Well, another Hamcation has come and gone, and it was yet another good one. Don't know if it was a record breaker, but it looked to me like attendance was at least as high as last year. If pressed, I might say I had the impression there were slightly fewer folks set up for the outdoor flea market. If true, it maybe was because the weather really was tending to the WARM. Certainly, the swap hall seemed as full as it has in recent years. Anyhow, me, my XYL, Miss Dorothy; my brother-in-law, KE0RA; and my niece, Mary Kate had a wonderful time. Got to the fairground fairly early and caught a golfcart as soon as we parked. Otherwise? Icom was (finally) showing the PW-2 amp...and also the IC-7760, aka "IC-7610 MKII." Kenwood had the pretty new mobile version of their TH-D75 (a mockup, the Kenwood folks weren't shy about admitting, inside a plexiglass cube). Did not see the new Yaesu QRP radio. I was pretty tired by the time I hit the Yaesu booth though, so it's barely possible I missed it. Food? I usually get the vaunted PORKCHOP ON A STICK. But it wasn't the same folks selling that this time and it didn't look as good to me... so I went to the backup JUMBO CORNDOG. The corndog, large drink, and large fries came to $23, which is not at all high these days when a Big Mac meal can run 20+ easily. Did not see any unhappy folks, just a lot of happy hams. All of this is, of course, thanks to the Hamcation organizers and volunteers: THANK YOU! W4NNF Checkin' in at SKCC Goodies as far as the eye could see. I have sworn off boat anchors (for now, anyway), though and left empty handed. 'Twas a beautiful--if kinda warm--day.
Cheaper here than a lot of places. Big Mac meal starts at 12 bucks and change...get the large fries and drink and pay 10% sales tax, and you are gettin' to a 20 for that FINE EATIN'... The problem? The XYL and I hadn't any Mickey D's in years and years. So, on a lark one day, she stopped and got us Big Macs. Problem? Overdone fries, slightly stale bread, and burger patties just a little bigger than half dollars. A nice stale bread sandwich with SECRET SAUCE.
For $20, I'll tell you what the secret sauces is. Okay, forget it, I'll tell you anyway: It's Thousand Island dressing. However, I must say McD's fries are usually good, so if they're overdone there, that's not so normal as far as I can tell. Sounds like the manager in that one is in the IDGAC* category. I think some of the company-owned shops are like that. The "I own it and paid for it" shops are usually better, although they still have to pay for the franchise...but when you own the place, it's different. I last heard less than 1/4 of the McD's are corporate owned, the rest are franchised...not sure if that's still accurate. [*I Don't Give A Crap]
I have had fast food exactly once in the past... 9 years. When I was basically hiding out at weekly rent motel while my to-be-ex lived in my house while my divorce was pending there was a nearby McD's I ate at a few times. That was 2015 (summer though so not quite 10, damn.) I ate at Burger King once with a friend since then, and I don't recall it being $20, maybe like $13 or so? I do eat out but don't really see the point in fast food. I can just come home and make myself a basic sandwich in 5 minutes for like a dollar in materials.
Most fastfood joints are like that now and have been since the pandemic. They just can't get decent help. Whataburger where we have our weekly Breakfast with the Hams has maintained the food quality, but the service is just the pits.
