by Teri (KO4WFP)
After a 5 week break from POTA, it was time to get again within the sport! I go away for my North Carolina tenting/POTA journey Sunday, July 14th and admittedly miss being out on an activation. To treatment that scenario, Monday, July eighth, I headed to Tuckahoe Wildlife Administration Space (WMA), POTA park US-1603.
Tuckahoe WMA consists of 15,000 acres bought by the State of Georgia in 1990. Looking for deer, turkey, and coyotes is allowed on the property in season. The property has over 10 small ponds for fishing and three designated tenting areas. It’s positioned in Screven county and its jap border is the Savannah River.
When researching Tuckahoe WMA for this text, I got here throughout info relating to the Battle of Briar Creek which was fought on March 3, 1779. A lot of the battle web site lies throughout the boundaries of Tuckahoe WMA.
The assault that day in 1779 by the British was a shock and 150 Individuals misplaced their lives. The aftermath proved particularly bloody as a result of the British had been enraged over the demise of one in every of their sergeants – Hugh McAllister – whose physique was discovered hacked to items. Because of this, the American wounded had been hunted down and bayonetted. In line with an article within the Athens Banner-Herald, “the British victory was so decisive students consider it extended the American Revolution by a yr, altering the course of U.S. historical past.”
Again within the current day, Daisy and I left Savannah early below gray and sprinkling skies. The drive to Tuckahoe was nice and took us via Sylvania, Georgia once more. Alongside the route, I spied a rainbow with a slight double-bow on its left-hand facet. I hoped that was a great omen.
The map on the Georgia Division of Pure Assets web site confirmed what appeared like a number of entrances for the property. I opted to take the second entrance I discovered however that proved to be a mistake as a tree blocked the highway. I backtracked to the primary entrance (the place the battlefield signal is) and located myself on a large, gravel highway.
The woods I encountered on the property had been open, largely pine, and, I feel, managed for wildlife and looking as evidenced by a number of turkeys I watched crossing the highway in entrance of me. It wasn’t far earlier than I noticed the memorial for the Battle of Briar Creek.
Initially, I meant to achieve one of many boat ramps on the Savannah River, deep contained in the WMA, as my activation web site. Nonetheless, given the restricted time I had for an activation and the provision of low branches in an open space, I opted for a spot simply previous the memorial as my QTH. I arrange the hitching system for Daisy so she might benefit from the open air whereas I labored with my gear. I oriented the EFHW antenna towards the north working the coax again beneath it hoping that orientation would push my sign to the north and west. (The orientation labored as per my QSO map beneath.) It wasn’t lengthy earlier than I used to be able to name CQ. I went to identify myself and found there was…
NO CELL COVERAGE! (A POTA activators worst nightmare!) Ugh. I couldn’t even textual content anybody asking them to identify me.
Nonetheless, I didn’t let that deter me. I arrange on 40 meters and started calling CQ POTA. After quarter-hour with no responses, I moved to twenty meters. I known as CQ POTA once more for almost ten minutes. Nonetheless no callers. I wanted one other plan. I might transfer elsewhere within the WMA with the hope of higher cell protection however didn’t suppose that may be doubtless. I had no concept the place different activators had been as a result of I couldn’t see the recognizing web page. However wait a minute? What about simply spinning the VFO to see who I might hear?
I moved up the band and heard a POTA station round 14.058. What if I arrange barely beneath her or him? Absolutely somebody would discover me as they spun the VFO on the lookout for that station. I moved to 14.0565 and started calling CQ POTA but once more. An op did discover me however didn’t reply to my request to identify me. Then Dave VE3CMI discovered me. I requested him “PSE SPOT ME” to which he responded he would. Sure! The POTA Babe was in enterprise!
As quickly as he noticed me, callers started a comin’.
I labored twelve hunters in half-hour. Despite the fact that I obtained largely good sign reviews, the band was considerably wonky as there have been stations I heard as soon as that didn’t come again to me. I wished to work different activators for extra park-to-park QSOs however with out web entry, I had no concept who was on what frequency until I tooled across the band and, given my tight schedule, I didn’t have time for that. I additionally didn’t dare leap to different bands as a result of I couldn’t spot myself. Irrespective of, by 10 AM, Tuckahoe WMA turned #31 on the listing towards my 60 new-to-me park activations.
(Be aware: After writing this text, Glenn delivered to my consideration an article by Thomas concerning the Reverse Beacon Community and that it’s going to certainly spot me for POTA on the recognizing web page. I did examine HamAlert on my telephone after the activation and I had cell service once more and noticed it noticed me for POTA on 20 meters however not on 40 meters. Why it didn’t spot me on 40 meters, I don’t know. Nonetheless, now CQ POTA, CQ SOTA, and CQ calls are programmed into my KX2 on key 1, key 2, and key 3 respectively.)
After calling QRT and placing away my gear, Daisy and I took a drive additional into the WMA. (How might I cross up such a chance?)
This WMA appeared well-maintained. Given the puddles and low spots on the highway, it was apparent why the highway’s composition is gravel. After driving a bit, I lastly reached the highway on which I initially tried to enter the WMA. I turned onto it with the intention of making an attempt to achieve the boat touchdown through which I used to be and located myself stymied by a highway closure signal and water throughout the highway. It was good factor I didn’t attempt to use the boat touchdown as my QTH as I initially meant.
I finished my automobile and walked all the way down to the water. It turned out there’s a wetland on either side of the highway. The water crossing from one facet to the opposite made a light-weight burbling sound and moved swiftly. Sizable cypress timber occupied the wetland with their knees punctuating the water’s floor. I walked again to my automobile and located a number of fascinating bugs sitting on the hood, one in every of which was some type of cricket with the longest antenna on a cricket I’ve ever seen.
At this level within the day, I had run out of time for exploration. It was time to move residence. Regardless of the dearth of cell service, I loved my time at Tuckahoe WMA and plan to go to once more, ideally on a day with extra time for the activation. I’ve posted a brief video on Youtube concerning the activation if you’re .
With park #31 within the bag, I’m prepared to move to North Carolina for extra adventures. My tent and tarp are lastly waterproofed; most every part is packed; and, I’ve researched web site circumstances and the best way to do a SOTA activation. I’m about as prepared as I’m going to be. This POTA Babe is able to hit the highway!
The place will I present up first in North Carolina on Sunday, July 14th? Keep tuned…
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