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United We Stand |
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Paul Bunyan Bicycle Tour of
the Lakes |
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George KCØBH Net Control. |
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Bikers just coming in after a long day. |
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Some of the BAARC crew standing in front of the new BAARC Communications Trailer. (l-r) Bob KGØZK, Al WØRC, George KCØBH, and Jim KCØANQ. |
| The Paul Bunyan Bicycle Tour of
the Lakes for 2002 has now become history. It began at the Crow Wing
County Fair Grounds in southeast Brainerd on Saturday, 1 June at 0600. The
BAARC was well represented by capable radio operators who were assigned to
various locations around the tours. Keep in mind that there was a tour
that was about 37 miles around and a second one that was about 69 miles.
The former tour was essentially south and east of the fairgrounds, while
the latter was south, east and northeast of the fairgrounds, covering
territory all the way to Deerwood and back.
Members of the Tour have told this writer that they would have serious reservations about running this kind of event, without ham radio and its extremely capable and dedicated operators on hand. They have come to depend on hams to keep them up to date, or more properly up to the minute connected and informed as to the progress of the events and of any problems that may develop while the cyclists are on the routes. Of course, there were 4 rest stops along the two tour routes, where refreshments were available to all participants. This included cool drinks, sliced fruit, etc. George, KCØBH, did his normal excellent job of handling the Net Control desk, away from committee noise. Another difference this year was the initiation of the BAARC's newly established communications trailer which was parked at the fairgrounds. It was equipped with an ICOM 2 meter radio. Both the trailer and equipment and the net controller worked perfectly, until someone had a keyed mike next to a commercial radio and the music caused the 145.13 repeater to time out. It isn't known where that unit was located. Ham operators participating kept George up-to-date and time about what was going on in their respective areas and in addition to his accolades directed toward his fellow hams, the members of the Tour Committee were serious and free in their expression of the manner the hams operated and whenever the Committee needed to know something about various areas of the tours, they only needed to ask and they were provided with the necessary information. It is a pleasure to work with the BAARC hams, in getting the Public Service Events on track and providing the necessary information so events such as the Bicycle Tour could go on with only minimal hitches. Participating in the 2002 Paul Bunyan Bicycle Tour of the Lakes were the following hams: Sharon, KBØSQX; Jim, KBØTXT; Alan, AAØAS; Gene, KØTIW; Katie, KBØDKD; Lyle, KØLR; Curt, NØCRM; Bob KGØZK; Terry, KIØFW; George, KBØBH; Eldon, WAØMQO; Justin, KBØYSZ; Jim, KCØANQ, Ken, KAØJSW, Al WØRC, Steve KBØTNT, Joe NØUME, and Shirley KCØDCW. . |
Ken Magloughlin KAØJSW,
BAARC Community Event Coordinator. |
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2002
This page was last updated 12/19/2006 Ø
