In Before The Heat

July 20, 2025 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Today is 20 July 2025, the 56th anniversary of the moon landing. I told my tale of where I was that day in a previous post, so if that holds interest you will have to scroll through my blog. Yesterday SWMBO and I bottled my IPA. It has a good taste, leaning toward being hoppy as an IPA should. The process only took 1 hour and 12 minutes which is pretty good considering that we haven’t bottled for a few years, having used kegs. There is something relaxing and zen-like in the rhythm of bottling. I was filling the bottles and SWMBO was capping. I think she likes capping as it allows her to take out aggressions on inanimate objects. 🙂 Today we set out to do an activation before the heat got oppressive. It is Support Your Parks Weekend and I wanted to get an activation in. It was hot and humid when we got to King’s Gap US_4361. This is our first time back to Kings Gap since January. The humidity climbed up to around 3500% before we left. We were set up and on the air in a short bit of time and within 40 minutes made 28 contacts (all on 40 meters). Our app recorded the following birds: Red-Eyed Vireos, Chapping Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Eastern Towhees, Eastern Wood-Peewees, Worm-eating Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Tufted Titmouses, American Goldfinches and Downy Woodpeckers. We then decided that it was too uncomfortable to stay there so we packed up and left to do some shopping before having breakfast at Newville Diner. I have officially received my certificates for the SYP weekend: Hunter and Activator. I know it isn’t a great feat, but I am still happy with it. Now I am resting after putting in a new air conditioner. Kalamazoo is sitting on my lap though he is hinting that he wants food. I guess this is a good place to end this for today. Always remember that the simple things in life are the best and pleasure is all in your mind and attitude. Until next time, namaste.

Just A Not So Good Ending

June 12, 2025June 28, 2025 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

I need to get this out of the way first. Our oldest kitteh, Marley, has crossed over. It has been harder and harder for him to climb the stairs lately. For the past couple of days he was slipping away. He has stopped eating yesterday. When we got back to the house today, he was sprawled on the floor next to my desk and he couldn’t even stand. I called the vet and they were able to fit him in. I held him and talked to him as he went. We just couldn’t stand to see a vibrant and friendly big “bubba” of a cat fade to nothing. He is one of the ones we got off of our back porch. He was a big clumsy cuddle muffin who liked being around us and really enjoyed sharing the bed at night. This is another hole in my heart that will never go away. Cats are a blessing for the joy, comfort and love that they bring to our lives and, in a way, a curse for the brief time they spend with us which goes so quickly. There is so much more I want to say but just can’t. Goodbye, Marley. You will always be my big guy.

Earlier today, we went out and did a couple activations. We started at Gettysburg National Military Park us-0027 and made 28 contacts there. We then went to Cunningham Falls SP us-1566 and made 12 contacts. We had to move a bit as a ranger came along and turned the lights on in the restrooms which put an S-7 noise level across all the bands.

Well enough for now. Treasure the people and pets you have. Namaste.

View out our windshield at Cunningham Falls SP

Too Soon?

May 23, 2025 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

I have found that the older you get, the quicker time goes by. I just finished a 4 day break from work. Another member of the team had to swap days with me as he had an obligation out of state to attend to. This means that my work schedule is a bit skewed. I was off for the past 4 nights and now I have to work for the next 4 nights. This did allow me to do some activations. I posted in a previous entry about not being in Hawaii but I went out on the 21st, also. It was a short, spur-of-the-moment activations. The bands were bad due to solar activity and I was only able to work 15 stations in an hour at Big Spring State Park US-4355. Before we had finished it started to rain so my owl got moist. I will be adding, either tonight or tomorrow night, a video of a train I took while sitting in the Lincoln diner, to my Youtube channel. You can find it at https://www.youtube.com/@gestyrious/videos. Anyway, I am sitting here drinking coffee and considering getting ready for work. I enjoy my job so that is no big thing but the hours do get long. A 12 hour shift can be a bit endless on the 4th consecutive night. I guess we all have to make our way as best we can and take the ups with the downs. SWMBO and I got some new action cameras so I might be adding more videos soon. In any event, it is Memorial Day Weekend so let us take a moment to think of those who sacrificed their lives to ensure our rights and freedoms. Well, one of my cats, Kalamazoo, is begging me for some treats so I better comply. For now and as always, namaste kiddos.

