the RACES, and ideally will
    include its reports of public service activities for inclusion in
    statistical summaries that are forwarded to ARRL HQ.

   Whether it be tactical, informal, or formal traffic (RADIOGRAMS);  the ARES and RACES should originate very little of their own traffic during emergency events.  Our “own traffic” should be limited to what little is necessary to establish and maintain PTP communications and/or nets.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) It should be noted that there is a distinction to be made between a radio officer and a RACES officer.  The radio officer is usually a paid employee of a jurisdiction, may or may not be a licensed amateur, and may or may not be the RACES Officer.  A RACES Officer must be a licensed radio
amateur.  Both may be referred to as an “RO”.

(2) There is more to being a skilled communicator, that just knowing how to operate a radio.

(3) View the only known picture of the wireless cabin on the Titanic at:
www.marconicalling.com/museum/html/objects/photographs/objects-i=1006.438-t
=1-n=0.html
(You may also find it interesting to view the wireless room of the SS Olympic at):
www.marconicalling.com/museum/html/objects/photographs/objects-i=1006.021-t
=1-n=0.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have a question, send it to: k6soj@arrl.net  Selected questions will be answered in this column.

• Previous training bulletins are archived at:
www.emcomm.org/svares/training/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
• THE TRAFFIC HANDLER’S “MANTRA”:
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority • Traffic • Delayed”
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority • Traffic • Delayed”
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority • Traffic • Delayed”
(NUMBER-PRECEDENCE-HX-STATION OF ORIGIN-CHECK-PLACE OF ORIGIN-TIME-DATE)

+++++ REFERENCE/RESOURCE SECTION +++++

• ANTENNA LENGTH CALCULATION PAGE: www.emcomm.org/svares/antenna/design.htm
• ARRL FSD-218.  The famous “pink card” that contains (almost) “everything you ever needed to know about RADIOGRAMS”.  An electronic version of the FSD-218 is available at: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/#fsd-218
• National Traffic System (NTS) Methods and Practices Guidelines
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/nts-mpg/
• DIGITAL EMCOMM YAHOO GROUP (packet, SSTV, APRS, etc.):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cadigitalemcomm/
• BEEN AWHILE SINCE YOU OPERATED CW?  NEVER HAD THE ENJOYMENT OF MORSE
OPERATING?  Then, take a look at: “A Beginner’s Guide to Making CW
Contacts” by Jack Wagoner, WB8FSV at:  www.netwalk.com/~fsv/CWguide.htm
• AN EXCELLENT NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM (NTS) TRAINING WEBSITE IS AT:
http://www.qsl.net/aresco/nts-top.htm
• ADDITIONAL (VERY) USEFUL information is available at:
http://www.remote.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/sec2-ch11.html
http://www.area-ham.org/tngdocs/ntsdocs/ntsman.htm
• CW “NETIQUETTE” (An excellent guide for the advanced operator):
http://www.qsl.net/n5lf/cw-nts.html
• FOR AN INTERESTING HISTORIC LOOK AT... “THE ART OF COMPOSING TELEGRAMS”:
www.metronet.com/~nmcewen/telegram.html
(Some of the information at the above URL may NOT apply to ARRL RADIOGRAMS)

=== NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SKYWARN SECTION ===
=== MEDFORD -- RENO -- SACRAMENTO -- EUREKA  ===
=== CALIFORNIA/NEVADA/OREGON NWS OFFICE MAP: ===
    www.stormready.noaa.gov/stormmaps/ca-cwa.htm

SKYWARN is the National Weather Service program of trained volunteer spotters reporting severe weather.  The ARRL/ARES has a national “memorandum of understanding” (MOU) with the NOAA/NWS.

