No, that subject isn't an auto-correct fail: I managed to come down with Covid just as FD 2025 was starting.
On Friday evening, I had mild symptoms I assumed were consistent with a cold or allergy. Then on Saturday, sleep-deprived and against everyone else's better judgment, I decided to go ahead with my 1B-battery operation as planned. My son, Griffin, was home from college for a few days and came along. He's been going to Field Day since he was six and was willing to humor me. We drove to the coast and started hiking up the trail from Highway 1 in Pacifica toward what would have been a breathtaking view overlooking Point San Pedro. We'd gone 90% of the way up, in the hot sun, when I got lightheaded and realized I had better get off the trail. Griff found a clear spot in the shade, kept me hydrated and checked my vitals. Then he put up an antenna and got my KX2 ready to go, just in case I was up to operating. Turns out I was -- but I had to do it lying down. This meant switching to the KH1, which I could use hand-held, logging on the paper logbook tray. (The log tray has a detent mechanism that keeps it open and locked in place even if the rig is upside-down.) I made one quick contact, but by then I was in worse shape. I rested for about an hour before we decided it was best to go back. Normally on an outing like this I'd be jogging both up and down through the switchbacks, even with a pack on. But now even going downhill was slow-going due to my queasiness and lack of energy. We had to stop three times. For a while I thought I might be suffering from heat exhaustion. But much later, with a low fever and chills, I took a Covid test and found that was the real diagnosis. Saturday night was rough but Griffin set up an AX3 and KX2 for me to use in bed Sunday morning to get in a few more Field Day QSOs. Despite being indoors, running 5 W, and using a 4 foot whip, I managed contacts as far away as Maryland. This year's FD would have been very disappointing if it hadn't been for the father/son bonding opportunity. We've also vowed to return to the same spot next year, and possibly even operate from San Pedro rocks at low tide. 73, Wayne N6KR -- Elecraft, Inc. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
