Good Day Mediocre Day

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Sitting here and trying to unwind, but I am sure the coffee doesn’t help. lol Yesterday was pretty good and today, in contrast, wasn’t that great, though it has/had some up notes. First off, I will dispense with the ups and downs of today before I delve into yesterday.

Today started out pretty mellow. We went grocery shopping for us and my mother-in-law. That didn’t take long and we then had an early lunch at the Blain Hotel And Family Restaurant. Their special today was patty melts and they were good. After we got home I decided that it was time to tackle Satan’s Putting Green as it was getting a bit long and ragged since the last mowing. As I was mowing, SWMBO made manifest an herculean effort to cut back the bamboo; the same bamboo I mentioned before. She got a good bit of it done and when I finished the mowing I pitched in and we took down some more of that dreaded weed.

Finished with the yard work we decided to head over to Newville to the store for a few random things. Route 233 over Doubling Gap, though the shortest and most direct way, is clogged up with a construction project that has miles of one lane road and long delays. We took another route, 74 over Waggoners Gap and across Bloserville Road and Creek Road. No problems. We arrived and did our shopping. Then the return trip. This was sort of a colossal waste of time. We made it back up to Waggoners gap with no issues and down the other side into Perry County. At the bottom, right before a road we could have taken to detour if it wasn’t blocked, a farm trailer which had been filled with manure was laying on its side on a diagonal blocking the road. Shit! (pun intended). Ok, we turned around, went back over the gap and took 944 towards Sterrets Gap. We got stuck behind a car which varied from 5 to 10 MPH (8 to 16 KPH) below the speed limit. We finally got home after an extra 45 minutes of travel and put our semi-thawed stuff in the freezer.

Now I am relaxing. Sorry about the bitching. lol

Yesterday after a trip into Carlisle for some necessary stuff, I activated PA-088 State Game Land US-8787. I got set up rather quickly and got on the air on 40M. The temperature was a balmy 22.22 C (72F) and I left the doors and hatch open. Aside from traffic roaring by, it was a nice spot to sit. Within 9 minutes I had my 10 contacts to make it a bona fide activation. I ended up working a total of 24 stations in about 32 minutes. I headed home and then we ran some errands. Then last night I tuned to 7.245 MHz and immediately worked the W9IMS special Event Station! I have mentioned this event in previous years but I will summarize here to make it unnecessary to look my posts up. Every year W9IMS runs a 3-part special event starting with the Indianapolis Grand Prix followed by the Indianapolis 500 and finishing with the Brickyard 400. You can receive QSL cards for each individual event or, if you work all 3 you can get a certificate. More information can be found on http://www.qrz.com and look up W9IMS.

Yesterday I was able to hear Red-Eyed Vireos, Black-Throated Green Warblers, Chipping Sparrows. Ovenbirds and Belted Kingfishers.

All in all, yesterday was a better day than today and a good time was had by all. Namaste, kids and keep on keeping on even when things are not perfect. 🙂

Missie, Moxie and Ollie at SGL 088

Beware Of The Bamboo!

April 30, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Sometimes my ideas don’t work out well. About 6 years ago I purchased some bamboo plants to use as a screen for a ditch that runs through my yard. For the past 2 years I have been fighting with the stuff. It is cool looking, but, however, it does take over and grows about 7 meters high. Our view is obscured. I have been thinning it, but the shoots are coming up all over the place. I have pulled up the runners when I can, and I cut the new growth off, but the stuff has a very strong survival drive. Today I used the remains of a can of weed killer on some of the shoots and we will see if that works.

So: Spring advances. Tomorrow is the first day of May which means that in about 50 days it will be Summer. It is a good time to go over your radio equipment/kit to make any needed repairs and any necessary upgrades. Check over your coax visually and then do any tests you feel like doing such as continuity. If you use wire antennae for a portable setup then inspect the wire for frays and burrs. Verify the SWR on the antenna at the appropriate frequencies. Inspect any portable antennae such as base-loaded verticals or Hamsticks. Make sure all your connectors are free from corrosion. Make sure your batteries are in good condition and verify the charge. Take an inventory of your stuff and get any replacements you might need. Do basic maintenance on your toolkit. These things should be completed quarterly and really don’t take up much time. In my experience it is the little things that will cause you the most grief if you forget about them. Ever head out to the field and realize upon arrival that you have left something at home such as your battery or antenna? Just in case, always have an alternative in mind for an antenna. Ok, enough of the OM advice.

