This is what the Alligator River looked like Sunday.
It wasn't a hurricane or even a nor'easter, but the wind buffeted cars
crossing the two and a half mile long bridge, and made a bike crossing
dangerous.
A small SAG armada assembled at the bridge. OK, nowhere
near the number of SAGs found at the lunch stop at any one time, but more
impressive because they were here to work.
 |
119 bikes were SAGged across both bridges. One rider was out
with a broken arm from Saturday, and one (the very last rider) insisted
on riding across.
Here, bikes are loaded into N4ZWQ's pickup for the short ride. |
Boys Between
the Bridges
Here, with too much time on their hands, are some of the guys from the
Fessenden
Amateur Radio Society, on the Outer Banks. They staffed Rest
Stop 8, between the two long bridges.
These are some of the guys who communicated from Hatteras Island while
Hurricane Dennis beat on it.
Their club is named for radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden, and information
on Reggie is available on the club web page. He conducted some of
his experiments from the Outer Banks. He was the first to transmit
audio - voice and music - over radio. CW operators are still upset.
|
Compared to the hurricanes, Rest Stop 8 was a piece of cake,
and we appreciate them setting it up. From left to right are Richard
K4HAT, Allen W1WVA, and Randy W4HAT (N4HAT's taken, but there's still room
for WA4HAT, WD4HAT...)
The Fessendenians set up a trailer and worked multiple bands.
They even let "that young whippersnapper" Eric KF4OTN play with the equipment
for a minute.
|
Conditions on the Umstead Bridge over Croatan Sound, between Mann's
Harbor and Roanoke Island, were no better. Another two and a half
miles of 30 mph wind. |
 |
So the bikes were loaded up again and SAGged some more from Rest Stop
9 in Mann's Harbor. |
| Rest Stop 9 was manned by Harry K4UOR (wearing the red hat).
Harry is the EC for Dare County ARES, and a member of OBRA
(Outer Banks Repeater Association).
His full name is Harry Bridges, and, seeing as he was stationed between
the Alligator River and Croatan Sound bridges (you know, the ones with
all the wind), I'm trying very hard not to make a pun out of his name. |
 |
well, this was a long page. The next one (the LAST
one) will be shorter... |
