The Four Mile campsite was great for a dipole antenna, but I decided to try a mobile-mount stick antenna instead. I didn’t
expect much from it on 40-meter LSB, but 1) my slingshot needed work and 2) steady rain began around 8:00 and lasted through
noon.
I worked hard to make three QSOs. I suspect some of my trouble had to do with the band. There was a lot of QRN and QSB.
I discovered that my cell phone connected as a hot spot. I hadn’t tried this from the trail before. I was surprised. I looked for fish
tackle shops nearby and found several in Grayling, which was close by. I needed gas too, so I unhooked the truck and took off in a
dash to get back before Michelle and Magic.
I found Skip’s Sport Shop. I bought a new casting reel all loaded with monofilament and ready to go. Then I got gas and headed back.
I was surprised at the heavy industry around Grayling, all the huge buildings and trains and piles of logs. I whish I had stopped
for pictures because the view from the road is hard to describe. This link shows the smaller of two sites I drove by:
logging plant in Grayling.
I got back in time to fill our water tanks for the trailer and for Magic. Each of the trail camps has a deep well and the trail
boss provides a 5 kW generator for us to use. After that, it was time to meet Michelle and start preparing for tomorrow’s ride.
We went out to dinner in Grayling with Ed and Diane. Renee and Doug joined us and other long-time friends, Wendy, Roger, Connie,
and Helen met us there. We decided to go to ‘Dead Bear’ restaurant. The food and the service were wonderful!