Al's self-made trailer was waiting

Ken, KH6QL in Walt's house

The morning team - Ak, Walt, Kevin, Bill, Mike and Ken

Al and his trailer specially design for scout camping. He is also scout trainer.

From this empty field >>>>> to...

One Enchanted Field Day's Evening

KH6J

I saw Ken prepared his personal equipments [also for me] and I could not help much because I did not know where to get them from and to.  It almost over midnight when he finished and he was tired.  I ask him whether it was ok if we reached Walt’s house a little later.  He looked at me seriously and said solemnly :

“Thida, if I die tonight, you must drive and take my body there, right at 7 am”

Ah… OK OK, it is important to him, but I did not understand why it was so serious until I reached Walt’s house.  There were Al, Mike, Bill, Ken, and then Kevin that came to help carrying things up on Al’s magic cart.  It is heavy work, things were heavy.  I was not usable at all.. hi hi

If we were late, the loads would be on others so everyone was there on time, dedicated to help on the hard work.

This is my very first impression.

When reaching the place, the cleaner man allowed us to drive the truck in for unloading.  He was happy, so were we.  On the last day, one of the cleaners pay attention to our activities, Al gave him Walt’s number if he would like to be ham like us.  It was the good relationship to the local people. 

This is my second impression.

The installation was very fast.  Everyone worked like they were part of one machine, well programmed.. ha ha.  Kevin seemed to be the newest but he learned fast with intention to make it, at least as best as this one was.  In the wind, a little rain, hot sunshine, and heavy things, everyone was working, joking, laughing, forgiving, helping each other.. It was so…… nice! 

I noticed that Mike, whom I hardly hear him speak but smile all the time while he was working on the heavy things together with those -behind the scene- team, did not even had the chance to come enjoying the facility that he was the part of the provider.  He was there only to do that hard work when no one saw it.

This amazing teamwork is my third impression.

With one blink of my eyes, the antenna team suddenly appeared.  I did not see when they came or I thought they were not our group and did not pay attention until the fishing rods were set Mine! I did not see an antenna.. There were only many rods. 

“When will they set the antenna..?”  I asked myself..

I walked bravely to see the rods..  [Yes, I needed a little braveness to leave the group to see new things]  Oh..? the wire was there and “Bob” stated to wag his “Tail” to me.

I marked my eyes at that tall handsome guy whom I was told the name Martin. [Everyone called him MART’n but when I refer to him as MART’n no one understand me until I had to spell, M-A-R-T-I N. ]
I noticed that he was the master of the antennas.  He was busy and I was hesitated to ask him questions.  However, he was very willing to answer and I got back wonderful explanation about the “anTENna”, and drawing which I believe it would be useful to everyone who visited or operated to know, not only my benefit.

There were 3 antennas.  Half wave, Bobtail, and vertical Yagi.  With reflection of the sea increase antenna gain the most.  They were so simple, light, easy to setup, easy to carry and provide very good signal. 

This is my forth impression.

I joked with Joe that the longest rod was for caching whales.  He laughed and said that the second one was for dolphins. hi I was happily surprised with Kevin’s anTENna pattern drawing.  It was really a big whale over the pacific ocean for this KH6J, 1 A, Pacific !

[Why anTENna? I never knew before that the stressing must be at the middle.  My AN-tenna always became IN-ternet to Kevin, ha ha.. an gave me hard time trying to pronounce it correctly. hi]

While sitting on the ground taking VDO, a cheerful lady in red shirt walked right to me, laughing.  I knew right away that she must be Connie, the SKYWARN lady that I was waiting for.  She had the bright sky shining in her manner and her smile.  I then saw her and her husband Tom set up the SKYWARN Tent with the help of Al, senior scout trainer, professional in camping set up. 
She had prepared many “toys” for kids to understand about the weather measurement and warning.  She understood the children’s nature and really did make them learned.

Her enjoyment in doing this public service, dedication and thoughtful way was another of my impression.

I walked back from the anTENna, and saw a very gentle and kind personally lady preparing food.  I saw another very gentle and kind personally man setting up the stove and the Kitchen was really a kitchen.  I was almost able to see the image of freezer somewhere.. hi

We have nice enjoyable every meal time, and what a refreshing lemonade!

These are also my impression.

That was Bev and this was Jim.  They were so well resonant that I had no wonder to know later that they were wife and husband. [Yes! wife has to come before husband, I always insisted this to my husband but not successful yet. Ha ha] That was Connie and that was Tom.  I was impressed to see how the husbands supporting their wives.  Sweet, isn’t it?

Came another tent with 2 bands Egg Beater antennas, solar cell power and a man with the call sign KH9HAK on his cap, my Mr. Hakker was assembling another 2 bands sweet purple 5 Es Yagi.  The dinosaurs egg beater was for 2 m. and the quail egg beater was for 70 cm. receiver while that sweet purple Yagi was for transmitting.  This fancy station caught the universe birds and make good points for King Henry 6 Juliet, 1 Alpha Pacific. 

I still remember the gleam of excitement on his face, also everyone’s, when he told us the news.  Yes! We did it !

Many activities and living tents appeared to the sight.  I was not sure whether that was other families’ or our ham friends.  I had my own home prepared by Ken.  I had just noticed that he put a sign in front of my ‘house’ “International Press”.. very impressive, hi

While in the public shower area I heard little voice of a little girl weaning to her mother..
“Mommy, mommy I want to see uncle Joe.”
“You’ll see him after shower.”
“Aaah.. I want to see him now.  Mommy I want to see uncle Joe and his amateur radio..”

WOW!!! Listen to that!!  I laughed to myself.  But I was too late to see Who’s That Girl!

(When I told this to Joe he said, “Not me.  I don’t have anything in my house that can’t be remote controled”  ha ha ha ha)

Walking back with a yl.  We so much like the stars.. twinkle, twinkle little stars in the dark velvet sky.  Both of us did not know that we were in the same amateur radio camp till we met again the next day.

Everyone was ready very early in the morning.  Breakfast was prepared by our honorary cooks and the contest began.  Many hams took turn to operate and log.  All operators had worked hard.  I could see that it was a kind of tiresome but that what make it fun and memorable.

Our camp had a lot of visitors, children and scouts.  Bav was a very kind guide, took the scouts to see around the area and patiently explain to them again and again.  Connie was busy with a lot of young visitors that so much enjoy her “toys’ and playing Morse code. 

There was also booth of Emergency club demonstrate various band radios to be used in emergency.

I met other 2 YL, happy Jan and glory Gloria. YLs are rare countries in amateur radio world.  They are electric lotus, the flowers on the radio wave.
I also met many interesting person, Nat who provided me and Jan the chance to visit KH6BB on the Missouri ship later, Mike the Olympic ham champion, Kimo and .. the great DXer, KH6TV with his special antenna helmet, Alwin the … emergency coordinator, etc

I am so impressed with everyone I met or saw, too many to mention all.. unable to counttThe impression and more. Pictures paints a thousand words.. I have billions words painted..  Not enough pictures to replace my One Enchanted Evening of the Filed contest in Honolulu..