The 2009 Berryville Campaign
AKA: The 59th Annual Berryville Hamfest
Always the first Sunday in August! - By The Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club
Reported and Photographed By Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia. Released To The K4LRG.ORG Internet Site on August 11, 2009

           It was O-Dark-Thirty and it looked like rain when we formed up. We had a nice 8-unit convoy out of the old IGA parking lot in eastern Purcellville at 0520 hours local. Everyone had rolled in a little early and we talked a while before mounting up. Some coffee at the 7-11 helped. Gary Quinn - NC4S was point and Tom - WB9RXJ was trail.  It was still pretty dark as we took Snicker's Gap and rolled across the Shenandoah River at high speed - like some at 80 mph - into Clarke County. They wouldn't have time before we were on them. Our powder was still dry. On the way in, some including Norm - AI2C wouldn't answer on the convoy QRG; so, John - W4AU called Norm on his cell phone and was advised that Norm was infiltrating into Berryville for this campaign. Thus, there was none of CW McCall's Convoy on 147.480 MHz. We closed on the gate in western Berryville by 0550 hours. Again, they took all our money and we settled in under the big trees in the eastern section. The threat of rain kept most of us from setting out much stuff and instead we wondered around like the other early birds looking for bargains. Tom - WB9RXJ did do a brisk business with his gear. And, Bill - WF1L shared Dave - KE4S's shelter.

           There were many - like 20-plus - Loudoun ARG current and past members who stopped by to say hello and chat. Some didn't quite make it all the way into the fair grounds; the rain got them. It was nice to see some old friends. Again, my old buddy, Bill Mills - KC4AA de Milledgeville, GA didn't make it this year but I keep getting all his eMails. So, I know he's kickin'.

AI2C - Norm de Clarkes Gap
AJ4EY - Dodson de Leesburg
AJ4LN - Eric de Sterling
K0ZR - Jeff de Leesburg
K2BFY - Henry de Sterling
K4CJB - Buddy de Round Hill*
K4RWK - Bob de Leesburg
K5NOB - Luther de Leesburg
K6PS - Paul de Leesburg
KE4OKY - Dave de Sterling
KE4S - Dave de Leesburg
KF4TJI - Denny de Leesburg*
KI4UTB - Jay de Leesburg

KJ4GYL - Ken de Herndon
KU1T - "Z" de Ashburn
N4TGA - Merc de Leesburg*
N4PD - Paul de Leesburg
NC4S - Gary de Lovettsville
W2YE - Dick de Leesburg
W4AU - John de Hamilton
WB3AKD - Tom de Round Hill
WB4ACC - Bill de Winchester
WB9RXJ - Tom de Stumptown
WB4ACC - Bill de Winchester
WF1L - Bill de Reston

           The rain soon set in by 0830 hours and the best place was the breakfast line or in one of the exhibit halls. So, you wonder around checking for stuff you need and saying hello to old friends. By 0930 hours the crowd had peaked. John - W4AU pulled out and we heard Denny - KF4TJI gassing up at the Berryville service station but John talked him out of coming in. Buddy - K4CJB also turned around. Anyway, one more round around everything then we hit the road by 1030 hours. Bill - WF1L was still at it as we pulled out.  We were home on Canby by 1115 hours. It was nice riding with you all. Best Regards, Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

Loudoun ARG's   "Radio Row"   At   Berryville   2009

The Stuff of KE4S and WF1L
Dave - KE4S   Paul - N4PD   Henry - K2BFY   Tom - WB3AKD

Jay Greeley - KI4UTB

de Leesburg

Had QRG Problems

The Non-Radio Row of NC4S - AI2C - N4PD

Bill - WB4ACC    Gary - NC4S   Dodson - AJ4EY   Paul - N4PD
Early before the rain

Bob - K4RWK  Gary - NC4S  Dick - W2YE  Tom - WB9RXJ  Jay - KI4UTB
After the rain started

Henry - K2BFY Is Showing Off His Latest Import

Dave - KE4OKY's Hat

One Last Pass Before Going QRT

The Nicest and Dryest Place Around - And The Food Was Great !!!

The Rain Did Us In !!!
By 1030 hours our powder was wet and we were QRT.
In all my years of coming to Berryville since 1980,
it is still the greatest Hamfest around. It was nice riding with you all.
Best Regards, Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

                               NNNN