Our trip

Even the longest journey begins with one step - a wise Chinese saying states. Even the biggest dx-peditions start with a very first contact, often at your first modest shack at home. And you remember this first QSO forever then.

I - Stan SQ8X and Pete SQ9DIE decided we wish to experience that extraordinary feeling once more. But this time from another perspective - by participating the VK9LA dx-pedition located at the pacific island of Lord Howe.

One of the other reasons we decided to join the Lord Howe team was an initiative of the VK9LA organizers. They've announced seeking fresh team members, especially dx-pedition rooky ones. They simply wish the ham radio tradition will always last and develop. Apart from this, although the island still poses a well anchored place at the Most Wanted DXCC list, it's not the top one. This means we won't be dropped into deep waters of unknown, and we'll always be able to count on an assistance of more experienced operators. We couldn't ask for more inviting opportunity, could we?...

The main purpose of this blog is an attempt to share our own, personal impressions experienced during the expedition. We'll try to post our observations, photos, conclusions concerning not only the ham radio hobby. This is the most interdisciplinary hobby in the world, isn't it :-)
However remember please, our website is not intented to be the official VK9LA site. We recommend to check the official website in case you want to refer to the latest operating updates and information frequently.

We hope our trip will become your inspiration to undertake similar ventures to make the ham radio, the Morse code and the Ham Spirit long lasting. While on VK9LA we will try to battle with pile-ups we've never heard so far in our lives. That's why we kindly ask for your tolerance if a hand skips off the paddle, our voice tremble or we can't acknowledge your callsign at once :-)

We must to admit our decision to join the dx-pedition was very quick. But we also paid a high price of our work overload (flight tickets etc...) as well as personal trainings (ie. practicing with the Morse Runner almost every day for 3 months...). This is why this trip is going to me a huge relief and therapy: resetting an old, tired mechanism that needs a "technical inspection".

We will really appreciate your comments - we always find them helpful. A constrictive criticism is a great basis for self-development and a source of good conclusions.

And we wonder how many new friends will we make at the island. And how many old ones to make contacts with on the bands? Hope as many as possible!

Stan SQ8X