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By WBØRUR, on the scene

JOHNSON, Montana – A local ham radio operator says he had a “terrible and horrific” Field Day this year, all due to his lack of planning.

Dick Longfellow, a ham radio operator since 1963, says it’s not the emergency preparedness training or the radio operating which excites him.

“I go for the food. And I like to make a day out of it. I top off the fuel tank in the F-150 and I visit a minimum of five or six local amateur radio club Field Day operations so I can treat myself to a smorgasbord of flavorful goodness. I travel all over the state.”

But this year, Longfellow – who weighs in at well over 300 pounds – says he left the loose leaf binder with his food plan somewhere in his shack and couldn’t find it when it came time to depart. So he set out on his annual pilgrimage with only memory to guide him.

“My first stop was at the Golden Spike Amateur Radio Club set up in Glacier National Park. They had just set out the salad table fixin’s when I arrived. So that’s a great way to start the day. Not everyone likes macaroni salad at 9 a.m., but I’m not really adverse to it.”

The day took a sour turn, says the retired oil pipeline supervisor, when he got to his second stop.

“Upon arriving at the Big Sky Amateur Radio Club event just outside of Butte, I knew something was wrong. It was 11 a.m. and they only had desserts out. I intended to align my arrival with the cooking of burgers and brats, but I was about two hours too early. It was only then I realized the shocking truth: I was supposed to be in Missoula.”

Longfellow says it was “physically impossible” to get back on schedule after his travel faux pas; particularly disappointing was his last stop of the day –Bozeman, Montana – just as the last slice of meatloaf was being eaten.

“I have no one to blame but myself,” he admits. “Good Field Day execution relies on weeks of planning followed by flawless execution. I dropped the ball, plain and simple.”

Longfellow says he may have found a solution for next year’s Field Day.

He will be setting up a GOTA station next to the chocolate fountain at the Golden Corral in Bozeman.

“I can visit with people between the banana pudding and the ‘endless’ beef tips. I think it will be a great way to attract new people into the hobby,” he declares.

### HamHijinks.com

photo credit: mole-volio via photopin cc