Today was a nice day. A comfortable temperature (15.5 C or 60 F) and we went to King’s Gap State Park US-4361. This was my 21st activation there and we both (SWMBO and I) like the place. For the most part it is quiet during the week. We like to park at the trailhead parking lot at the top of the hill away from the mansion. Usually, we don’t encounter people but today we had a couple rangers drive past and wave. I was using a 40M Hamstick (an original Lakewood that I have had for years) and the band was in pretty good shape. We logged 25 contacts in about as many minutes, one contact being KB3PSN, out club president.

The drive up to King’s Gap runs about 6KM uphill through a nice scenic forest. There are a few curves, and it is a bit narrow in places, but it is a pleasant drive. One of the spots you can stop at on the way up (or back down) is a small pond where you can see some of the local amphibians and the aquatic plants. Near the mansion on top is a flower/herb garden maintained by local flora fans. At one end is a small pond with local water plants and lots and lots of frogs which stop singing when you get too close. There are picnic tables available and there is a fantastic view from the porch of the mansion overlooking Cumberland County

The birds we heard were Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers, Oven Birds, Tufted Titmouses (titmice? I am still uncertain which it is), Brown-Headed Cowbirds and Eastern Towhees.

After we made our way back to Carlisle we stopped for a meal at the Dickenson Restaurant. They make really good food. They used to be the Newville Diner but had to move due to water issues in their old building.

Okay, I have rambled on and now am done. I will drink some coffee and try to find some parks on the radio. Namaste, all, and try to sync your reality with what is genuine.

Missy, Moxie and Ollie overseeing our activation

Resting On My Laurels (And Hardys)

April 24, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Here it is, 24 April 2026 already. The year is speeding by as it seems to. The older I get, the faster times goes.

Today I went to Big Spring State Park US-4355 with a goal in mind. I had 974 contacts from this park logged and I wanted to finish out my kilo. It was pretty warm out there (about 21.5 C or 70 F) and I decided to sit at a picnic table under one of the pavilions as it was raining a bit. If I had sat in the car, it would soon have been too warm and humid. I set up rather quickly and got on the air. Between 2100 UTC and 2135 UTC I worked 31 stations of which 4 were park-to-park contacts. I actually had 2 young women stroll past but they were so wrapped up in their own conversation that they paid me no mind. As I watched my count grow towards the magic 26, I couldn’t help but to feel an anticipation. Finally, I reached 30 and 31 and decided to call it a day. I look forward to my next activation, wherever it may be.

The real “heroes” of POTA are the hunters. Without hunters the whole POTA program would be an exercise in futility as it is no fun talking to yourself no matter where you might be located.

The birds I heard today were the Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher, the Hairy Woodpecker and the Hooded Warbler (which would make a great name for a comic book villain). When I got home, I heard Carolina Wrens, American Robins, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays and Chimney Swifts.

After i completed my activation, I took a short walk around looking for interesting fauna. I found Coltsfoot which had gone from blooming to seeding, Sweet and Blue Violets, Fringed Polygalas and Winter Cress. The plants in the park are really going wild lol. The fiddleheads are almost past and are turning into ferns. Even the Poison Ivy is looking pretty. There is a nice feeling about a forested area during/after a Spring rain.

I think I am going to finish this post here. I will relax and interact with my kitties. Namaste and keep your reality synched with the true world.

Redemption! Sweet Redemption!

April 21, 2026May 2, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Hi kidlets. I know it has only been a few days since my last entry. Maybe I am getting better at this. In general, if I don’t have something to say, I won’t post. Though a lot of what I post is of questionable quality.

Yesterday, 20 April 2026, SWMBO and I went to Big Spring SP US-4355. The bands were in horrible shape. It was so bad that I was questioning whether or not my radio was transmitting. I tried calling the few activators I could hear and … nothing. I tried for almost an hour before I gave up. I tucked my tail betwixt my legs and took SWMBO for a ride up on the mountain looking for bigfoots and other cryptids.

Today was a totally different story. The temperature was about 15.5C (60 F) and felt nice. I drove out to Big Spring and made 20 contacts in about 40 minutes. This included the break needed to change antennae. Stations from Puerto Rico and Spain were coming in loud and I was also working stations in Texas and Louisiana with no problems. I felt/feel redeemed and maybe vindicated. My confidence in my radio and my abilities has been restored.

I did have a successful activation on the 16th (last Thursday) which I didn’t comment on as it was a quick one seeing as I had chores to accomplish.

The log I entered onto the POTA app on the 15th would not verify. After waiting for 24 hours, I contacted the admins. They were quick to respond and to delete and re-load the log. I was happy about that and I can’t say enough good about those who maintain the POTA app. They are volunteers and only reap satisfaction for a job well done.

