Today I had the pleasure of going to the Kings Point Radio Club in Sun City Center, Florida. It was an emotional experience for me because it was arranged by a friend that I had not seen in maybe thirty years. Mike Iacovazzi, ham radio call letters, W1RDF. Mike was an early mentor of mine.
I grew up in Connecticut and when I was a languishing young “tweenager,” my Mom got tired of me hanging around the house and dropped me off at the local ham radio club, W1DHT, and drove off. I was drawn to it like a moth to light and became a member.
Mike, along with a few others was one of the older men that took me and several other young people under his wing and showed us the marvels of electronics and communications. Back in 1963 he gave me my very first transistor. Today, that is no big deal, but at that time transistors were like gold and handled like a nuclear device. They were delicate and susceptible to damage.
As the years passed and we all pursued our lives we eventually lost contact. I often thought of Mike and the others that played such a large role in my life and it’s trajectory. Recently one of us initiated an email and with the advent of my book, he invited me up for a club meeting and book signing. I took my Appalachian Trail photo show to his radio club and spent a good part of the day there.
Ham radio doesn’t play a large role in my book, but it has played a major role in my life and that came about because of guys like Mike.
All I can say is, “Thanks Mike,” you’re one of my heroes!
PS: received this today from a Kings Point member: “I’m not an avid reader but I must say your book has kept me glued to it.
I’m 2/3 done and started reading Monday evening the day I met you at
King’s Point Radio Club . I liked it so well I have told other friends
and Radio operators and ordered another one for my nephew who has been
hiking AT in sections” Bob, N1ZK.
Dennis “K1YPP” Blanchard
It was so inspiring to read of your adventures an foibles. I’ll surely order your book right away. Hiking the AT with your 3A, that’s very cool.
K-1, I met you just outside Parisburg in 2008 and then I saw you and NY Minute after I summitted Mt. Katahdin at the end of the hike. You guys were spending the night at Baxter State Park, ready to summitt the next day. I enjoyed hiking with you and hearing your story. I thought your idea of doing a book 300 Zero Days was great. I just ordered your book and cannot wait to read it. I some poems while I was hiking the trail. If you would sent to me your email address, I would love to share some with you. Lost contact with NY Minute, would love to have his email also or please give to him my email if you are still in contact with him. Congrats on your book. I will be Damaskas for Trail Days in May. I have rented a cabin with the green roof beside the supermarket on the stream. Would love to see if you are coming to Trail Days. I am getting the word out about your book. Look forward to hearing from you. I am painting an Appalachain Trail Series of artwork to be finished at the end of this year. Keep in touch. Brush
I am so glad I had the pleasure of meeting Dennis. I encourage everyone to read this inspirational book you will get a good idea of what it is like to hike the AT.
If you have ever thought about hiking, don’t let anything hold you back, it is a once in a lifetime chance and an experience of a lifetime. Get the book and I guarentee you will get the AT bug, the book is so humorous but true, I have really enjoyed mine.
Thank you Dennis for writing this book, it is the best book I have read about what it is like to actually hike the AT.
Your friend Donna Tate
(aka Hikernutt)
Dennis,
Met you and purchase book at 4 Days in May 2010. It became hard to put the book down. Being a Viet Nam Vet myself, could relate to you & your brother who gave it all and his Purple Heart. Being Ham Radio Operator, could relate. Being from Northern Michigan could relate to Bears and other wildlife. Loving to camp and fly fish back rivers brought back past memories. In then when you were in Maine, I too have been up there working at the Verizon Earth Station from company I work for. I visit part of the trail and eat at Mexico, ME. Dennis hope our paths cross again and I did enjoy your book and meeting all of your friends you found on the trail. Jim WB8YWA