The Lancaster Amateur Radio Club  (Aug. 20-21 2005)
International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend.

Sat & Sunday - August 20th & 21st 9am - 6PM

The Lancaster Amateur Radio Club will be operating a special event HF/ UHF/VHF stations at the Dunkirk Lighthouse located on Lake Erie, NY

The Lighthouse also hosts a Festival all weekend long to coincide with International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend.

You are welcome to come out to the lighthouse.

What to Expect:  Lighthouse Festival/ lighthouse tours/ civil war people / French & Indian War people/ Music/ Elvis / British Military vehicles/crafters/ nautical museums / coast guard/ food vendors and more!!! Hams operating HF / UHF / VHF all day at lighthouse.

Any one who wishes to set up & sell items (Flea Market) can do so at no charge. This includes crafts, household items, ham gear.

Talk in on: 2 meter 147.255 pl 107.2  146.400 simplex

Directions & al lighthouse info can be found on Dunkirk Light house web site: www.dunkirklighthouse.com

Dunkirk Lighthouse phone: 716-366-5050

Hope to see you there !

Jay Challenge 2005Report (July 29-31, 2005)

The Jay Challenge is a three day kayaking/running/biking event that starts in southern Quebec and ends up in in the Jay Peak area of Northern Vermont near Newport, VT.

These following Amateurs from thew Montreal Amateur Radio Club and the St. Albans (VT) Amateur Radio Club participated: Carole VA2MOO, Frank VE2TOR, Ron VA2RJC, Max VA2PMD, Jim KF4OD, Andy VE2DWT, Dave KB1JME, Richard ( local ham from Vt. Did not get his call) and Ray VA2RY.

There were a few accidents on the biking portion on the Sunday that were reported to race authorities by amateurs.

(Thanks to Vernon VE2MBS)

Harmony Horse Trials 2005 Report  (Aug. 7 2005)

The 2005 edition of the Harmony Horse Trials was held in Ste. Justine de Newton, Quebec today (Sunday, August 7) with the communications organized by the St. Lazare Communications group.  The weather was perfect and with over 120 participants a good time was had by all.

Amateur Radio operators came from the Montreal Amateur Radio Club, the Covey Hill Amateur Radio Club, the West Island Amateur Radio Club, the VE2RM - Western Quebec VHF-UHF Club and the Prescott-Russell ARES Group.

The following amateurs provided communications for this event:

* Croydon Snowdon, VA2CLS
* Carole Albert, VA2MOO
* Max Davies, VA2PMD
* Raymond Faguy, VA2RY
* François Daigneault, VE2AAY
* Gillian Magee, VE2EXX
* Vernon Ikeda, VE2QQ
* Stanko Paticic, VE2QXP
* Shirley Ovans, VE2SMO
* Frank Torontour, VE2TOR
* James Hay, VE2VE
* Joseph Harry Ratajczak, VA3ZAK
* Mike Johl, VE3AET

Ken Magee, VE2EXC would like to thank all those who participated on behalf of the event organizers.

(Thanks to Vernon Ikeda, VE2QQ)

Field Day 2005 Reports

Some Clubs have been starting to post Field Day 2005 reports on thier websites, over the next few weeks links will be posted in this area. If your Club has a Field Day 2005 report posted on thier site please let us know so it can be added to this list.

Atlantic

Halifax Regional Emergency Operation Centre: http://www.ve1hre.ca/fd-2005.html New

Summerside Amateur Radio Club: http://www.vy2cc.no-ip.org:60345/album/thumbnails.php?album=23

Tri-County Amateur Radio Club: http://www.ve9tca.org/products.htm#Field%20Day%202005

Westcumb Amateur Radio Club: http://www.westcumb.com/

Ontario

Georgian Bay Amateur Radio Club: http://greynet.net/~gbarc/fieldday.htm

Kitchener Waterloo Amateur Radio Club: http://www.kwarc.org/fd2005/FD2005.htm

Lambton County Radio Club: http://www.kcbassociates.com/lcrc/activities.htm New

Mississuaga Amateur Radio Club: http://www.marc.on.ca/marc/events/events_fdphotos.asp  New

Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club: http://nparc.on.ca/

Oakville Amateur radio Club: http://www.oakvilleamateurs.net/gallery/index.php  New

