Today was rather chilly, only 10°C, but Valerie was going on a hike with a friend, so I decided to
activate Bronte Creek Provincial Park.
I did not want to pay the entry fee, so I did some sleuthing on Google Maps, and found a way to use a
residential
path that connected to an open gate to the park.
It is also convenient, and about 12km from my house.
I am not sure if this gate is always open, or if I simply got lucky.
After the gate, I walked down the path through a field.
It was very windy, and the clouds were moving very quickly.
I found a big conifer, and setup near it.
I am not sure if it was the wind, the type of tree, or just luck, but my first 3 times throwing the line
resulted in the antenna slipping from the branch.
I was about to give up in frustration, when the last time worked fine.
I am glad I did not pack it in!
Being close to the base of the tree gave me some break from the wind. Environment Canada said that it was gusting up to 35 km/h, but it felt worse.
This was a very satisfying activation for several reasons:
SP9RXP
This was my first European QRP contact, and so getting a QSO with Poland, 7,100 km away, with only 10 W was satisfying.
VE1JBL
This was a park-to-park from Nova Scotia with a nice guy named Jim, who was activating Tidnish Dock Provincial Park. Apparently I was his first-ever park-to-park! I feel privileged to be his first, and I loved his enthusiasm! Immediately after the call I reflected just how much I love this hobby!
AK7RS
This was a park-to-park (actually his was a 3-fer (K-4566, K-2243, and K-4576). It was really, really hard to make the contact, but we both were patient, and so it was really satisfying!
Start Time (UTC) |
16:00 |
|---|---|
| Finish Time (UTC) | 16:39 |
| Total Time | 0:39 |
| Total QSOs | 21 |
| Park to Park | 7 |
| Largest distance QSO | 7,100 km |
| Band | 20m |
| Mode | SSB |
Here's a map of the QSOs.
On the way back I saw this adorable caterpillar, so I used the whip of my handheld radio to move him to safety. Isn't this one of those cute but poisonous ones? LOL
This activation was my 17th park activation, for 13 distinct parks, including 274 total QSOs.
| Date | Time | Call | State | Band | Mode | Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/10/09 | 16:00 | NØAIE | SD | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:01 | KW4FM | VA | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:04 | KD9PHY | IN | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:05 | NC4XL | NC | 20m | SSB | K-8226 |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:05 | NC4XL | NC | 20m | SSB | K-6931 |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:05 | K9ICP | IN | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:06 | KD9YQH | IL | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:09 | NC7I | TN | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:10 | W1ARR | RI | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:17 | KC1PDW | ME | 20m | SSB | K-2413 |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:18 | SP9RXP | None | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:20 | AA4TX | FL | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:22 | K4JUU | NC | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:25 | K5ARE | MS | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:26 | N5VMN | AR | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:28 | WA4TED | TN | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:28 | WA2SLH | IN | 20m | SSB | |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:30 | VE1JBL | NS | 20m | SSB | VE-0952 |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:39 | AK7RS | None | 20m | SSB | K-2243 |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:39 | AK7RS | None | 20m | SSB | K-4566 |
| 2023/10/09 | 16:39 | AK7RS | None | 20m | SSB | K-4576 |