13 Colonies special Event 2017

I've participated in this special event since 2012-only missing the first three years. I have achieved a clean sweep three years ( contacting the original 13 colony stations) and have been hit or miss with the bonus stations-WM3PEN and W3FT. The most recent bonus station from the United Kingdom -GB13COL I have not contacted much less heard! Band conditions at My QTH for any contact with them other than CW or Digital lately seems very tough. If 10 or 15m was open--probably increase My chances alot!
  Several Years I forgot about the Event until it was almost over so I needed to play catch-up. Not this year--in fact I had 8 contacts within the first 24 hours so I expected a clean sweep was going to happen.The band conditions during the next several days and time limitations kept the clean sweep goal distant.I managed a contact every so often and even snagged the  WM3PEN station thru the noise on 40m one evening.
 The last twelve hours I tried to add the last two stations I needed eventually contacting  K2H from Massachusetts but never making it thru the noise and pile ups to K2I ( New Jersey). He did stay a little longer on CW - conditions maybe?? By time He was on SSB the band was very iffy and I finally gave up towards the end.Twelve stations plus the one bonus is all I could manage!
  This is always a fun event and since I take some vacation around the 4th of July I have extra time to participate. My hat is off to all the superb operators who are willing to give their time and energy to make this event on the radio so successful.It seems to be growing bigger every year.A job well done--God Bless America, Happy July 4th
and---73s---Tim