+ MEDFORD NWS (WX7MFR) SKYWARN NEWS AND INFORMATION -
 OREGON: Curry, Coos, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lake Counties
 CALIFORNIA: Modoc and Siskiyou Counties.
• Jim Reynolds, KD7MLO, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
• Gary Peterson, N7GK, SKYWARN Coordinator
• D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, Asst. SKYWARN Coordinator

• MEDFORD NWS SKYWARN WEBSITE: www.emcomm.org/skywarn

• MEDFORD NWS SUMMER 2003 WEATHER SPOTTER CLASS SCHEDULE HAS BEEN COMPLETED
--------------------------------------------

MEDFORD NWS WX SPOTTER / SKYWARN NETS:
MEDFORD NWS WX SPOTTER NET: Wednesdays at 1915L on:
147.26+ / CTCSS: 123.0, (Mt. Ashland - Jackson County and more)
146.55 SIMPLEX (eastern Siskiyou and Klamath Counties)
146.97- (Likely/Modoc County Relay)
7232 LSB (up) DAYTIME
3987 LSB (down) NIGHTTIME
1982 LSB (alternate).

SKYWARN nets will be activated on these frequencies during severe weather events.

MEDFORD/RENO NWS SKYWARN NET CONTROL STATIONS -

DATE      147.26+        3987 LSB
JUL  2    N7GK           N7TOD
JUL  9    N6RSN/N2RSI    K6SOJ
JUL 16    N7IXS          N2RSN/N2RSI
JUL 23    N7GK           KB7EKF
JUL 30    TBA

For more information contact:
Gary, N7GK, gpederso@OregonVOS.net; or,
Dave, K6SOJ, k6soj@arrl.net
Matt, N7TOD, n7tod@arrl.net (Reno)

NWS PACKET NODE ON MT. ASHLAND is on 145.030 MHz, ID is: skywrn. NWS is asking for SKYWARN and ARES packet stations to connect and let them know your location, the type of antenna and power you use to access the Mt. Ashland node. The “connect” to NWS packet bbs (direct) is on 145.090 MHz and the ID is NWSMFR. Then connect to NWSBBS, e.g., c nwsmfr. Then, c nwsbbs. The NWSMFR at nws mfr is a node.

Questions? Contact Gary, N7GK e-mail: gpederso@OregonVOS.net
Check in to the JEFFERSON NOON NET daily at 1200L on 7232 LSB (alt. 3987)
for announcements regarding anticipated or actual severe WX.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
+ RENO NWS (WX7RNO) SKYWARN NEWS AND INFORMATION -
• RENO FORECAST AREA MAP: www.emcomm.org/reno/index.html
• Roger Lamoni – Warning Coordination Meteorologist
• Matt Parker, N7TOD - SKYWARN Coordinator
• http://renoskywarn.org/
SKYWARN NETS:
WEDNESDAYS 1905L 147.12+ (123.0) and 1915L on 3987 // Medford (OR) NWS

PACKET Information: Frequency 145.050 Keyboard : WX7RNO (automatically forwards to MBX when station is unmanned)

MBX: WX7RNO-1 (NWS/SKYWARN related traffic only please, due to limited capacity of 10K, most of which is occupied by daily forecast bulletins)

KaNode: WX7RNO-7
------------------------------------------------------------------
+ SACRAMENTO NWS SKYWARN NEWS AND INFORMATION
• Kathryn Hoxsie, KC8CLO - Warning Coordination Meteorologist
• SACRAMENTO NWS SKYWARN CLASS SCHEDULED FOR YUBA CITY
  • Orientation to SKYWARN and  WX SPOTTER training.
  • Learn how YOU can help the NWS during severe weather events.
  • For ARES members and other amateurs in the Sacramento NWS Service Area
  • Wednesday, July 23, 2003
  • 1900 TO 2100L
  • Yuba City Police Station Training Room
    1545 Poole Blvd.
    Yuba City, CA
  • Class size is limited.
  • If you plan to attend, please contact Michael Colvin, W6CUJ,
    Yuba-Sutter EC at: w6cuj@arrl.net by July 16.
  • Send your: Name, phone number(s), email address.