Ottawa Amateur Radio Club: http://www.oarc.net/photos/oarc_field_day_2005

Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club: http://www.ovmrc.on.ca/field_day_19981.htm  New

Peel Amateur Radio Club: http://www.peelarc.org/

Prince Edward Radio Club:http://perc.lks.net/fieldday.html

Western

Moose Jaw Amateur Radio Club: http://www.geocities.com/ve5ma/fdpic05.htm

Chilliwack Amateur Radio Club: http://www3.telus.net/carcfiles/fieldDay2005.pdf

Kamloops Amateur Radio Club: http://www.karc.ca/album/fieldday/index.html

North Shore Amateur Radio Club: http://www.ve7nsr.ca/field/field.html

Westcoast Amateur Radio Association: http://www.ve7vic.ca/fieldday.htm
 

Jim Taylor VA3KU
Bulletin Editor
bulletin@hfradio.net

VHARA Hamfest 2005  (August 27, 2005)
Sponsor by: The Victoria - Haliburton Amateur Radio Association

Location: Manvers Arena - Corner Of Hwy. 7A & 35 (North Of Bowmanville/South Of Lindsay) GPS: Lat. 44D 09M 40S, Long. 78D 39M 30S

Opens: Indoor Vendor Set-Up 7:00AM Free Vendor Continental Breakfast 7:00AM - 8:30AM Outdoor Tailgate Set-Up 9:00AM General Admission 9:00AM

Cost: General Admission $5.00 Indoor Tables (With 1 Vendor Admission + 1 Continental Breakfast) $10.00 Additional Vendor Pass (Working Helper) + Continental Breakfast $5.00 Outdoor Tailgate Positions (With 1 General Admission) $5.00
Talkin: VE3LNZ 147.195 +

Notes: Limited Indoor Vendor 120V AC Power Available (Please Specify When Registering) Door Prize & Super Draw Prizes Will Be Drawn Throughout The Hamfest

For more info visit: http://www.va3kvd.ca/vhara/

Ottawa Amateur Radio Club 9th Annual Hamfest   (September 3, 2005)
Sponsor by: TheOttawa Amateur Radio Club, Inc

Location:  Carp Agricultural Fairgrounds 3970 Carp Road (at Falldown Lane) Ottawa (Carp), Ontario. From Ottawa, take Highway 417 West to Carp Road exit, North to the fairgrounds. We are in the arena, so follow the signs on the site.

Opens: Building Vendor setup: 8 am Tailgaters Open: 9 am Building Opens: 10 am until 1 pm
Cost:  $5 general admission $10/table (plus admission) $5/tailgate (plus admission)
Talkin:  VE2CRA, 146.94 -

Notes:   Immediately following the fleamarket will be the RAC Forum and Technology Update moderated by RAC Ontario North Director, Doug Leach (VE3XK). Topics of interest to the amateur radio community are planned and admission is free.

For more info visit: http://www.oarc.net/fleamarket

Vancouver Island Ham Happenings  (September 10, 2005)
Sponsored by: The Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association

Location:  Departure Bay Activities Centre 1415 Wingrove Street Nanaimo BC ( Aka the old Departure Bay Fire Hall ) Take Departure Bay road from either end down to the beach, Wingrove st. is right across from the Departure Bay beach.
Please see map and directions on our web site.

Opens: Sellers setup from 7am to 10 am, doors will be open to the Buyers and general public at 10am and close at 1pm

Cost:  Cost of tables are $15.00 ea. includes 1 admission. There will be no charge for the table for anyone reserving a table from the lower mainland. Helpers and general admission $5.00 each.

Talkin: VE7ISC at 146.640 open repeater

Notes: There will be a RAC table, equipment manufactures tables, local dealers tables, a collectors display table and many, many sellers tables. We will be holding the annual QLF (Left foot CW) CW contest. There will be hourly door prizes as well as a major door prize of an Icom IC-V82 Handheld radio. If you are coming the night before we have many hotels and motels close by, and for RVs we have three malls in the area that allow overnight parking for self contained RVs.

