The following information provides details of a DXpedition to Crete that took place from June 29th through July 1, 2000 by Dennis Motshcenbacher K7BV. This trip served as a "warm-up" for his participation in the July WRTC 2000 competition in Bled, Slovenia.
Location
The length of the island is 260 km, but the shore-length is 1.046 km. The biggest width is 60 km from the Dion cape to the Lithinon cape, while the smallest is 12 km and is called "Isthmus of Ierapetra".
A high mountain range crosses the island from West to East, formed by three different groups of mountains. To the West the White Mountains (2.452 m), in the middle the mountain of Idi (Psiloritis-2.456 m) and to the East the mountain of Dikti (2.148 m). These mountains gifted Crete with fertile plateaus like Lasithi, Omalos and Nidha, caves like Diktaion and Idaion cave, and gorges like the famous Gorge of Samaria
The Island has a long history that goes back to the Neolithic times. It is however known for the Minoan civilization the flourished from 2600 to 1100 B.C. The island is full of relics of the Minoan ages the most famous being the palaces at Knossos and Faistos.
The capital of the island is the city of Heraklion. Crete is divided into four prefectures: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, Lasithi.
Climate
The climate in Crete is temperate. The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea.The winter is fairly mild and tolerable. Snow fall is practically unknown to the plains, but quite frequent in the mountains. During summer, average temperatures are in the high 20's-low 30's (Celcius). Probably the best time to visit Crete is spring and autumn.
Tourism
Crete is one of the most popular holiday places in Greece. Fifteen percent of all arrivals in Greece, come through the city of Iraklion (port and airport), while charter flights to Iraklion were last year 20% of the total of charter flights in Greece. In sum more than two million tourists visited Crete last year. This increase in tourism is reflected on the number of hotel beds, which increased in Crete by 53% from 1986 to 1991 while in the rest of Greece the increase was 25%.
Airports
There are two international airports operating in the island in Heraklion and in Chania. The island is connected with most of the airports in Greece, many European countries and Cyprus, with regular or charter flights.Companies that operate regularly on these airports are Olympic Airways, Air Greece, and Transavia (with direct flights from Amsterdam to Heraklion). Air traffic during the summer months increases quite a bit (the Heraklion airport had approximately 120 plane arrivals per day during the summer months of 1995)
SV9/K7BVThey stayed at Manos SV9ANJ's rental Pelamare Apartments complex located right at the water's edge in the village of Kokkini Hani, a few miles to the east of Iraklion and the airport. Manos maintains a seperate apartment for hams to operate from during their stay.
View Pelamare Apartments - Rental Ham QTH for more information about this fun DXpedition opportunity. You may also reach Manos using the following contact information: Manos Nerantzulis, P.O.Box 1272 71110 Iraklion Crete Greece. Phone +3 081 762000,+3 0944 582172. Fax +3 081 761382
DXpedition Dates
June 28 - Departed USA for Crete
June 29 - Arrive Crete begin opeation is late afternoon
July 03 - Deparedt for Bled and the WRTC 2000 competition
Operator
Dennis has been clocked at QSO rates of 300+/hr on both CW and Phone. Numerous contest certificates and plaques occupy proud space on his wall including Third Place - World finishes in the 1996 and 1997 ARRL DX CW contest as VP2EWW/VP2EV and three Top Ten - World IARU HF Radiosport CW finishes as P4ØZ & 8PØV.
Ralph K9ZO, the club representative for the Society of Midwest Contesters, picked Dennis to be his team mate at the WRTC 2000 competition in Beld, Slovenia.
He currently serves as Editor for the National Contest Journal; is an ARRL Life Member and past President of the Texas DX Society.
Operating Plan
License
Equipment
QSL Information
DXpedition Sponsors
Dennis Motschenbacher - K7BV
Licensed as WV6WTD in 1962 at the age of 13, Dennis is an active DXer and Contester currently living in Carson City, Nevada. Previous calls and DXpedition experience include KZ5M 8P9 C6 CY9 J6 KH2 KH6 KL7 KP2 KP4 KP5 KP6 OH OHØ OJØ P4 TI3 V2 V4 V6 VE VK3 VP2E VP9 XE YB9 YV.
CW and SSB on all bands 160 through 10 meters.
Dennis took advantage of the new CEPT participation by the USA to operate as SV9/K7BV.
The following equipment was used in additional to the customary assortment of keyers, paddle, headphones, etc.
Windom.
Thanks for being visitor number 
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