I only heard 2 species of birds today: Blue-headed Vireos and American Robins though right now in our back yard is a Pileated Woodpecker going all out on a tree. He has good rhythm, I must say.

I did notice some plants at the park. The fiddleheads are out in force and Google Lens identifies them as Cinnamon Ferns. Also present are Canada Mayflowers, Bristly Greenbriers and Fringed Polygalas.

Well, enough for now. There are a couple of nets I am going to check into: the Black Swamp Radio Club net which I use Echolink to log in with, and the Perry County Amateur Radio Club net on one of the local repeaters. More information on the Perry County Club can be found at https://perrycountyarc.org

Ok kidlets, namaste and keep your stick on the ice.

Moxie, Missie and Ollie at Big Spring State Park … again

Fringed Polagala: the small flowering plants

The narrow leaves with the serrated edges

Tax Day And Other Woes!

April 15, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Rather ominous, don’t you think? Today is April 15th, Tax Day. My taxes were filed months ago so it is just another day unless you take into account I am off.

We are being visited by some early season heat. Currently the temperature is 33.5C (about 93F for those who use that system) and it is on the edge of uncomfortable. The sky is sorta hazy, that light blue mixed with off-white clouds that you see on hot and humid day. No animals are stirring and the only bird I heard on my activation was the American Goldfinch, a rather pleasant and unassuming little bird.

I am sitting on my gaming chair which I won in a local fire department raffle. The Landisburg Fire Department garners funds through online raffles. They switched to this when the carnivals went away due to the pandemic a few years back. They seem to do well. I have won things like a generator, a 6-man tent, a set of Yeti mugs and a cooler and now a chair which SWMBO and I were able to assemble with a minimum of profanity and no noted injuries. Now the challenge is keeping the cats off of it.

This afternoon I activated Big Spring State Park US-4355 again. I logged 16 contacts in about 40 minutes. The 40M band was noisy with a lot of static being caused by thunderstorms in the distance. You can hear the crashes from lightening hundreds of miles away on the radio. That is one of the fun things about radio: learning about weather and other scientific things. ( Yea! Science!) Anyway, there were actually a couple of people in the park. They stayed on the other side of the park from where I was located.

When I got home, SWMBO helped me enter my logs into the POTA log upload app. Now I am waiting for the log to be approved. The server may be busy, I don’t know. No hurry, though, it is too hot to be in a hurry. I am even thinking about putting the AC units in, though I will not look forward to the increased electric bill.

There is a relatively new ham who I am mentoring. He is eager to learn and is able to reason his way through issues rather well. I read a post the other day in one of the ham radio groups on Facebook where someone asked for advice on what to make for an antenna to use for activating parks. My protege gave him some good advice on a WRC (Wolf River Coil) and radials. It is good to see knowledge being passed forward. There are too many people who use the anonymity of the social media format to belittle and bully others because they can get away with it. I am happy to say that a lot of people that I know show patience and provide good advice whether the topic is radio or home-brewing related.

Well before I go, I would like to remind you that I do encourage comments on this blog. Input is always welcome. For now, namaste and as always, keep your stick on the ice.

Ollie peeping out between Moxie and Missie

A rotting log with an interesting texture

A Casual April Weekend

April 12, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

We took it easy this weekend. We started out with a drive on some local backroads looking for critters. We spotted about 12 squirrels and 3 ruminants. We also took a walk through the Pine Plantation in King’s Gap State Park. The temperature was about 22C (71F) for a high and the sky was clear. We then came back home and Scout decided to snooze on my chest.

Yesterday, Saturday the 11th, we set out early to Virginia. We went to activate Sky Meadows State Park US-1318 in Delaplane, VA. When we arrived the sky was cloudy and the temperature was about 9C (48F) and rising. It was also windy. There were a lot of people at the park so we found a good spot in one of the overflow parking lots. Wouldn’t you know it, part way through our operation someone parked right next to us. They got out of the car and walked up towards the headquarters, so they didn’t really bother us. There were several acres of open land, but they had to park in our lap. lol Anyway, we had a successful activation with 24 contacts in about 1/2 hour. We continued on our way, using back roads and arriving at Buc’ees in Mount Crawford VA at about 11:30. It was crowded so we only stayed long enough to get some food and gas up. Our trip home was uneventful. We then had a peaceful evening.

