2005 FOBB Reflections:
From a Pig to a Bee . . . Presto!

July 2006

I morphed from a Flyin' Pig into a Bumble Bee at precisely 1700 UTC, July 31, for the 2005 Flight of the Bumblebees.

Looked in the mirror, and I had yellow and black stripes but still had my curly pink
piggy tail.

I sort of morphed! Buzz-buzz-oink-oink!

Here was the layout:

RIG: FT-817 5 watts; ANT: 40 m. inv. vee 25' apex / 15' ends
TUNER: MFJ 941E
QTH: Whiting Scenic Overlook, Midland, MI near the huge Dow Chemical complex.

It was great to work a lot of familiar calls, including several with whom I have had eyeball QSOs.

Great to work NT4XT and VE3WMB. Tried a dozen times to work K5BOT, but no go. Band conditions were very poor with very persistent QSB.

I forgot to take my earphones, so I had to copy signals through the wind in my ears via '817 speaker.

Thanks to all for a fun time. It was more fun than a Flying Pig in a sunflower or a Bumble Bee at the slop trough!
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Ken Louks, WA8REI, is a QRPer and outdoorsman living in Freeland, MI.