3/02/05
Hello IOOK! This will be a synopsis of the entire trip from Dayton, Ohio to Valley Mills, Texas to Yuma, Arizona back to Valley Mills, Texas to Nevada, Missouri and back to Dayton, Ohio. The trip started on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 and was completed on Tuesday, March 1, 2005. As the trip progressed, updates were sent out to some of the gang. Here are some highlights from those mailings including the pictures that accompanied them:
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(Saturday - 2/12/05) Howdy all!
I thought I would bring you up to date on
the trip so far! Before we left for
the trip Dave, N8DRM made sure we would be safe along the route, so, he made
sure we had a prepaid cell phone for our trip.
Of course, the cardboard and Styrofoam packaging made Charlie a dandy
zero minutes and zero calls phone! Har!
We arrived at the HOSScienda on Thursday
afternoon. On Friday we took a ride
to Crawford, Texas and visited the area of the Western Whitehouse and had lunch
with Ron, AA5RT at the Crawford Coffee Station.
Today (Saturday) we went to Clifton where
Margareth has her booth at the Antique Mall.
This evening we had the opportunity to “graze” at the Bunkhouse
Barbeque! Delightful!
And, OH SO GOOD! Murray who
used to live across the road joined us for the feast and a dandy visit
afterwards.
The pictures say it all!
Yes, it actually rained today! Incredible!
Best regards and 73,
Keith, Charlie, Hoss and Margareth
(Tuesday - 2/15/05) Howdy out there in Cyber Space!
This will be a short note to bring you up to speed on what we have been doing the last few days here at the Lazy K Ranch!
Sunday morning Charlie and I took our morning walk as usual. At the end of the walk some goats were out playing in the field across the road from Hoss and Margareth’s. Later in the afternoon, Hoss and I took a walk while Charlie napped! The weather was finally warm enough to suit Hoss for walking!
Monday morning Charlie and I walked as usual before breakfast and then Hoss, Charlie and I went to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco. If you ever come to this area, this is a great museum to tour. It got up to the mid 80’s. J Charlie took a picture of some Prickly Pear Cactus.
This morning (Tuesday) Charlie and I completed our walk before breakfast again. I took a panorama picture of the pre-sunrise color of the clouds. Hoss fixed us breakfast (Margareth went to work) and then we went to Waco to tour the Dr. Pepper Museum. As it turns out, Dr. Pepper was invented and first bottled here. The popular drink was originally called a “Waco” and then later named Dr. Pepper. We also paid a visit to the Harley Davidson dealership so I could pick up a “T” shirt for my H-D T shirt collection. No, I don’t own a Harley – never did – don’t know why I collect them – but I do! J
The weather has been gorgeous the last few days. The temperature is currently 83 degrees. Beautiful! This afternoon we are checking our e-mail for a final time and loading things into the van as we begin our trek West tomorrow morning. This evening we will pay another visit to the Bunkhouse Barbeque! Eat your heart out! J
Look out Yuma! We shall soon be on our way!
TTFN, Keith and the gang
(Thursday - 2/17/05) Howdy All!
Well, we have finally arrived in Yuma! After two days travel we did manage to make it here without incident. We had a delightful time chatting with the gang as we traveled west the last couple of days and was even able to check into the Early Wednesday Night 40 Meter Sked before we stopped for the night in New Mexico.
As you look at the snap shots, I just could not resist adding the Bunkhouse BBQ sign over the door as you enter the place. J At lunch yesterday we walked around stretching our legs while waiting out our orders to be served and Charlie was caught closely checking out the price on a SSB CB rig in one of the displays at the truck stop! Har! I have included a few snap shots of the scenery – as it is quite different from that of Ohio or West Virginia!
This afternoon we stopped by the flea market and found out that the spaces are 40 feet by 20 feet – quite a bit larger than usual, so, we invited AE8R, AI8Q and N5AAA, KA9VQS to set their campers up in the flea market with us. We will have a dandy combined site for the IOOK to flea market and congregate!
We could not overlook the “Sirloin KBob” on the menu this evening that was located just above the “Road Kill” for the day. It is great to know that KBob is so well known that they named a dinner after him! Yee haw!
So far, in addition to the three of us, AE8R, AI8Q, N5AAA, KC9VQS, KB8FJB, KC8VSA, W8TVC and N7LMJ have arrived! Yee Haw! We look forward to more arrivals tomorrow!
We are to be in IOOK uniform tomorrow as we begin our Yuma Hamfest enjoyment!
Until later – best 73, WA8ZWJ, Keith
(Friday - 2/18/05) Howdy IOOK!
Well, Friday at the Yuma Old Buzzard Hamfest was a dandy time! We had off and on rain for a good part of the day but it did not dampen our spirits! We all had fun chatting with President KBob via EchoLink and visiting with all the gang who made the effort and were able to make the trip! It was just delightful! We even made a number of sales! Yes, both behind the table and across the table!