Today, 12 April, a Sunday, we went shopping. I will not name the store but it was a horror show. They decided to “remodel” and stuff was everywhere. The aisles were clogged with boxes and piles of merchandise. It was very difficult to find anything as items were moved out of the areas they should have been in. To further cause confusion and chaos, some of the employees were wandering around filling up carts with merchandise to fulfill online orders to be delivered in the parking lot. Added to this, the store was packed and filled with the usual people who randomly block aisles. Well enough complaining. lol

This afternoon we took a walk through the Old Graveyard in Carlisle PA. It dates to pre-revolutionary times and has a lot of old stones there. Buried there, among other notables, is Molly Pitcher. She went with her husband to war and helped Martha Washington cleaning clothes and blankets at Valley Forge. During the battle of Monmouth, her husband was wounded. She took over his cannon, keeping it firing during the battle after he was carried off the field. Below you will see a picture of the statue dedicated to her along with a link to a video I made of the walk through the cemetery to her grave.

Over the course of the weekend we heard the following birds: (at King’s Gap) Pine Warblers, Fish Crows, Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches (at Sky Meadows SP in VA) Red-headed Woodpeckers, American Goldfinches, Chipping Sparrows, Northern Cardinals and (in Carlisle PA) American Robins, House Sparrows and House Finches. Quite an array.

Well I need another cup of coffee so I will say Namaste for now kids. Keep your stick on the ice!

An interesting stump in the Pine Plantation

Missie and Moxie guarding my radio at Sky Meadows SP

Got Those Bad Band Conditions Drizzly Day Lazy Afternoon Blues

April 2, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Howdy kidlets. It is the second day of my “weekend” as I work a weird schedule. This week my days off are Wednesday and Thursday followed by work on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday then off again on Monday and Tuesday followed by work Wednesday and Thursday then off until Monday. I do get every other Friday, Saturday and Sunday off so I guess it is ok. You get used to the schedule sometime during the first decade.

We didn’t go anywhere yesterday though I did go to Big Spring State Park US-4355 again. The temperature was about 28C (83 F) and it was making a serious attempt to be sunny. Band conditions were not good and there was a lot of noise. I started out on 40M but soon went to 17M as there was very little activity on 40. I made 9 more contacts on 17M (making my activation bona fide) and then went back to 40 for 9 more. All this took around an hour. The park was, as usual, nice and quiet with the sounds of nature only occasionally being interrupted by passing vehicles. Being in a remote park has its advantages. Anyroad, my total for this park is now 873. I am getting there.

In my last entry I neglected to itemize the birds which my app heard. Here they are now. We heard in Maryland: Carolina Wrens, House Finches, House Sparrows, European Starlings and Brown-headed Cowbirds. In Shepherdstown WV, we heard: Chipping Sparrows, Carolina Wrens, Mourning Doves, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmouses, American Goldfinches, Canada Gooses, Northern Cardinals, Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos and Eastern Phoebes. I guess Spring might really be here.

I am including a link to the contents of my radio box that I take to activations. Of course, my radio, but also various tools, some meters, a flashlight and other items. I also include my logbook as I do paper logging in the field, my exposure guide printout (per FCC regulations), band plans, a copy of my license and other paperwork to include a description of POTA for anyone who might be curious. I keep my antennae in the car as I have shown before. These days I like to travel light. It all fits into a plastic storage tub.

Well enough for now. I am going to sip some coffee and enjoy some slack. Namaste, kids.

A rescued possum at Possumbilities in Fredericksburg, VA

The Seasons Wait On No One, Neither Man Nor Groundhog

March 14, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Winter, a grumpy old man shaking his hoary fist in impotent rage is grumbling as he shuffles towards the transition point where he will meet Spring. Spring, a bouncy and loveable kitten dances up the garden path to rub against your ankles and bring you promises of better times to come.

The weather today was nice. Not perfect but still nice. It was windy which is usual for March. The temperature topped out at 14C (57F) and the skies were clear. Humidity is currently 33% and the pressure is 1018 millibars. So far this month we have received 50.29 MM (1.98 IN) of precipitation. The last of the snow has disappeared.

It was under sunny skies that we (SWMBO and I) set out for Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland: US-0700. The battlefield activation was only a prelude to our real goal but more on that later. It was a nice drive down there and we arrived about 15 minutes before the Visitor’s Center opened. I parked at the end of the lot and got set up on 40M. The band was a bit strange this morning. The contacts were not fast nor were they steady, but we worked 29 stations including some park-to-parks. A lot of contacts were from Georgia, Alabama and Florida which is a reach for 40M during the day.

After we finished, we stopped at the monument dedicated to Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross. She played a large role in the battle, delivering medical supplies and, more importantly, tending the wounded. During 12 hours of combat on 17 September 1862, 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. Tending the wounded was a daunting task and Clara, with her staff of 30, worked diligently for 3 days, patching up the wounded and feeding them. She later founded an organization to find and identify graves on Civil War battlefields.