For more info visit: http://www.nara.nisa.com

Barrie Hamfest  (September 10, 2005)
Sponsored by: The Barrie Amateur Radio Club

Location:  Oro Medonte Fairgrounds Just north of Barrie on Hwy #11 to Oro-Medonte Line 7. Watch for Airport sign at exit. Take Line 7 Northwest 2 Km to the 15/16th sideroad and you're at the Fairgrounds. Co-ordinates are 44 30 17 N 79 33 17 W

Opens: Open for Inside Vendors at 7 am, Taigaters at 8 am, General public at 9 am till 1 pm.
Cost:  General admission $5 , 8' tables $15 plus general admissions, Taigaters $5 plus general admissions.
Talkin:  VE3RAG 147.000 +

Notes:  Our second year at the new bigger location. Wheelchair accessable and handicap parking available.
Registration form and map on website.

For more info visit: http://www.barriearc.com

Shuswap Mini-Hamfest 27th Annual  (September 16-18 2005)
Sponsored by: the Salmon Arm Seniors' Amateur Radio Club

Location: Sunnybrae Community Hall, Tappen, B.C.-- Proceed 15 km. west of Salmon Arm on TCHwy to the Tappen Coop. Make a right turn just past the coop and drive  4 km.to the hall on the Tappen-Sunnybrae Road along the shore of Shuswap Lake.

Opens: for free RV parking [no hookup] on a first-come basis at noon on Friday, September 16th. This is an informal, relaxed weekend which includes an amateur cribbage tournament on Friday evening and late snack.

On Saturday, September 17th,  ladies' crafts, corn roasts, flea market, bean bag toss and horse races, pie auction, potluck supper, radio seminar, and a music jam session.

Sunday, September 18th includes a pancake breakfast, raffle, auction, and draw prizes until noon.

Prizes include a Yaesu FT-2800M Transceiver and another coveted blanket-chest, from the woodshop of Hans VE7BOD.

Cost: Registration of $10 includes corn and coffee at lunch, snacks, and a free pancake breakfast on the 18th.  $1 of each registration goes to the CNIB Amateur Radio Program. School age $5. Under 6 years free. Craft and flea market tables are free.

Talk in: 146.760- or 147.020-.

Information: Hans VE7BOD at 250-835-8324 or Ron VE7RLE at 250-832-2442 or ve7rle@rac.ca

Kingston Amateur Radio Club Annual Flea Market (Sept. 17 2005)

The KARC will hold its annual flea market on Saturday Sept. 17, 2005 The event will be held at Drill Hall "A", CFB Kingston. Doors will open to vendors at 0730 and the public at 0900

Admission is $ 3.00. Tables are $ 10.00 including one admission. Commercial tables are $ 20.00 but will be given free with a door prize.

Talk in: will be on the VE3KAR repeater, 146.940 ( -600)
Canteen will be available.

We will have a 50/50 draw to support the museum, many door prizes and possibly a major prize raffle. Door prizes include magazine subscriptions, dinner vouchers, sightseeing air flights, movie tickets, computer material, emergency radio etc.

The Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Museum will be open for all to visit as well.   Free admission and only 5 minutes from the fleamarket)

Tables are available by contacting:

VE3TMT Max at mdonoghue@sympatico.ca
VE3GO Ron at ve3go@sympatico.ca or ( 613 634-4085)

West Island Auction/Fleamarket  (Sept. 17 2005)
Sponsored by:  West Island Amateur Radio Club
Location: Kirkland Arena,  16950 Boulevard Hymus, Kirkland, QC
Vendors - 09:00 - General Public from 10:00 - 13:00 - Auction at 10:00
Admission: 5.00$. - Tables 15.00$.
Talk-in: VE2RWI 146.910 (-)
For more info visit: http://shell.pubnix.net/~wiarc

London Amateur Radio Club 28th Annual Fleamarket   (Sept. 25 2005)

Sunday, September 25, 2005, located at the Western Fair Grounds Special Events Building, London Ontario. 9:00am to 1:00pm

Vendor setup at 7:30am. Admission: $6.00 , tables $ 10.00

Free parking, Air conditioned, commercial dealers, snack bar facilities, wheelchair accessible with handicap washrooms

Inquiries: email: hamfest2005@hamster.foxhollow.ca or phone / mail to Doug Tompkins, VE3IDT (519) 439-5113
54 Hammond Cres. London, ON  N5X 1A4

Website: http://larc.ca/newsletter/LARC-HAMFEST-2005.pdf

Simulated Emergency Test  (Oct. 1-2 2005)

The Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is a North America-wide exercise in emergency communications, administered by ARRL and RAC Emergency Coordinators and Net Managers. Both ARES and the National Traffic System (NTS) are involved.

