2020 and 2021 were pretty bleak years for Field Day. Since it’s just as much a social or group event as it is an amateur radio event, the Covid pandemic really put a damper on things. This year, however, ARROW, our club here in Ann Arbor, MI, figured that while Covid may still be an issue, we could safely set up outside and have a real Field Day.
Even so, participation was significantly less than 2019. People are either still cautious about gathering in groups or have gotten out of the habit of meeting in groups. Whatever the reason, we were only able to muster enough equipment for three HF stations, plus a Get on the Air (GOTA) station this year. In years past, we ran four stations, plus a GOTA station.
I again served as “head coach” for the GOTA station and as one of the CW operators. I do enjoy making contacts, but being the GOTA coach is a lot of fun, and it’s really my main focus during Field Day. I’m glad that I got to do both this year.
Our club members took a lot of pictures this year. Below is a selection of photos, each with their own story.
Bob Kluck says
What a great article Dan!! I think the pictures help support “Field Day”…..that snake is amazing, didn’t know we had anything like it in MI
Dan KB6NU says
In case any of you were wondering, Freddy, the fox snake who hitched a ride home with me after Field Day, is alive and well and living under the rocks beneath my front deck. I was kind of wondering what happened to the poor fellow since I inadvertently relocated him a couple of weeks ago, but I spotted him yesterday, slithering back under the rocks as I was mowing my lawn.