Ptolomey in the rain at Big Spring State Park

A Two-fer And A Onesie

February 25, 2025 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

A good time was had by all today! We did a couple of activations today. We heard the following birds: American Crow, House Finch, American Robin, Tufted Titmouse (or was that titted tuftmouse?) Canada Goose, Carolina Wren and Northern Mockingbird. Quite a bunch! Last night I asked SWMBO where we should go to activate today. She suggested Maryland. She also talked me into activating multiple parks (like that took a lot of arm twisting lol). Well I was looking at a map and a list of parks and decided to go to Gathland State Park US-1574 in Jefferson Maryland. It is located on South Mountain and was the site of a civil war battle. It is a small quiet park though a few people were there when we arrived. A man came over to the car as I was setting up and introduced himself as KB3EOF, Sandy. He had just finished activating the park. It is nice to have a face-to-face qso. He gave me a call when he got home and I got him in the log as a hunter. After he left I finished setting up and got on the air. With SWMBO logging we worked 43 stations, all on 40M. This park was also a 2-fer as the Appalachian Trail US_4556 runs through it. We then took a walk around the park, read the historical signs and took pictures. We then set out for Harpers Ferry National Historical Park US-0735. Harpers Ferry was only about 15 minutes away so that was convenient. We spoke with the people in the Visitors Center and they were very okay with ham radio activities in the park. One of their volunteers is a ham and he has activated the park himself. Though the AT runs through Harpers Ferry, we were too far away from the trail to count it. We only worked 25 contacts here on both 40M and 17M. We got some contacts from all over the US, a couple from Europe and I was very surprised and pleased to receive a call from A65D in the UAE. This is the first contact I have had with that country and was glad to get it into the log. Now I am sitting at home with a cat taking over my lap. The cat in question is Kalamazoo, one of my pocket panthers. Well I am going to close for today. Namaste kidlets!

The War Correspondents Memorial at Gathland SP

When is the last time you have seen one of these?

The Day of Pork Sausage

February 2, 2025 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Well it happened this morning. At least they didn’t lie like they do a lot of years. Pencilvania’s rodent celebrity is purported to having seen his shadow. If they had said otherwise I would be jumping up and down screaming “LIARS!!!!”. At sunrise this morning the sun was shining right in SWMBO’s and my eyes as we travelled to Susquehanna State Park (US-1601) in Maryland. It is a nice drive through the countryside of PA and MD. The fields are mostly bare and though the temperature was -3 C, it was pleasant. We pulled into the park at the boat launch and were set up very quickly. There were a few fishermen on the ramp below us but we didn’t interact with them. The loons were out on the river along with Canada Gooses. In fact, our phone app heard Canada Geese and Tufted Titmouses. Well I started out on 40M with SWMBO logging as usual and the contacts were coming in fast and furious. I barely had time to post spots which is a good thing. We knocked off 24 contacts and SWMBO suggested we move to another park. We tore down and made our way to Palmer State Park (US-1587) which was only about 15 minutes away. Again, most of the drive was through the scenic countryside, this time with the sun behind us. At one point along the way a couple of ruminants crossed the road in front of us. I had never been to Palmer SP before and found a spot in the first parking lot we came to. There were hiking paths and a few people were out walking their dogs or just out for a walk. We got set up and started out on 40 M, making contacts from MA to GA and points in between. We were quickly a bonafide activation and after 18 contacts we swapped antennae and started on 17 M. This band was slow at first but soon picked up. We had a couple of contacts from Sweden, one from the Dominican Republic and several from places like Texas and Alabama. When we decided to pack up we had worked 35 contacts and I had officially activated 30 distinct parks since starting my POTA adventures. This gives me a Gold Activator award. We activated the phone app and heard Red-bellied Woodpeckers, House Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Tufted Titmouses, and White-breasted Nuthatches. As we were operating the sky went from clear blue to a dull and foreboding gray. It is still overcast now as I sit in the comfort of my shack drinking coffee and interacting with the cats. I am soon going to have to fill the pellet stove. Well I believe I have prattled on enough for one day. Everyone have a day! Namaste, kidlets!