The 2005 dates are Oct. 1 and 2. ARES units and other groups are free to conduct their SETs anytime between September 1 and November 30 if an alternative date is preferred. The activity period should not exceed 48 hours.

After their chosen SET weekend, participating ECs and Net Managers must send reports to RAC by January 31, 2006.  For more information see: www.rac.ca/fieldorg/ARES_set.htm

(RAC)

Annual Fall QCWA QSO Party  (Sept. 17 2005)

QCWA cordially invites all to participate in the 2005 QSO party. All licenced Radio Amateurs world wide are invited. Time/Dates:  It will run for a period of 24 Hours. Both CW , Phone and digital modes may be used. The Fall QSO Party will be September 17, 2005 at 1800 hrs UTC.

Frequencies: The following 15 Bands may be used:-
1.8: 1.800 - 2.000 14.0: 14.000 - 14.150   28.3: 28.3 - 29.7
3.5: 3.500 - 3.750 14.2: 14.150 - 14.350   50: 50.0 - 54.0
3.9: 3.750 - 4.000 21.0: 21.000 - 21.200 144: 144.0 - 148.0
7.0: 7.000 - 7.150 21.2: 21.200 - 21.450 220: 220.0 - 225.0
7.2: 7.150 - 7.300 28.0: 28.000 - 28.300 UHF above 420 Mhz

Any station may be contacted on any or all of the 15 bands for a maximum of 15 QSO’s per station, with no more than one QSO per Band. Any station in your home QCWA chapter may be counted only once, for a maximum of one QSO per station. No contacts on WARC bands are permitted (10, 18 and 24 Mhz Bands). No Cross Band or Repeater Contacts are allowed.

Suggested Starting Frequencies:
CW:     1.810:   3.540:   7.035:   14.040:   21.050:   28.050
Phone:  1.845:   3.890:   7.244:   14.262:   21.365:   28.325
Calling (CW or Phone):  CQ  QCWA

Information Exchange: Fill Columns on the Log Form. For the "year" column, indicate the last 2 digits of the year the station operator was first licenced. If the contacted station does not belong to a QCWA chapter show only the State, Province or Country of its location. The latter would apply to Non QCWA members as well as to QCWA members who are not affiliated with a local chapter. Do Not mention the term "At Large" (AL) as was done several years ago, as this can be confused with AL for Alabama. For Band info, simply indicate one of the above 15 Bands in the "band" column.

MODES: You may choose to work all MODES or Only Phone or Only Digital (which includes CW). Certificates will be issued for each Mode of "Cw/digital", "Phone", or "Mixed" .

Scoring: Each Phone QSO is worth one contact point. Each CW QSO or other Digital Mode QSO such as RTTY,PSK31, MFSK etc. is worth 2 contact points (show 2 points in the QSO Points Column on the Log). A Multiplier of one point is given for each QCWA Chapter worked and for each State, Province or Country reported from stations not belonging to a QCWA Chapter. A total of only one multiplier point will be given for each State, Province or Country. A Multiplier of 3 points will be given on each of the 15 Bands for working our Special Events Station W2MM. It is hoped to have this station active throughout the two parties. Stations within 50 miles (80 Kms) of W2MM, may work W2MM only once for a total multiplier of 3 points. Sample logsand a summary sheet may be requested from QCWA Headquarters with an SASE. The address is P O Box 3247 Farmingham, MA 01705-3247 USA. They are also on the internet at www.qcwa.org . Contacts with QCWA Memorial Station W2MM count as three multipliers on each of the 15 bands. Note: For 2005 HQ Station W2MM is being operated by Chapter 162 in Southeast Wisconsin. Members of that chapter, and non chapter Members within 50 miles (80 kms) will be permitted to work W2MM only once for a total of 3 Multiplier points.

