SKA Trip

Day-20, 6/25, was supposed to be a long day as we had to drive almost 500 miles. We left Apopka at 8 AM to arrive Mobile at 4 PM. The driving was very smooth all the way without any crowded section. I set the cruise control at 79 miles for the most of the day and I thought it would be a easy day though it was a long day.

However, the mother nature didn't allow me a easy day again. After we crossed Florida-Alabama border line, there was another tropical storm. It was a little lighter one than 6/22 storm in Georgia but, still, I could not see the road. I continued to drive following the tail lights of my front car and did my best not to loose the tail lights I am following. It continued on and off for about 30 min. until I reach mobile but it was really a hard 30 min. driving. However I could survive somehow and arrived Mobile at 4:12 PM CDST. I have driven around U. S. A. and Canada so many times but never had this kind of serious weather problem. I think I am not a lucky guy this time as other Trans-American/Canadian trips. Well, there are only 6 more days left to return home.

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Highway-10 has been always crowded, especially by many trucks. However, somehow, it was not much crowded on 6/26 and we could drive very easily. As it was a long drive for more than 500 miles, we left Mobile earlier at 7:01 AM and arrived Mr. Yoon's house in Houston at 4:55 PM, 5 min. earlier than committed 5:00 PM arrival plan (very accurate again !!).

Mr./Mrs. Yoon has been always very friendly and kind to us. They insisted us to stay at their home and provided wonderful meals every time, as Mrs. Yoon is a great cook. We stayed at their house in 2008 when we visited them during Trans-Canadian trip.
(The 3rd. transcontinental trip) MNI MNI THX.

When we were in Florida, I have noticed I planned to drive around 500 miles for 5 days consecutively. Also, we were tired.
It was a planning mistake and I decided we will take one more day to arrive home one day later, reducing daily driving distance to 350 - 400 miles level daily. That is why we stayed one night at this small town of Ozona in Texas. After San Antonio,
Highway-10 speed limit was 80 mph, which must be the highest speed limit in U. S. A., I believe.

Highway-10 of this section is usually not much crowded. I set the cruise control at 80 mph and drove right lane whole day. We stopped at a McDonald for coffee break and drove about 10 miles. That was the time I realized I left my smart phone at McDonald. If it is lost, I will loose all my communication tool including short e-mail function as my computer was not functioning. I made immediate U-turn at the next exit and drove back to McDonald wishing it was not lost. When I arrived McDonald and asked about my smart phone, A lady employee of McDonald gave me the smart phone back!! What a relief !!
MNI MNI THX AGN (again).

As I have reduced my daily driving distance, it was very easy daily driving arriving to destination hotel very early.

Flat wide open Taxas Highway-10. You will understand why the speed limit is 80 mph here.

It was hot. 111 F in Arizona !!! Other than this hot weather, everything was fine and smooth.

When we returned from restaurant to hotel after dinner in Phoenix, I have noticed a noise at the bottom of the car. When I checked it after we arrived to the hotel, this was the problem. As the car is almost 20 years old even though we had a good maintenance, the metal plate covering the bottom of the car was corroded, partially dropped to touch the ground and was making the noise. This 20 years old car was making trouble finally!! I tried to find a maintenance shop around the hotel but could not find any. The security officer of the hotel tried to help me and found these ropes from his car. Well, it worked temporarily at least. I found a truck maintenance shop at Highway-10 next day and removed this plate as it will be OK as far as I am driving dry land.

AD6BI (ex-HL1FM) arranged this dinner meeting at Yedang Restaurant in La Harba city (in metropolitan Los Angeles) with AB6XI. I knew these 2 hams and met them before. However, I have never met the other 3 hams - AB6AD, AI6EY and N6SVO. We had a nice RAG CHEW (talking among hams) at the restaurant and moved to AD6BI's house after the dinner, not too far from the Yedang Restaurant.

We have continued the rag chewing here, mostly about old stories of Korean Amateur Radio League, 50-60 years ago.

HM1AT couple are very proud of these two daughters - very talented excellent Pianist and Violinist.

We visited HM1AT to his home, talked there about old stories for an hour and had a good lunch at a Japanese restaurant "You & I Sushi" for further rag chewing.

After HM1AT, we met HM1CG at famous Olympic Boulevard Korean Town to have a dinner at Chosun BBQ Restaurant. Johnny also joined the dinner as usual.

The car, 20 years old (97 model) Lexus LS-400, did a great job.
There was no car problem except last minute problem of bottom plate in Phoenix.
This car has driven 4 last transcontinental trips successfully.

KE6AJ in Fremont, U. S. A. (1999 -2000). Probably, I am the only ham who bought a house just for ham radio station.

This trip had more troubles than any other trips I had. There were some kind of troubles in most days and they were :

In Canada              : Single lanes and many road works caused a lot of difficulties to travel.
In Northern States : Hard to find gas station/restaurant because of low population along Interstate Highway-94.
Large Cities           : Serious traffic jams in Boston, New Jersey and south of Washington DC
Tropical Storms     : In Georgia and Alabama
Mistakes                : Water spill to notebook computer damaged it (Permanently inoperative.)
                                 Left Smart Phone at McDonald

However, it was very productive and enjoyable trip meeting so many people as this trip was primarily to meet people. - Total 31

M. I. Shin couple - Vancouver, Dong-Wook Couple, Do-Hyuk Couple and daughter Judy, Hyo-Jin family - New Jersey
Michelle family - Ashburn, Yo-Yoon couple - Florida, Johnny - L. A. : Total 12 excluding kids and HM1AB.

Met many hams unexpectedly. (* Not planned hams. Met for the first time) - Total 19 hams. 10 unexpectedly.

HM1CC - Seattle, HM1AY - Calgary, HM1AX, HM9C - Ottawa, AD1AD* - Boston, HM1AB - Florida,
HL2AG - Houston, HM1AT, HL1CG - Los Angeles
HM1BA, N1PW(HM1PW)*, KA2CPK*, KF0BI*, NB2O(HM1KT)* - New Jersey
AD6BI(HL1FM)*, AB6XI*, AB6AD(HL1XO)*, AI6EY(HL0I)*, N6SVO(HL0Y)* - Los Angeles

NB2O, K3PGA, KF0BJ, WV3U, VA3PMM - on the air through ham radio from Ottawa.

Could visit the cemetery of Uncle Sung-Ha couples. It was 2nd. time for me but the first time for Jane.

Used cruise control for about 80% of driving, set 5 miles higher than speed limit most cases (10 mph higher some times).
Received no speeding ticket at all.

Almost 20 years old Lexus LS-400 worked well without any problem except last minute minor problem at Phoenix.
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Conclusion - It was a great trip but tired at the end of the trip.
Could I do it again? I don't know. Maybe? Maybe not.