+ A SPECIAL SUMMER FEATURE SERIES +
  by D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ
  (Who is still a boy at heart.)

  THE CAMPOUT - Part V
  This tale is from a time when a mountain bike was simply a stripped down Schwinn or any other old clunker with one-speed and a coaster brake.  And, just maybe, a knobby tire on the rear.  And now...part five of the story:

   The final leg of the first day of our trip was a “piece of cake”... (sponge cake).  We pedaled into the campground single file, and quickly choose a site, complete with a large table and fire ring.  As we dismounted, someone announced: “We’ll camp here for the night!”  And, while discussing the day’s events, we untied our gear from our bikes. Soon after, a few of the weary travelers dozed off in the shade of sycamore trees.

   If you have never seen (or climbed) in a sycamore tree...you have missed one of life’s greatest pleasures.  Sycamores typically grow in grotesque patterns.  Often with large (a foot or more in diameter) horizontal limbs covered with smooth light gray bark.  The bark often “sheds” or is easily
peeled away (with no apparent harm to the tree) leaving a white smooth hardwood limb.  They are perfect for climbing around in...whether man or monkey.

   As the heat of the day began to turn into the cool of the evening, we were suddenly and rudely awakened from our sugar induced comas by a: “hoo hoo hoo hah hah hoo” sound emanating from the tree tops.  We looked up. High in a tree-top, illuminated by the late afternoon sun, we saw Whitey. He was barefoot, shirt off, swinging from a limb by one arm, and making a scratching motion to his skinny adolescent rib cage.  “Hoo hoo hoo hah hoo hah!”   He looked and sounded like a skinny white retarded baboon.

   Someone decided it would be fun to throw stones at the demented primate. Not a good idea.   The second missile nearly connected.  Whitey successfully dodged it, but in the process he lost his grip and made an unplanned rapid descent, stopping along the way, on several large branches.
Everyone thought it was funny.  Except Whitey who, upon reconnecting with terra firma, proceeded to pick up rocks and “return fire”.  Fortunately, the battle was short lived, no one was hurt, and we all settled down to prepare the evening meal.

   The happy hour was highlighted by a selection of sardines (your choice, either marinated in oil or mustard), HI-HO crackers and cheese.  Food “fit for a king”.   We knew that, because the sardines declared on the label: “Prepared by the order of and by appointment of His Majesty, King Oscar of
Norway”.  And ginger beer.  That’s right...ginger beer.  To us a beverage with the word “beer” in it seemed more manly than something with “ale” or Kool-Aid in its name.  There was another non-alcoholic product out during that part of history called “Near Beer”...but no one would touch it ever since some wise-acre once referred to it as “queer beer”.

   It was getting dark, and a cook-fire was started.  At first the flames were a little high for cooking.  About six feet too high.  Time passed as the fire’s light illuminated seven cheery faces.  In our own minds, we were all being transported back to the beginning of time.

   As the fire died down to a beautiful bed of hot coals,  potatoes were wrapped with foil.  And, along with cans of pork ‘n beans (labels removed, and punctured to allow the steam to escape), they were carefully placed deep in the coals.  Wire coat hangers were then sterilized in the fire, and wieners by Oscar Meyer were skewered for roasting.   We wondered aloud if that Oscar was somehow related to the King of Norway.

   We were now real “he-men”.  Out in the wild...living in true self-sufficient style!  The fire flickered, as we reveled in our success and solitude, while reclining around the fire using a sleeping bag, a
knapsack, or a log for a pillow.  Ah, this is how it must have been at the dawn of time!  (To be continued.)

EDITOR’S NOTE:  If you have a “first person” amateur radio related “adventure”, an attempt at humor, or other story of interest, please feel free to submit it for publication in the EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN.  We can’t pay you for it ( but nobody else probably would either).  If you want to share
it with others...send it along.  It probably will get (slightly) edited.

NOTE: Before submitting long texts, please contact the editor for a FORMATTING GUIDE.

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