Thank goodness they didn't start Hamvention today. My flight left Connecticut on time, but entered a 45-minute hold east of Columbus, Ohio due to severe weather in the Dayton/Cincinnati area. Our skilled pilot (thanks, Delta!) managed to weave a surprisingly turbulence-free path through the towering thunderheads and we landed in Cincy about 45 minutes late. According to WB8ISZ in the northern suburbs of Dayton, they had nickle-sized hail and high winds--one storm after another.

The ARRL Expeditionary Force commandos have been busy today and all is in readiness for the great unveiling tomorrow morning. We'll have WiFi on site, so I plan to snap photos and upload to the blog as often as time and tide allow (the human tide, of course).

All that's needed now is a good night's sleep and a comfortable pair of shoes in the morning!--WB8IMY

This will likely be my last blog entry until I reach Ohio later this evening. Not to belabor the weather issue, but the good forecast is still in place--partly cloudy Friday and Saturday with a slight chance of showers on Sunday. The frontal boundry already moved through the Dayton area this morning and is galloping toward New England as I write this. I'll be buzzing right over it at about 35,000 feet in a few hours.

Believe it or not, there are other things to do and see in Dayton other than the Hamvention. (This is blasphemy, I know!) If you get a chance, take a break from the action and see the Air Force Museum. Even the famed Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington doesn't hold a candle to this. Where else can you walk right up to a Lockheed F-117A Stealth Fighter?

In the ARRL Expo booth there is also a stage upon which we shall play our many parts. No, we aren't going to pitch ARRL products, fat-burning supplements or timeshares in Boca Raton. We will also not be demonstrating kitchen utensils. Instead, you'll treated to 15-minute mini presentations on everything from how to improve your odds of receiving more QSLs to enjoying meteor scatter with a modest station. You'll find the full stage schedule here.

I'll be doing a presentation on HF digital, which is one of my favorite things. Speaking of which, what if I dressed as Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music and stepped through descriptions of various modes to the accompaniment of "My Favorite Things?"

On second thought, unless we have a need to clear the booth area in a hurry, that's probably not a good idea.

chug-chug-chug-chug (sound of newsroom teletype)

To paraphrase the Beatles, the weather is "getting better all the time."

The weather forecast for Hamvention has downgraded the rain possibilities to only 30% for Friday and zip, zero, nada for Saturday. There may even be sunshine Saturday with highs in the 70s.--WB8IMY

Did I call the forecast on target or what? Take a look here.

Friday will allegedly be quite nice, although not quite as gorgeous as in the attached photo. At T-minus 48 hours we're looking at some sun on Friday with "occasional" rain and clouds Saturday and Sunday as a weak cold front slips by. As I've said before, this is not bad. No one is predicting downpours or all-day rains. Occasional rain means just what it says. It may rain a little, or not at all. I'll take those odds and smile.

The advance commandos of the ARRL Expeditionary Force are already enroute to Hara Arena. Several will be arriving today with the bulk of the team showing up on Thursday.