As I drove to Flagstaff to give an amateur radio lecture, I was drawn to Bellemont. I was called to Route 66 to a place where the asphalt turns red and it disappears into the forest. Was it some sort of space aliens attracting me to this desolate spot?

Well, close. Actually Ron Gerlak KG7OH called on the Bill Williams Repeater and invited me to go. Actually he invited anyone to come and check out the trailers set up by the Coconino Amateur Radio Club and Northern Arizona DX Association as part of the Route 66 On the Air event.

The overall event is sponsored by the Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club in San Bernardino, CA. You can find operating frequencies and QSL card information at their web site.

The Northern Arizona DX Association make up special event call signs W6S and W6T. If you make contact with all four segments of the event, you can obtain QSL cards that make up a make of the Mother Road. They are using frequencies on Phone and SSB in the 6-meter through 80-meter bands. They are also using CW and digital modes.

If you do not have an HF rig, you can listen in through sofware defined radio (SDR) on the Internet. These radios are in various locations and use various antennas, so you can search through several and try the frequencies for Route 66 On the Air.