Awards: Certificates will be issued for the top 3 World Scores in each category. A certificate will also be issued for the top score in each category in each participating Country

Send Logs to: W2OD, Robert Buus, 8 Donner Street, HOLMDEL N.J. 07733-2004, U.S.A.or as an e-mail attachment to : w2od@aol.com

For more information visit:www.qcwa.org

George Roach-VE3BNO
QCWA Activities Mgr.

Onatario Amateur Radio Service (ONTARS) under new leadership  (Aug. 19 2005)

The ONTARS net, held daily on 3.755 mhz from 7 am to 6 pm, has undergone a change at the top. Hart, VA3OU of Richmond Hill, has assumed the Net Manager duties.

The net still has a need for controllers during the mid-day hours. Please consider giving an hour of your time occasionally. For more information visit: www.ontarsnet.com
 

Pot Hole Net (Aug.19 2005)

“The Pot Hole Net” is sponsored by the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club airs from the National Capital Region under the sponsorship of the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club (OVMRC) from the first weekend after Labour Day in September to the last weekend in July, both on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 am ET. Saturdays on 40m at 7.095 MHz (LSB) and Sundays, on 80m at 3.760 MHz (LSB). The OVMRC Pot Hole Net was established in1959.

José VA3PCJ
OVMRC HF Operations

Maritime Swap Shop

The Maritime Swap Shop is held every Monday at 7:30pm local time on 3.750 MHz. All station are invited to checkin and post their wants and items for sale. The Maritime Swap Shop list can be found on many places on the internet, here are just a few: The Loyalist City Amateur Radio Club ,  hfradio.net ,    VE1AIC's Home Page  and  Truro Amateur Radio Club

Please Note: The Maritime (on-air) Swap Shop, which was formerly held on Tuesday evenings, will now take place on Monday evenings at 1930 local time on 3750.

Looking for that special piece of radio gear to finish off your ham station? Do you have extra radio gear you'd like to turn into some cash?

Well the place to visit is the 'Ontario Swap Shop' held every Sunday at 12 noon on 7055 kHz and 7:00pm on 3755 kHz. Nick VE3NJG and Ken VE3YK host the hour long program and all amateurs are invited.

The Swap Shop list is posted every Monday on the Trans Provincial Net website, Ontario Swap Shop Listings , the swap shop list can also be found on packet by calling up VE3DID

(Nick VE3NJG)

The Manitoba Repeater Society Swap & Shop

This is a bi-weekly net, and listings are posted for four weeks.  Only HAM radio gear & computers may be posted.  www.ve4sss.ca/swapnshop.html