As the day wore on and the tarp began to leak, we decided to move across the aisle under a covered roof picnic area. The local club officials kept coming past the booth thanking us all for making the effort to come to the hamfest and shared with us that we had the largest display in the hamfest!
AE8R assumed lunch chef duties and provided the IOOK with special bratwurst dogs and with it for lunch! GREAT!
About 2:40 PM Lou, N8KXM and Dave, N8DRM finally arrived. They had driven in from Phoenix after flying out of Columbus, Ohio this morning. WB8NSL provided N8KXM with some left over brisket from the BunkHouse BBQ and KXM went out of his way to show his appreciation! Before NSL and ZWJ left Dayton, KXM had made a request for us to bring him some brisket, but we had told him there was no way! Needless to say, he was quite surprised!
The local Marine Base heard about all the Vice Presidents being in the area and provided the hamfest area with a Combat Air Cap! Incredible!
Lou and Dave brought the sunshine with them and things quickly dried off. We had a delightful breeze as is shown by the IOOK flag flying high above N5AAA and KA9VQS’s camper!
Dinner this evening was at the local Village Pizza where fun and frolic was enjoyed by all! Everyone contributed to writing a top 10 list for the Yuma Hamfest and a verbal presentation was made by N8DRM and WA8ZWJ. The top ten list follows this note.
Well, it is after 10 PM, so I will connect to the Internet and get this thing on line!
Best regards from Yuma! Keith, WA8ZWJ
Yuma "Old
Buzzard" Hamfest
top 10 list
Why
would one attend the Yuma Old Buzzard Hamfest?
10. For the Pizza Dinner at the Village Inn!
9.
Spaces at the hamfest are 40’ X 20’ and only $10/each
8.
Yuma is the sunniest place in the USA!
7.
Because the Dayton group actually had to travel to attend!
6.
There is HT coverage to chat with The President.
5.
We got a free upgrade to a covered flea market space!
4.
Too Crazy Ladies
3.
The IOOK has the largest booth at the hamfest!
2.
The Marines provide Combat Air Cap for Vice Presidents!
1.
The Yuma Hamfest has FREE admission!
(Saturday - 2/19/05) Hello from Yuma!
This morning after biscuits and gravy were served at the hamfest, Jim, AE8R called the IOOK together for a group photo that was taken from the top of his camper. I think it turned out pretty well!
Our Marine Combat Air Cap continued throughout the day.
Sometime during the morning Charlie presented Keith and Hoss with some very special cigars to enjoy.
The weather today was nice and partly sunny with the temperatures in the low 70's and NO rain! Yee Haw!
Lunch today included left over pizza from last night as well as a plethora of other food and snacks!
Hoss’s son Ron and his family drove down from Bullhead City, AZ to visit for the afternoon.
Later in the afternoon the group all took their turn chatting with John, KF8KK in Empire, Michigan via EchoLink.
After the hamfest had closed down for the day, the gang sat in a circle and had a “Solving The World’s Problems Bull Session”. We were all waiting for the evening’s Yuma Old Buzzards Hamfest Barbeque dinner. It was delightful! Also, 4 of our IOOK contingent won door prizes! Congratulations!
It is now after 10 PM and Charlie and I are going to send this out, check e-mail and call it a day!
Best 73, Keith
(Sunday - 2/20/05)
Howdy do out there
in Cyber Space! It is our last day
in Yuma. The hamfest closed early
today after the final prize drawings. The
IOOK won strong again with AI8Q and N5AAA winning prizes today!
Congratulations! That means that 6 out of the 14 IOOK’ers who attended the
hamfest won a door prize of some kind! Pretty
incredible! John won the second
prize Hustler 4BTV vertical antenna which he managed to sell before he left the
building! Way to go John!
Charlie, WB8NSL
took some more scenery shots. As
you will see, the weather today is just beautiful!
Since Charlie (NSL)
had never been to California, we took a short (2 mile) trip to California –
twice! He missed the photo op the
first trip across the line!
We went to the
Masonic Barbeque lunch at the convention center and then had the oil changed in
the van.
Tonight we plan to
go south of town to Somerton to a casino to experience their buffet dinner.
Tomorrow morning we will head east bright and early!
Best wishes to
all!
73, Keith. Hoss and Charlie
(Tuesday -
2/22/05) Howdy Y’all from Texas!
Charlie, Hoss and
I have spent the last couple of days traveling from Yuma back to Valley Mills,
Texas. Even though rain was
forecast, we had pretty nice weather the entire way – and, no rain.
However, I am getting ahead of myself.
Sunday evening the
three of us went about 8 miles south of Yuma to the Cocapah Casino for their
buffet dinner. It was delicious!
The buffet included Prime Rib, King Crab Legs, Shrimp pasta, Blackened
Salmon, Halibut, Oysters on the half shell, and a half a dozen more main
entrée’s that I am undoubtedly forgetting.
Of course, there was also, soup, salad, breads and cheeses and so on.