We then proceeded to Elmwood Cemetery in Shepherdstown, WV. The cemetery is easy to find and has some nice stones. I like to photograph the carvings and oddities as time and weather will take its toll and deprive the future of these relics. It was quite windy so the only birds we heard were Red-Shouldered Hawks and American Bluebirds. We went to another cemetery but it was a disappointment.

We found a scenic route back to the highway and proceeded home where I now sit watching my cats wrestle.

So ends another entry in my blog. I hope all is well with my readers and, as always, namaste.

Missie and Moxie helping me activate Antietam National Battlefield

the 7th PA Volunteer Regiment monument right next to the Clara Barton monument

The daffodils across the road are starting to bloom

Almost Flamingo Season

March 10, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Wow! Currently the temperature is 28C (85F for you that use outdated systems). It has been nice all day. It almost makes me want to dig out the flamingos and place a platoon of them on the lawn!

SWMBO wanted to go to a couple of stores in Chambersburg PA, today so we set out about 0700 and went to Caledonia State Park US-1337 and did an activation. We got set up by about 0835 and got on the air. I wanted to start on 40M and ended up staying there as the contacts were flying in. I found an empty space at 7196 Khz and spotted myself online. A net came on about 1 or 2 K down but they didn’t bother us too much. I do my best to avoid nets as the folks who participate can be prickly sometimes when you are too near “their” frequency. Anyway, we had 10 contacts within 5 minutes, and they just kept coming in fast and furious. I like this type of activation. I barely had time to put spots on some of the groups. When we packed it in we had 41 contacts over the course of 31 minutes.

The weather was nice. Partly cloudy and it was 4C when we started and climbed at a steady rate. We even were able to log some birds which is a good sign of improving weather. We heard Black-capped Chickadees, Carolina Chickadees, Carolina wrens, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Dark-eyed Juncos. A nice assortment and we did hear them in spite of the chain saws running nearby.

When we finished up we went to Sportsman’s Warehouse looking for sleeping pads but were unable to find anything that suited us for camping use. We crossed town and went to Better Days Animal League thrift shop. We usually find dvds or books there and the money goes to a good cause. They also have adoptable kittys there and we interact with them.

After all this we went home and relaxed for a bit before going to Blain Hotel for a nice lunch/supper. All in all a good day though some might find my life a bit dull.

The UPS truck just stopped here and dropped an order which included “The POTA Antenna Book” by Don Dickey WV1W. Now I have something new to read.

Well enough for now. As always, namaste kiddos.

Missie, Tootsie and Moxie watching me operate

A view looking south from our parking space at Caledonia State Park

Looking south-east from our parking space

In front of the building where the restrooms are is a “little library”. I think this is a great idea.

Steamy Windows, A Wet Owl, And A Milestone Reached

March 5, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Greetings and salutations, kidlets. It has been a good day in spite of the weather. Today was rainy then gloomy then rainy then drizzly and back to rainy. We were out this morning running some errands and, when we got back, I decided to do an activation. SWMBO decided to remain home.

When I arrived at Little Buffalo State Park US-1376, the temperature was around 7C (45 F) and remained so for my time at the park. During my activation it got very warm in the car and the windows fogged up. I had to take off my coat and finish in shirtsleeves. Holman Lake is the manmade lake occupying 88 acres of Little Buffalo State Park. The ice on Holman Lake was that gray color that old ice gets when it is thin and rotten. The fishing shacks are gone as are the homemade skating rinks. I pretty much had the park to myself.

It did not take long to set up, and I was soon on the air on 40M. I worked 26 contacts before switching bands. One thing that I thought was fortuitous was that my first contact was a park-to-park … this one from Ontario. So after 26 contacts the band seemed to dry up. I swapped antennae and started working 17M which is usually a good daytime band. It proved to be today. I was able to work Italy, Oregon, St Kitts, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, California and a lot of other stations. A good time was had. Part way through my operation I realized that I was getting close to my Kilo award for this park. This gave me incentive to keep working stations until I had reached a total of 76. I had started the day with a total of 928 so I had only need 72 contacts to reach 1000. This was exciting as it is my first Kilo award (hopefully not my last). I want to thank everybody who helped me achieve this.

I was able to hear and identify (with my app) the following birds: Ring Billed Gull, American Crow, Common Raven, American Herring Gull, Blue Jay, Wild Turkey and Sharp-shinned Hawk. I think the birds are getting sick of winter and are anticipating the return of Spring and nice weather.

Well, once again I am sitting near the pellet stove and enjoying some coffee. I hope all is well with my readers. Namaste

2 gnomes and a wet owl

Nature, Radio, and Me

A POTA Explorer's Diary

#birds