I use FM simplex several hours a week. Several years back, it was common courtesy to make a contact on a repeater and then move off on simplex if that was possible, but these days repeaters sit unused for hours, days and even weeks at a time.
I seldom monitor 146.520, I have radios monitoring 3 different 2 meter frequencies already. If I put a radio in scan, I have several simplex frequencies that it scans, as well as many VHF/UHF repeaters.
Over 10 years ago, I made a trip form home in Illinois to South Carolina, up to Maryland and back to Illinois. In all those mile, I had a radio on 146.520 about 90% of the time I was on the road. I might have heard 5 QSO's in all of those miles of driving, all near big cities. Yes, I was mobile and I am sure I missed many that were on that I just could not hear, but it really opened my eyes to the lack of use of the national calling frequency.

We have an op or two like that around here, use QSL, Fine Business, Old Man, practically every exchange. In our case, one was an avid CW op years back but has only done VHF for many years now. Too many feel they need to use all the buzz words I guess.

As Bernard said, it was most likely tropospheric ducting, which usually is a product of weather, usually a temperature inversion, most common in eh summer and fall moths  but can happen year round. There are several methods of long distance VHF propagation and I find them very interesting. This past weekend we had Aurora where the Aurora curtain was strong enough and far enough to the south we could actually reflect VHF signals of of it and work stations well beyond normal range. On 6 meters it can be on SSB and CW on 2 meters it is usually CW only as the distortion caused by the aurora makes it very hard to understand voice signals. Sporadic E, common on 10 meters and 6 meters, can occur even at 2 meters and higher, although ti is pretty rare and usually short lived, at least above 6 meters. There are other modes, many that require special operating techniques, such as meteor scatter and bouncing signals of off large objects high in the air like airplanes and even off of the moon. Mostly used at microwave frequencies, rain scatter is another method of working station well beyond line of site.

QST goes digital! The ARRL has started providing QST in a digital format and QST should be available to all ARRL members starting with the June issue. More info can be seen at http://www.arrl.org/digital-qst-faq

Depending on what radio you are using, that connector may not handle the current. That plug is only rated for 15 amps. They do make plugs that are very close to the same style that are rated at 20 amps, but they probably are not in anyone's junk box! If you ever feel the plug getting at all warm, you may want to check the tension of the female connector contacts , cheaper ones lose their tension over time and heat cycling (seen way too may cheap suppressor outlet strips with fried contacts and melted insulation).

I have looked at all the kits available and that is what prompted em to want to build a set of my own. I really like the operation and size of my Kent paddles, but want to build from scratch. Surely there are others that have done this and can comment on their experience.

Has anyone built their own keyer paddles? I am interested in building my own, iambic, and am looking for good ideas. The need to be rugged, fairly easy to adjust and can be built with simple hand tools.

Vibroplex Iambic

Kent paddles

The ARRL announced that LoTW will be adding CQ awards to the mix. Hopefully that will instigate more to use LoTW, especially more DX stations.

http://www.arrl.org/news/logbook-of-the-world-to-now-support-cq-awards

The more needed the country the worst it seems to bring out in the LIDS! With several DX-peditions on at the same time, you would think all the crazies would be spread out too thin to really cause much problem. I have never figured why so many think there is a need to camp on the DX frequency to keep everyone informed on what is going on. Almost as bad, are bad/invalid spots and stupid comments on the DX-Cluster.

There are many really good ops that I have worked while they were the DX, a standard others should strive to attain. Pile ups can get unruly and the op on the other end can do a lot to keep that from happening.

Has anyone looked at the ARRL Diamond DXCC Challenge? It is a very intriguing concept, our local DX group has decided to take it on for next year as out incentive to get the members of our group to get on and work more DX.
http://www.arrl.org/diamond-dxcc

There is also a fairly large amount of spotting going on on Twitter, if you follow many hams.

I agree and it is not just DX but a lot of US stations not on LoTW as well. eQSL got it's start and gained a big following before LoTW got a toehold and many more DX stations use it instead of LoTW. I have had an eQSL account for years but seldom, if ever use it, it is way too easy to get their "awards" without really working all the stations claimed. You may not appreciate having to jump through the hoops of LoTW, but that is one reason LoTW keeps it's record so clean.