Final Sunday, my household set out on a visit throughout North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast. Our vacation spot was Beaufort, an enthralling coastal city I hadn’t visited in 17 years. This fast pre-Christmas getaway was a shock for my daughters—and for Hazel, our canine, who loves journey simply as a lot as we do.
Since our Subaru Forester was destroyed throughout Hurricane Helene, we’ve been counting on our Volvo C40 Recharge. Whereas it’s a incredible automotive, its restricted cargo house made packing for this journey a problem. I initially deliberate to squeeze in baggage, meals, and radio gear for the 5 of us (together with Hazel).
Nonetheless, the logistics received difficult. Everybody packed gentle, however it will have been a good match, particularly since we’d must deliver Hazel’s moveable (folding) kennel. To complicate issues additional, we must cease for not less than one full cost every manner in the course of the 13-hour spherical journey, including 30–50 minutes to every leg of the journey.
After I discovered the extent 2 charger close to our rental home in Beaufort is likely to be out of service, I made a decision to lease a minivan as a substitute. Due to our insurance coverage supplier, AMICA, the method was simple and simple. The added house made the journey a lot extra snug.
Even with the roomier minivan, I caught to my authentic plan for radio gear, bringing solely my Elecraft KX2 and KH1, each neatly packed in my EDC backpack.
We arrived in Beaufort on Sunday afternoon. Our AirBnB rental was completely located inside strolling distance of the historic downtown. The house was cozy, and the situation couldn’t have been higher for exploring the world.
On Monday, we spent the day wandering by means of Beaufort, soaking within the city’s allure and historical past. Then, on Tuesday, December 17, we headed to Harker’s Island for a brief ferry experience to Cape Lookout Nationwide Seashore and its iconic lighthouse.
Hazel turned out to be an enormous fan of ferry rides—she couldn’t get sufficient of dashing throughout the water in a small boat (and the eye of the eight others on the boat with us)!
Because it was the low season, the island was almost abandoned, with perhaps a dozen different guests in whole.
The climate was superb: gentle winds, and temperatures that made it really feel like pure bliss.
You may recall from a earlier publish that I’d been trying ahead to making an attempt one thing new: a POTA activation with my antenna’s counterpoise wire dangling straight within the ocean.
[Many thanks to my daughter Neva (K4TLI) for some of these photos!]
Though I’ve activated a number of POTA websites close to saltwater—Myrtle Seashore State Park, Huntington Seashore State Park, and Cape Hatteras Nationwide Seashore (on the Pamlico Sound and at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse) to call a couple of—this was my first time really standing within the water with my counterpoise submerged.
Cape Lookout, with its beautiful lighthouse and pristine seashores, offered the right setting for this experiment.
Whereas my spouse, daughters, and Hazel explored the seashores close to the lighthouse, I headed to the calm waters of Lookout Bight with my Elecraft KH1. Since we arrived on the island round 10:30 AM and wanted to catch the return ferry by 1:30 PM, I restricted my activation to beneath an hour to maximise household time.
Standing on the water’s edge, I let the KH1’s counterpoise wire dangle into the saltwater whereas working pedestrian cell. Did it make a dramatic distinction in sign propagation? I can’t say for sure, apart from the outcomes have been wonderful!
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I had scheduled this activation earlier than leaving that morning, assuming I wouldn’t have cell protection on the island. Surprisingly, we had glorious indicators there.
My plan was easy: begin on 17 meters, transfer to fifteen meters, and end on 20 meters. Since I didn’t deliver my AXE 40M coil or the longer counterpoise, I deliberate to skip 30 and 40 meters. With restricted time, I doubted I might match these bands into the activation anyway.
I started calling CQ POTA on 17 meters. It was clear when the RBN noticed me, as a pileup rapidly fashioned. In simply 28 minutes, I logged 34 hunters—a fee that’s about as quick as I’ve ever logged CW contacts throughout a POTA activation! To maximise the variety of hunters I might work, I saved the exchanges a bit shorter than normal.
Subsequent, I switched to fifteen meters. Whereas there was barely much less exercise, I nonetheless managed to log 10 contacts in simply 11 minutes.
As I used to be wrapping up, I observed my daughter and Hazel strolling towards me. Though there have been nonetheless hunters calling, I known as QRT with apologies. The first aim of our journey was household time, and I used to be keen to hitch them for extra exploring!
Right here’s what this five-watt activation appeared like when plotted out on a QSO Map:
Right here’s my real-time, real-life video of your complete activation. As with all of my movies, I don’t edit out any elements of the on-air activation time. As well as, I’ve monetization turned off on YouTube, though that doesn’t cease them from inserting adverts earlier than and after my movies.
Observe that Patreon supporters can watch and even obtain this video 100% ad-free by means of Vimeo on my Patreon web page:
Click on right here to view on YouTube.
There’s one thing magical about working on a saltwater seaside. The rhythm of the waves, the huge open sky, and the considered your sign skipping throughout the globe—all of it feels surreal.
Trying on the QSO Map and the distances my 5 watts right into a 4 foot whip carried me is nothing in need of magic.
Had I tried this activation on the opposite aspect of the island with waves crashing, I don’t suppose I might have saved the counterpoise within the water. On the Lookout Bight aspect of the island, although, the waters have been calm and all I needed to do was re-position myself each quarter-hour because the tide went out.
Subsequent time we go to Cape Lookout, I need to lease a off-grid cabin and keep for a couple of days. It will be an excellent location for one thing just like the NC QSO Celebration or only a mini IOTA (Islands On The Air) DXpedition.
There have been so only a few folks on the island that this sort lady who ran the reward store gave Hazel so much of consideration…and doggy treats!
Our little ferry returning.
On the way in which again, out boat stopped by Shackleford island once we noticed wild horses on the coast. My daughter snapped these pictures.
Thanks for becoming a member of me throughout this wonderful little activation!
I hope you loved the sector report and my activation video as a lot as I loved creating them!
After all, I’d additionally wish to ship a particular due to these of you who’ve been supporting the location and channel by means of Patreon, and the Espresso Fund. Whereas not a requirement, as my content material will all the time be free, I actually recognize the help.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me!
Right here’s wishing you and yours the easiest of the Holidays!
Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)