Moxie and Tootsie enjoying Susquehanna State Park

The Clam Before The Storm

January 18, 2025 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Howdy kidlets. SWMBO and I wanted to get an activation in before there was weather so we trolloped down to Gettysburg National Military Park US-0027. Of course we set up at Culp’s Hill, a great spot to operate from. I used the app on my fone to look for birds and heard a bunch of them. The fone identified Black Capped Chickadees, White Throated Sparrows, Tufted Titmouses (tit mice?), Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, Northern Cardinals, Downy Woodpeckers and Dark Eyed Juncos. While operating there was one Cardinal that was hanging around in the bushes in front of the car. We started out on 40M and quickly made our 10 contacts to qualify as an activation. We worked 11 more than activity slowed down. We went to 17M and worked 4 more and then another 3 on 12M. It was a successful activation and SWMBO and I enjoyed the time at the park as always. Even though the temperature outside was around 3C, inside the car it was nice and snug. I even had to take my outer jacket off. Just before we left it started raining. There was another ham on the hill doing an activation but he was on 20M so there was no interference. I didn’t get a chance to ask him if he wanted to do a park-to-park as he was quite busy in a pile-up. That’s how it goes sometimes. Now I am home near a warm fire and surrounded by cats. We are under a NWS Storm Warning so I am waiting to see if we will actually get the 10-17 CM of snow that they are predicting for tomorrow. We have plenty of food and pellets for the stove and we also have a kerosene stove if the power goes out so we are all set. I don’t think we will have to resort to eating our cats this time around. (yes, that is a joke. Nothing harms my cats.) This is Support Your Parks Weekend for POTA and I have already received the endorsements for Winter 2025 Hunter and Winter 2025 Activator. I will have to see who is on the radio tomorrow and maybe make some more contacts. Well time to bring this to a close. Namaste and stay warm.

Moxie the gnome and Zarathustra the owl keeping us company at Gettysburg

Chilly, No Beans

January 14, 2025 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Hi kidlets. It has been 10 days so I feel that it is time to inflict you with another blog entry. The weather has been cold. Right now it is -4C with a slight breeze. Our ginger tripod kitty, Foggy, is laying in front of the pellet stove absorbing the heat. The inside temp is 27C as I like to keep it warm for the kittehs. This morning at 13:00 UTC SWMBO and I set off to a park armed with a thermos of coffee and a positive attitude. The temp was -5C and it actually dropped to -7C before we were finished. POTA has proven to be a great thing to keep us active. We made it to Big Spring State Park US-4355 and got on the air by 13:35 UTC. The park hadn’t been plowed so there was about 2.4CM of snow on the roads. I had decided to try 40M which is usually a good band for that time of day and it proved to be so. In around 40 minutes we worked 48 stations from Georgia to New Hampshire to Quebec to Michigan and several points in between. The contacts were coming in at such a pace that I barely hed time to sip my coffee let alone spotting myself on the interwebs. You gotta love those days. We even had a few pile-ups. It helps to have a second set of ears to decyphre the callsigns. All in all, a good day. Our phone app was able to hear winter wrens though no other birds showed up. There were a lot of tracks in the snow, some human but mostly animals such as squirrels, rabbits and those ruminants which I don’t name as they will hear it and run/jump in front of my car. I could paint 3 whole silhouettes and 4 halves on my car if I desired but I don’t want to tempt fate. We even had a squirrel throwing sticks down onto the car from overhead trees. Well I am going to go relax and interact with our kitties. Namaste and keep warm.

Tootsie and Moxie providing moral support.

Alpha And Omega 2024

December 31, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Wow, New Years Eve already. My plans are to sit here quietly and maybe have a beer or two and let other people go out doing the party thing. There are a lot of advantages to staying home on New Years Eve to include I can be naked with no fear of being arrested. No one here to complain except for my wyfe and the cats. We ventured out this morning to breakfast and then did an activation. We chose Big Spring State Park US-4355 because it was the first park we activated this year and now we have come full circle. The weather was nice and the temp was about 1.5 C (35 F) and the sun was shining. We set up just before 1400 UTC (0900 EDT) and got on the air. It was a bit slow at first. We were on 40 M and someone moved onto a frequency just below us. We took a short break, did a bit of hunting and then moved to a more open frequency. We made several more contacts and then we switched over to 12M. We worked several stations on 12 including some European DX. We did work the president of the Perry County Amateur Radio Club, Matt KB3PSN, from about 20 miles away in New Bloomfield PA. He had tried us on 40 but there was too much noise on his end. He had no problems on 12. Everybody seemed to be in the holiday spirit. We didn’t hear any birds today. We worked a total of 55 contacts in 65 minutes. I like Big Spring Park as it a small and park and doesn’t get a whole lot of people there. It is quiet and peaceful and you can sit back and enjoy nature. 🙂 BTW, when I refer to “we” in my blogs it is generally my wyfe (SWMBO) and I unless otherwise noted. It is nice to have her along as she makes good suggestions and also does a great job logging. Back in January she suggested that we streamline our operation and gear things towards working from the car which would make it easier doing portable ops and on vacation, etc. We have our set up down to my radio, a Yaesu FT-891, a LIFEPO battery and a tube of “ham stick” style antennae. I got the idea to keep the antennae in a PVC pipe with end caps from a video on Youtube;that way they are protected and easy to handle and store. I keep them in the back of the car mostly as it is easier than hauling them into and out of the house. One less thing to carry. Since it is New Years Eve, I guess it behooves me to wax in a philosophical manner. As I sit here drinking coffee and enjoying the heat from the pellet stove, I can think back to other years when things were less good. I have come a long way in my life and have earned everything I have. I am lucky to have found a wonderful wyfe who tolerates me and my idiosyncrasies and/or foibles. I have worked my way into a good job which I have had for 20 years. I still have my health for the most part. The best thing I can say that I have is my mental acuity. I have good friends and comrades out there who accept me and my eccentric outlook. So to all out there who may read this blog, Namaste and Happy New Year.

