Amateur Radio From Loudoun County VA

The next LARG Club meeting will be on June 16, 2001, at 8:30 in the Conference-Training Room at the Leesburg Police Station on Plaza Street at 8:30 a.m. The facility is located on Plaza Street between East Market Street and Edwards Ferry Road. Talk-In is on 147.480 MHz. You can join other LARG members for breakfast (~7:30) before the meeting at the Bob Evans Restaurant located in the Leesburg Corner Shopping Center.

May Club Meeting - Our Treasurer, Tom, NA4MA, reported that he put $1000.00 of the club's money into a CD, leaving $451.00 available in the club's checking account. The club approved allocating up to $200.00 to be spent for support of this year's Field Day activities.

Tom, WB3AKD, reported that the launch date for the LARG "Sky Eye" balloon has been set for July 21 and will replace the normal club meeting that day. Tom also announced that Norm, AI2C, will head up the Tracking and Recovery Team, and that Bob, W4POF will be in charge of the Launch Team.

On another subject, Tom reported that he has spoken to the Loudoun County Planning Commission and they agreed that "radio antennas" are a "by right" structure on county property zoned A3 or larger; all you need is a building permit for a concrete base if your tower requires one. See Tom for more details.

Gary, NC4S, kept the club up to date on Field Day plans, and even though our sign-up sheet seems to be filling out nicely, there are a bunch of operating slots left. Sign up now before it's too late!

June Meeting Notes - Gary, NC4S, will bring us up to date on this year's Field Day plans and will have the operator sign-up sheet at the meeting for everyone to pick an operating or logging time. Field Day - The Final Hours - Just a couple more weeks and the fun will begin!

Here are directions to the LARG Field Day site at Catoctin Hollow Farm (aka, NC4S QTH). From Leesburg take Route 7 bypass west to Route 9 exit; continue west on Route 9 approximately 6 miles to the first traffic light at Rt. 287 (Berlin Pike). Turn right (north) on Rt. 287 and go 2 3/4 miles until you reach Ash George Road. Turn right (east) on Ash George and go 3/4 mile and turn left onto Rehoboth Church Road. Go about 1/2 mile and look for the sign and driveway with Quinn on the mailbox and address sign with numbers 14282.

Antenna setup will start about 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June /22; we will set up the rigs and other equipment starting about 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, 6/23. Come out and give us a hand with any part of the activities; we can use all the help we can get!

Club News - Paul, K4MSG, reports that week before last he received my CW endorsement to Worked All States from ARRL. He now has three WAS awards - Mixed and CW, earned in Loudoun County, and the Bicentennial WAS earned in Petersburg, VA, in 1976 - and now has CW awards for the "big three": WAS, WAC, and DXCC. He's working on QRP WAS (still 15 states to go, HI!), and VUCC for 50, 144, 432 and satellite are also "in progress". Way to go Paul!

It was a big day for LARG at the Manasses Hamfest this year. Most importantly, Denny, KF4TJI, our club President, accepted the Plaque for First Place for LARG in the club competition in the 2001 Virginia QSO Party! Other LARGers getting top honors were Tom, WB3AKD, for the Virginia Mobile category; Carol, KF4TJJ, for Single Operator, VHF, and John, W4AU, for Single Operator, all mode. John's score of 231,540 was a new state record, and Carol's 12,714 points were a new record for a VHF operator.

Under the direction of Bill, K8SYH, our General Class license classes in the Balch Library in Leesburg have been going very well. Both Carol, KF4TJJ, and Gloria, KE4JEH, passed their General Class written exams this past weekend; Way to go!!

SHENANDOAH RIVER CANOE TRIP and STEAK DINNER - SATURDAY JULY 14

Bill, K8SYH, and BA have arranged for an all day canoe trip beginning Saturday morning, July 14.

Here's a synopsis of the trip taken from some emails that Bill has posted on the LARG reflector:

The canoe trip begins at Luray on the Shenandoah River, where you discover the beauty of the Shenandoah--flowing between the Blue Ridge and Massanutten Mountains through the George Washington National Forest. It is a short 1+ hour drive from Loudoun. A riverside lunch will be prepared and served by the outfitter's staff--and at the end of the day an all-you-care-to-eat Steak and Chicken feast at the pavilion. (Vegetarian meal available on request). A campfire sing-along will be held after dinner...marshmallows provided--don't forget your guitar!! (harmonicas, zithers, accordions welcome, but pianos are discouraged)

Camping and river cabins are available on-site, and there are B and B's and motel accommodations in nearby Luray if you prefer. If you stay over, you may want to schedule a tubing or kayaking adventure for Sunday!

The cost for the canoe trip is $45. per person, and includes everything--canoe, life vests, lunch, dinner, and fun. A $20 non-refundable deposit will be collected on or before the June 16 LARG club meeting, with the balance due on trip-day.

For those of you who are interested in the canoe trip on the Shenandoah, with a caravan trip to the site Friday evening, I thought it would be fun to travel to Luray as a group and set up camp there together. BTW, there is no minimum size to the party, and I know of at least two families other than mine that are interested. Here is your chance to see just how waterproof your HT is.

Reservations and $20 deposit need to be in my hands by 16 June (at the meeting). We usually stay Saturday night (all day on the river and then eating all that great food will make you VERRRRY tired!), and drive back Sunday am. You can also arrange a tubing or kayaking trip for Sunday if you like, but that you can arrange on arrival.

Please note, for those who don't camp, there are numerous hotels and B and B's in the Luray area, as well as cabins available through the outfitters. Rates for camping are $6.00 per person per night (Children 8 and under are free). They have 25 wooded sites that each have a picnic table and fire ring. The sites are setup for 10 people/site for group camping. A few sites in the pines are perfect for the one or two tent group. (No electric at sites and no dump facilities)Facilities: There are restrooms, hot water showers, and firewood for sale, a small camp store and pay phone at the Shenandoah River Outfitters where canoeing, kayaking, rafting and tubing rentals are available. There are cabin rentals in area. Location: Camp OutBack is located behind Shenandoah River Outfitter's Store in an area that borders on George Washington National Forest -Lee Ranger District. The Shenandoah River is a short quarter mile walk from Camp OutBack for fishing and wading, or just relaxing. Within one-half mile is a 10 acre lake in the G.W. National Forest. Hiking trails are within 6-15 miles for organized trails, two miles for more rugged trails. Horseback riding is within 8 to 25 miles away. The Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive is within 25 minutes. Luray Caverns and Antique Car museum is within 15 minutes. Civil war sites are within 30 minutes. Antiquing, shopping and dining are within 15 minutes in the quaint town of Luray and surrounding area.

You can contact Bill for further details at: 540-338-6928 or at [email protected]

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