by Teri (KO4WFP)
I woke on day 4 (Wednesday, July 17) of my North Carolina tenting and POTA journey, decided for it to be a greater day. The three unsuccessful activations have been really factor. It put me on discover that I had fallen into my previous behavior of scheduling to the max. Generally I turn into so centered on no matter I’m pursuing that I overlook to benefit from the experience getting there. So at this time can be a day of leisure with some POTA sprinkled in.
I spent the morning drying objects moist from the earlier evening’s rain. It seems the tent waterproofing was simply so-so and that smarted. Nonetheless, it jogged my memory of an acronym from Dr. Maika Steinborn – FAIL which stands for First Try In Studying. There’s a studying curve with any new endeavor and waterproofing a tent isn’t any exception. The rainfly and underside of the tent wanted extra of the outside waterproofing spray. That could be a venture for once I return residence.
The tenting spot throughout from me was unoccupied. The parking areas for it have been bathed in sunshine so I took benefit of that sunshine to dry objects earlier than packing them up as we had reservations at a brand new park.
In the meantime, I endeavored to get the activation for Lake James State Park that the rain prevented final evening. To make issues easy, I used the Chelegance MC-750. It was a snap to arrange and, whereas Daisy snoozed beneath my seat, I arrange on 40 meters. The band gave me 4 contacts in ten minutes. It was a problem listening to them at instances as a result of a park worker was mowing in close by areas.
I moved to twenty meters and added three extra contacts together with a park-to-park with Randy N5ILQ at US-11768 in Oklahoma. I’d been on 20 meters for practically 20 minutes with solely three contacts and figured I’d give 40 one other attempt. Switching to 40 meters, that band gave me three extra contacts. Getting antsy, I hopped again to twenty meters. Contacts with Tim VA3UZ, Dave N1CGP, and Brian K3ES gave me the respiration room I wanted for a legitimate activation.
Daisy and I packed up and headed out. The street alongside Lake James was one enjoyable experience, like an old-time rollercoaster with banked turns and zigzags backwards and forwards. I’ve about determined I want to go to North Carolina yearly simply to drive the roads!
We drove via Morganton, Lenoir, after which to Blowing Rock, a swanky wanting neighborhood. We rejoined the Blue Ridge Parkway for a bit earlier than heading north on 221 towards New River State Park. We have been within the higher left nook of the state at this level, 357 miles from residence.
Thus far, I’m impressed with the state parks at which I’ve stayed in North Carolina. Lake James supplied spacious, well-equipped campsites and one of many nicest bathhouses I’ve seen in a state park. At New River State Park, although, I might dwell within the lap of luxurious as I’d have {an electrical} hook-up at my website! (To recharge my Jackery Energy Station to this point, I plugged it into my automotive whereas driving.) You recognize the issues we frequently take as a right in society once you go with out them for a number of days.
After establishing camp and a quick rain bathe, I made a decision to activate New River State Park (US-2748) and, once more, use the Chelegance MC-750. Contacts got here in spurts. I started with 20 meters and made contact with two stations earlier than transferring to 40 meters. Forty meters didn’t disappoint. Over the course of 25 minutes, I made contact with 9 stations together with Jeff VE3JZT at park CA-5594 in Ontario province. I had a legitimate activation by this level with 11 contacts. Nonetheless, I had the starvation for extra QSOs and switched again to twenty meters. That proved to be transfer as I labored 4 extra stations together with Scott NB0W in Nebraska earlier than calling QRT.
At this level within the journey, I mirrored on the previous 4 days. I had six legitimate POTA activations and two SOTA activations. Daisy and I had survived tenting by ourselves a good distance from residence negotiating the challenges that come up from this type of journey. I had a blast driving the roads in my Crosstrek Kai via bucolic countryside and grand vistas. However fact be advised, I missed my associate Glenn and was slightly homesick. I made a decision I might finish my journey two days early on Friday as an alternative of Sunday. That also gave me two days for an additional SOTA try and two extra parks. The enjoyable wasn’t over but! What summit would I try and activate tomorrow? Keep tuned…
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