Sept 12,2015.
I signed up to be a helper of some sort or other,
on a bicycle marathon. There were going to be 100,
62, and 30 mile routes.
First lesson: The assignment in the email from the
night before....won't happen. They will need me for
some thing else, and I'll find out after I get there.
I expcected to be at rest areas #3, but I was every
where else except rest area #3 the entire day. One
experienced freind says they always over book and
over schedule, not sure who will show up. This is
reasonable.
Second lesson: Dress for the weather of the eday of
the event, not the day before the event. Day before
was 85F and sunny. So, some of the net control
people arrived in short sleeve, and short pants.
The actual weather was rain and 60F, which really
feels cold when you don't have a coat. With the
wind, it's cold even if you do have a coat.
Dress for outdoors. Net control was held in a park
shelter with no sides. The wind blew right through.
The seated personnel at the picnic table were all
cold, even the ones wearing coats. And I was cold
also, waiting for assignment. I offered the propane
heater that I had with me. Yes! Cheerfully accepted.
I mentioned to take a large tarp, and rope it to
the posts, as a wind break. No one had a tarp. One
of the operators, her clip pad and paper kept blowing.
I had a paper clip from another job, and used it to
secure the papers. The Net Control needs a lot of
office supplies things like paper clips. Lucky to
have the one, it was much appreciated.
Third lesson: Paper maps are a good thing. Having
the route directions printed out in text form is
also essential. I used the paper map I brought, to
locate when I was going to drop off a couple helmets.
For this event, my Baofeng handi talkie worked the
repeater just fine. The sound quality at Net Control
wasn't great, there were a couple times I was able to
understand a caller when Net Control had to ask for a
repeat. My TX wasn't very clear, but no one else was
clear. I suspect a bad connection at the repeater.
Net control had to ask people to "say that again, many
times today. This time, it's not just me.
Fourth lesson: Expect to have a lot of idle time, and
then some thing to do. I waited an hour, and then got
important run to make.
Fifth lesson: Being able to transport riders back to
the finish line is a plus. A couple times, they needed
transport. I had planned to clear my front seat, but
did not. I will for the next one.
Sixth lesson: Staying fed, watered, and use of toilet
is important. The base camp had food (in another park
shelter, about 100 yards away from net control, and
it rained all day). I used the travel time to quick
visit retail stores for food and toilet needs, in
between assignments.
The final assignment was to go to a rest stop for
the riders. Meet with other radio operators. One
fellow was totally pleased with the light bar on
his truck. He could do revolving, or wig wags. I
also thought it was neat.
Sixth lesson: Eat when you can. I took the moment to
eat one of thier granola bars and drink glass of
gatorade at their expense. I got to follow the riders
back. Two places, the bike route was too narrow for
vehicle, so I had to detour a couple blocks out.
Fortunately, I knew the area fairly well.
When they went onto the canal trail, one of the women
in the pack turned back. I opened my window, she kindly
thanked me for being there for them. Quite all right.
And then detour back to the net control shelter.
Sit around for another half hour or so. Some one
walked over and asked if anyone had jumper cables.
I do, and a few minutes later he's got the engine
started. Another unscheduled good deed.
I'd gassed up the truck the night before. Today cost
me about $20 in gas, which is much less than expected.
The goals for the day were to do some good, have some
fun, use my radio equipment, and be part of a team.
We accomplished all of these goals. I consider today
a definite success.
Sept 12,2015.
Second lesson: Dress for the weather of the eday of
the event, not the day before the event. Day before
was 85F and sunny. So, some of the net control
people arrived in short sleeve, and short pants.
The actual weather was rain and 60F, which really
feels cold when you don't have a coat. With the
wind, it's cold even if you do have a coat.
A good idea is to have clothing options with you so you can layer as needed..... I recall once doing the before sunrise parking lot detail at
a swap billed as "The First In Michigan" Not the #1 Swap event
necessarily but the first on the calendar every year. That means
JANUARY, in S.E. Michigan.. That means COLD.. as in "How are you guys in
the parking detail doing? I just heard the weather report on the
commercial radio and he said the wind chill is FORTY BELOW! (Uh Jay.. Is
your life insurance paid up?).
Seriously.. I was the parking lot detail and I was comfortable.. Very comfortable... Headset (Plantronics starset) Mic/speakr.. Pendant PTT
switch in POCKET of coat, Jacket under coat,, Shirts (2) under jacket, Thermal undies under shirt.. Two pair of trousers over thermal long
Johns.. You get the picture.. Layers... Once the sun came up and someone
else took over the parking I went inside and lost over 50% of my bulk..
Nice thing about it. had a driver lost control and hit me.. With all
that padding.. I'd have bounced and rolled, no injury.
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