White Head Island DX-pedition July 2005 By D. Howard Dickson - VE1DHD This report chronicles my second DX-pedition to the NA014 (New Brunswick South Island Group) in just under three months. The first trip in the spring to the Morse Code Cottages on Grand Manan Island was reported in the in May 27th 2005 Bulletin.    This latest trip was a little further afield and we ended up on White Head Island, a relatively small bit of land (1.5x1.0 miles, or 2.4x1.6 km) lying in what appears to be US waters just off the eastern coast of Grand Manan Island in the Bay of Fundy and south-east of Lubec Maine and Campobello Island. White Head Island is located at N. lat. 44º 37', W. long. 66º 40' & Grid Square FN-64, and is IOTA NA-014 and Canadian Islands NB-010.  During our visit, we operated using a special callsign - VC9W - which was allocated to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the island's first settlement. Over the years, White Head Island has been home to a small fishing community. Lobsters, scallops, and sardines are presently caught in great numbers by the 180 residents and salmon farming corrals dot the surrounding waters. Thanks to the generosity of the residents, and especially the island's one ham, Dave VE9AT, we had a wonderful time operating from the island's spotless two-room school. We operated from 28 July through August 2nd, including the full 24h of the IOTA annual contest as a multi-op Dx-pedition station.   . . The White Head Island  DXpedition was a more sophisticated and focused effort than my earlier trip out to Grand Manan in the spring.  Our intention this time was to do well in the IOTA Contest.   The Radio Amateurs involved were Bill -VE1MR, Fred - VE1FA, Helen -VA1YL, Gary - VE1RGB, Howard - VE1DHD, Lynn - VE1ENT and Rich VA1CHP from Nova Scotia and the Halifax Amateur Radio Club, as well as Reg - VE2AYU and Alain - VE2DAV from Montreal. White Head Island is a bit complicated to reach in that it requires two boat trips. We first picked up the large car ferry that runs from Black's Harbour Charlotte County in South-eastern New Brunswick.  That boat took us  over to Grand Manan Island, a  trip that takes about 90 minutes. Next, a short drive across Grand Manan to Ingalls Head and we were able to pick up the "Lady White Head" for a shorter 30-minute hop over to White Head Island. Our two groups converged on White Head late in the afternoon of Wednesday July 27th with five vehicles loaded with sufficient equipment to run two full HF stations.  The first priority was to get our tents pitched, unload the gear and have dinner. Lynn (VE1ENT) was our designated chef and everyone else pitched in to ensure that dishes were done and the school was kept as clean as it was when we arrived.  Lynn did an amazing job cooking for nine people on a small, two-burner Coleman propane camp stove and a small microwave oven. The following is just a small sample of the meals she was able to turn out - baked barley; beef stew with fresh summer savoury; fish chowder; vegetarian chilli; waffles and fruit; and Lynn's own version of egg McMuffins.  See Lynn's article "DX-peditioners Need to Eat Too" that appeared on April 22nd in the Bulletin. The Operators: Back L>R Rich (VA1CHP); Gary (VE1RGB); Alain (VE2DAV);  Middle L>R Reg (VE2AYU); Fred (VE1FA);  Front L>R Howard (VE1DHD); Helen (VA1YL); Bill (VE1MR) and Lynn (VE1ENT) . Thursday we erected two towers adjacent to the school, each with three-element  tri-banders for 10; 15 and 20 metres - the run-station beam was at 40 feet and the mult-station beam was at 30 feet. Additionally, we strung up inverted-"V" dipoles at 40 feet for both 40 and 80 metres, and an army-surplus, 19-set vertical for 40 metres. Both stations ran power (500 to 600 Watts) and each had access to all five of the bands, although 10 and 80 turned out to be relatively useless under current atmospheric conditions.  The antennas were all up and the radios fired up by late Thursday afternoon, and our first informal contact was made at 1900 hrs that same evening. Speaking of conditions, we were very worried as we prepared for the trip to see that sun-spot numbers had dropped to zero the week before departure. However, a number of sun-spots on the back-side of the sun were predicted to be present by the weekend of the contest, and indeed they did materialise. There were 21 sun spots reported on Saturday morning, the solar flux index was 105, and the K index was 2, which made for reasonable propagation on 20 and 15 metres during the day-light hours and on 40 in the evening and early morning. During a couple of days of casual operating, we got the bugs worked out of our computer network running WriteLog, and had an opportunity to walk around the island - it is not that big! - enjoying the spectacular scenery and chatting with the curious locals who dropped by to see what the "crazy main-landers" were up to.   By Saturday morning, everyone was anxious for the contest to commence. Conditions on 40 metres were poor during the day, and the only really effective band was 20 metres. Thanks to our two extremely seasoned CW ops (Gary and Reg) we managed to keep our overall score up and were able to capture a good number of island multipliers. In the end, our score was just shy of 1.5 million with just under 1200 contacts. See end of article for the IOTA Contest break down. One of the contest highlights occurred as I was trying to manage a huge European pileup on 20 metres. Suddenly the fire alarm began to sound and I was getting ready to abandon my post when a runner arrived to inform me that the fire alarm had accidentally been activated by the heat from Lynn's stove.   