Moxie the gnome and Zarathustra the owl enjoying Big Spring State Park

Operating from Big Spring on Jan 02 24 in my shelter

My Owl Was Blown Away!

December 22, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Yesterday was Decembre 21st, the first day of winter so, of course, we went out into the freezing (0 deg C) afternoon and did an activation. We didn’t go far, just to Little Buffalo State Park US-1376. Our previous activation there was on a foggy day. This time it was windy. On 2 separate occasions I had to go catch Ptolomey as he was being blown across the parking lot. Moxie was nice and cozy in the car and satisfied in guarding the radio. We started on 40 Metres at 1825 UTC, changed band to 12 M at 1843 UTC, went to 10M at 1900 UTC and finished up back on 40 M at 1924 UTC. We worked a total of 29 stations including Mexico and Dominican Republic. I wasn’t able to hear any European stations but did work as far as British Columbia. It was a satisfying activation, even though the conditions left us wanting. Anyway, I figure it is the time of year that kept folks off the air. People, for some reason, like to spend time with their families during the holidays. No, I am not a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas, I am just cynical about human-nature. For the better part of the year people can be real negative but let mid-December roll around and everybody is warm and cuddly and all is well. Of course some people are consistent and maintain their misanthropic attitudes year round. Boy, am I sounding glum. In reality, I am happy and content to be drowsing in the warmth of the pellet stove surrounded by my kittehs. Speaking of which, on the 18th we dropped Calamity off at the vet to be fixed. She wasn’t broken, we just wanted her fixed. We picked her up in the afternoon and were expecting her to be lethargic from the drugs but LO! and Behold! she was out of the carrier like a flash and running around and playing. She seems to be a happy cat ans likes to sleep next to me. absorbing warmth. Anyway, it is time to close this. I will leave you with a quote from my obligatory Christmas reading: “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.

” Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.

He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”

Namaste and Merry Christmas, kidlets!

Chilly Activation

December 3, 2024 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

It was a beautiful day today if you care to ignore the temperature. After breakfast at the Newville Diner, we drove up to the ATV lot in Michaux State Forest US-5471. When we arrived the sky was blue, there was a light breeze and the temperature was 271 K or -2 C or 29 F, whichever you prefer. I like K in the winter because it sounds so much warmer. There were no birds to be heard today and also, luckily, the lot was not filled with the vehicles of hunters taking their rifles for a walk in the forest. There were 3 pickups but it is a big lot so no problems finding parking. We started out on 40 metres and the contacts started coming in fast and furious. I did not have time to spot myself online very often. Within 26 minutes we worked 37 stations from up and down the Eastern 1/3 of the country. Towards the end of that timespan, things started to slow up. I swapped out antennae and went to 12 metres to give the Europeans a chance. We made 21 more QSO’s on 12 and then called last call. Overall 58 contacts in about 1 hour. I know that Costa Rica isn’t Europe, nor is Mexico but I was happy to put them in the logs. We even had a contact from Finland. Overall a great POTA day. Yesterday we brought Calamity to the vet for the first time. She received a clean bill-of-health and will have a follow up in a few weeks for spaying. She is a bit older than I thought she was. The vet said she is around 6 months. That doesn’t make her any less loveable. After we got her home we let her out of the carrier and she was her usual self, apparently forgiving me for subjecting her to the indignities of a vet visit. Right now she is playing fetch with me. Well enough for today. Namaste, kidlets.

Nature, Radio, and Me

A POTA Explorer's Diary

Cats