It was an incredible spread. After
our dinner we wandered through the casino and Hoss Lost about $20 bucks on
several various machines and I lost $2 on a one armed bandit.
Charlie said Pam would have headed for the Bingo room and would have been
there for the rest of the evening! Har!
Monday morning we
got up bright and early and headed east. On
our way out of town we talked with one of the gals who is on the hamfest
committee and thanked her for a fine time.
We plan to do it again next year. We
did manage to chat with Big Al (KB8FJB) on our way through Tucson as he was
taking Dave (W8TVC) and Mike (N7LMJ) to the airport.
We connected to the W8TVC/repeater system in Traverse City, Michigan via
EchoLink as we passed through El Paso but did not find anyone to chat with up
there. We also tried the
WA5KUB/repeater system in Memphis with the same results.
We had hoped to meet up Jim (AE8R) and Sue (AI8Q) on our way east as they
headed towards Alabama, but were unsuccessful.
We stayed Monday night in Van Horn, Texas which is east of El Paso.
This morning we
continued our trip and managed to get some interesting shots of a bunch of
windmills located in west Texas. The
ones shown in the pictures are just a few of what is actually there!
We took a
different route towards Valley Mills on the way back than we did on the way out
just to get a sample of some different scenery.
Man! It is incredible to me
that one can drive so far and see no cars yet still be digi-peated via APRS.
Hoss said that was because we were on the IOOK Vice Presidential Highway,
and it was seldom used by anyone other than an IOOK Vice President!
As we neared
Valley Mills, we came through Crawford and Charlie could not help but make a
couple more snap shots that are significant to the area. An observation we have made is that Texans display their
state flag almost as much as the Stars and Stripes!
It was good to get
back to Valley Mills and stand up for a while.
My behind side is tired of riding!
Best 73 and TTFN, Keith
(Thursday - 2/24/05)
We took a ride to the
Today has been a rest up and pack up day. This morning, Ron, AA5RT, stopped by with a computer problem. Hoss set it up on the table and had it working like new in a few minutes. He then ran scandisk and then defragged the hard drive. We got to talking about Mitrek’s and the next thing I knew we had made plans to go to Ron’s after lunch so I could pick up a couple of UHF Mitrek’s to use for our remote receiver and EchoLink project for the 442.850 machine back home.
While we were at Ron’s we got a first class tour of his compact shack and repeater collection. A special thanks to Ron for his assistance and generosity!
In a few minutes we are scheduled to head back to the Bunkhouse Barbeque for dinner! I CAN HARDLY WAIT!
Tomorrow morning Charlie and I head north to
Until the next time! Keith
(Sunday 2/27/05)
Howdy
from the “Show Me” state!
Charlie
and I are enjoying our visit in
Friday
we traveled most of the day and ended up near
Saturday
we headed off to
From
there we went for a shopping spree at the Bass Pro Shop!
Man! It is even larger than
the last time I was there! I would
say it is 5 or 6 times the size of Cabella’s near
They
have an indoor range for hand guns, a 1,000 ft. indoor range for rifles as well
as an indoor range for bow and arrow hunters.
Back
at Bob and Sue’s – they don’t have trouble any more with kids or hired
help parking on the cement pad intended for their vehicles! Check out the
signs!
Today
Bob and Sue hosted dinner for all the local family here.
These folks are all descended from my Aunt (my Mom's sister) and Uncle.
I took a lot of pictures and will get Bob and Sue to help me identify
everyone while I am still here! We
are guessing that we had over 30 here for lunch!
I should have a pretty good idea once we look at the snap shots.
What a great time!
Tomorrow
we plan to rest up and take life easy. Tuesday
we will head towards
Best
regards! Keith
(Tuesday - 3/1/05)
Howdy All! We finally made it back to Ohio this evening all safe and sound.
Yesterday morning
we took off to Ft. Scott,
This morning we
took off bright and early at
As it neared
During this time we were chatting with Bob, N0BIX on 2 meters. We coordinated our efforts and managed to meet for lunch! It was a delightful, even though short, visit! Bob had to hurry back home and watch the grass grow and take inventory of each blade! Actually, he needed to get back home in anticipation of a delivery that was scheduled to be made sometime this afternoon.
Charlie managed to catch another arch through the windshield – the arch at the Ohio State Line! Even though we had seen snow off and on since leaving the St Louis area, we were really surprised by the snow that had accumulated on Haber Road as we neared home. As we drove in we chatted with Marian, WD8CJD, Lou, N8KXM and Dave, WB8WIQ and we all met at the Toll House Tavern for dinner! (Pictured L to R – WB8WIQ, WD8CJD, WB8NSL, WA8ZWJ, N8KXM, N8CVF, Sandi)
We have had a delightful time. We do appreciate all those who extended their kindness towards us as we have traversed this fine country of ours! Thanks to all of you who have been riding along via APRS and other means.
TTFN, Keith (WA8ZWJ) and Charlie WB8NSL)