Howard (VE1DHD) & Douglas a White Head Islander VE9-wantabe      Gary (VE1RGB) banging off the CW . Dave (VE9AT) our White  Head Island host & Rich (VA1CHP)      background on the mike. L>R Alain (VE2DAV); Rich (VA1CHP); Bill (VE1MR) and  Fred (VE1FA) However, the alarm control box was locked and it took over 15 minutes (seemed like an hour to me) to find someone with a key to unlock and disarm the system. Meanwhile, I can just imagine what those on the other end of my pileup thought was going on in the station.  With the contest over at 9 am local time Sunday, the over-night ops headed for their tents, while the rest of us got in a bit of casual operating and/or did some island exploring. And wouldn't you just know, propagation picked up dramatically on Sunday afternoon and into Monday, and we    White Head Ferry Terminal on a sunny day Beautiful EVEN in the fog! had reports of 59 plus 10, 20 and even 40 over from folks all over the States and into Europe as well. In fact, while working Europe, we had absolutely mammoth pileups of Europeans, as well as the American and Canadians we were working back-scatter, or off the back of our beam. The roar on 20 metres was at times so intense that we not only ended up working by numbers, but at one point I had to resort to working split and by the numbers at the same time. Alain (VE2DAV) even coined a new term for our Sunday experience - the QSB-Vortex - as the often-times unruly "mob" chased us up and down the split offset, and signals faded in and out as conditions changed around the world.  Talk about exhilarating!  Exhausting too I might add.  But boy, did I learn a lot in a short period of time. . As the week drew to an end, Monday evening turned out to be interesting in more than one way.  As I climbed into my sleeping bag at about 11pm I listened to the local CBC II station for a bit on my new portable radio and then fell asleep.  I was awakened at about 1am when the whole roof of the tent lit up.  There was a huge (for the Maritimes) electrical storm passing through the region.  The light display was so bright that the automatic street lights around the school shut off thinking it was morning.  I went back to sleep, but the rain continued to cascade down onto the tents.  I had, as it turned out, not so cleverly pitched my tent on the lee side of the School thinking I would be smart and avoid the normally strong prevailing south-west winds that characterise this area. Dave's (VE9AT)  Red Ensign flies atop the Mosley  . Lady White Head arriving White Head from Grand Manan Island However, what I had failed to notice was that there was a slight hollow right in the area of the centre of my tent floor, and, the school had a roof that sloped in my direction, and no rain gutters.  Well the rain cascaded off the roof of the school and right onto my tent; down the fly and through the wall and onto the waterproof floor.  I awoke at 3am and noticed a red blinking light on the floor of the tent.  Rats….at first I thought that I had left the radio turned on.  However, as I reached over and picked it up and water poured out and into the huge 2-inch deep puddle in the middle of the tent. The radio was shorting out.  Fortunately, my air mattress had kept me up high enough so that my sleeping bag was still dry, but all of my clothing that had been sitting in a nylon bag on the floor of the tent was soaked.  I dragged everything into the school and spent the rest of the night on the floor in the library.  The next morning the sun came out and so I placed my radio on the hood of the car and after a couple of hours it was warm and dry, and when I replaced the batteries and turned it on, to my surprise, it actually worked. Tear-down on Tuesday was interesting too.  We decided to leave one station up and running until the very last minute, but Tuesday morning we got to work early taking down the smaller of the two towers and packing away the radio gear.  The plan was to take the second station down about 3pm, but Fred (VE1FA) was on a run and we could not get him away from the microphone.  About 4pm Gary came running into the school to tell us that the weather alert radio in his car had just sounded an alarm and that folks over on the mainland in Calais were being asked to take cover as a huge electrical storm with high winds, hail and the possibility of tornadoes was approaching.  We pulled the headset off of Fred and finally convinced him that the station had to shut down.  With "all hands on deck" we headed out to take down the final tower and beam.  The sky to the south was absolutely black, but in just 20 minutes we had all of the beam elements and the tower sections down and loaded into the back of Rich's truck.  I think that has to be some sort of record, don't you? I got up early on Wednesday morning (5 am to be exact) in order to catch the 6am ferry over to Grand Manan, and then the 7:30 am ferry to the mainland.  I was home in Seabright Nova Scotia by 3 pm with wonderful memories of good food, good fellowship and above all, good DXing on White Head Island - NA014. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IOTA Contest Results for VC9W CW BAND 80 40 20 15 10 QSOs 16 68 286 20 1 Points 204 612 1590 288 3 Multipliers 14 31 27 20 1 PHONE QSOs 2 122 649 28 1 Points 18 966 3507 288 3 Multipliers 2 29 56 18 1 7479 X 199 = 1,488,321 Total Score Total Overall Contacts from VC9W for the week  = 4355 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For additional photographs from your DX-pedition, go to: http://photos.yahoo.com/d_howard_dickson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - the photographs used in this story and posted on the first website above were taken by myself (Howard - VE1DHD); Helen (VA1YL) and by Mr. Gerald Morse of Personal Photo Services, White Head Island NB.