Gradually, this process is repeated 3 more times for the main towers, and the field begins to be transformed. Once the main towers are in place, it's time to have some supper - hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill, chips and pickles, and lots of soda. Once the last remaining details are taken care of and the sensitive equipment locked into the trailer, the group calls it a night. All of the antennas are set up and connected, all of the operating stations are put together, all the laptops are booted up and the logging software tested, the generator is fired up and all stations tested on generated power. The Novice Station, complete with its American Flag atop a 30 foot tower, is assembled with the help of the station mentor Tim McLaughlin.
Dinner is a grand affair.
Charlie Kosman WB2NQV and his assistants Lisa France and Elaine Kita N3ODB put together a wonderful meal for the huge gang that gathers. Hourly scores are gathered and tallied on the spreadsheet, and as the day melts into night, stragglers go home to sleep. Coffee is constantly on hand, and a variety of late-night munchies help keep people satisfied and awake. Excitement starts to build as the hourly scores are continually tallied and compared with previous years. Strategies are discussed and plans sometimes changed depending on band conditions and point tallies.