Well, it’s that time of year again.. time for HAM-EX 2005, held in Brampton, Ontairo Canada (northwest of Toronto). As always, it’s a hamsexy affair, and this year was no different. I saddled up, charged the camera and headed on down to see what’s going on. I met up with some old friends there, VA3WXM was guarding the parking lot and earned himself a Hamsexy cap for his efforts. Inside the flea market I met up with friends of Hamsexy VE3ESC, VA3AGF and VE3ECM, the latter of which was manning a table selling some goodies.
In all, the flea market wasn’t bad. It had the usual junk and oddly wafting hamfest smell, but it had some interesting items of note. I was a little disapointed at the lack of hamsexynes, though.. there wasn’t a mobility cart or body-mounted mobile radio to be seen, and the famous van with the huge Yagi on the roof was minus huge Yagi. The Volkswagen with the terrible antenna install was there in full effect, as was a new Porcupine VW I’ve never seen before.
The Durham Region ARES ambulance made an appearance, looking as whackerish as ever, complete with red and white emergency lighting. As well, the outdoor pathways were marked with yellow police tape…. whoof… As well, I got my first glimpse at the Peel Radio Club ARES trailer…. a rather sad looking affair, looking more like a shabby camping trailer than a communications outpost….. but at least it doesn’t reek of “whacker” like the Durham ambulance does.
