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

April Sans Showers

April 7, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Howdy kidlets. Had a nice couple of days off. Got 2 more activations in, did some banking, did some shopping and interacted with the kitties.

The weather the last couple of days was nice-ish with temperatures hitting 9C yesterday (48 F) and 10C today (50F). Yesterday the sun was trying to hide but came peeping out now and then. Today it was just plain sunny which made it nice sitting in my car.

Yesterday I made 30 contacts from Big Spring State Park US-4335 and it brought me closer to 1000. Today I made 21 contacts some on 40M and some on 15M. I worked a station from Italy and one from Spain. Those 2 contacts were higher in signal level than some from the US. I tell people that any signal report I receive is a good one. It all depends on what the bands are doing. I worked from MD to WA in the US. I am not sure what our plans are for the upcoming weekend but there might be an activation.

One thing I can’t stress enough is safety. Keeping antennae away from power lines is one thing but keeping them out of the paths of people is just as important. When you are in a park you have to be aware of other people in the area. When I use my Buddi-pole I place cones around it and on the ground strip to keep folks away. I always look around for situations where people could endanger themselves on my equipment.

I am including a picture of my gear laid out even though I linked a video of it last time.

Well it is suppertime so I will say namaste to you and yours.

The mascots today including Tootsie the owl

Coltsfoot peeking through the leaf-litter

My gear laid out and being inspected by Kalamazoo

One of the fireplaces near the pavilions

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

One Weekend, 3 Activations

March 29, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Hi kids. I didn’t plan on activating 3 times this weekend but that is what happened.

Friday afternoon I was sitting here and decided to go to Big Spring State Park US-4355. I arrived at about 1950 UTC and got set up. I tuned to 40M and worked 14 stations before moving to 17 M where I worked 8 more stations including Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Spain. I was happy with that total and it brings me closer to my kilo award for this park.

Yesterday, Saturday, we took a drive down to Shepherdstown, WV, seeking a few cemeteries. We stopped in at Elmwood Cemetery where we had been previously. We also visited the Old English/Episcopal Cemetery where there are some graves of Revolutionary War soldiers. We then visited a park which held a monument dedicated to James Rumsey, the inventor of the steamboat (not Fulton as we were taught in school). After this we took a leisurely drive along the Potomac River to Harpers Ferry National Historic Park US-0735. In 25 minutes, we worked 16 contacts before heading home.

Today, Sunday the 29th, we did some shopping including a trip to the local Ollie’s. We had lunch, I did my bike ride and then we tackled some domestic chores. Then I set out again for Big Spring State Park US-4355. In spite of a contest going on I was able to work 21 contacts before calling it a day.

I have mentioned before that I like Big Spring State Park as it is peaceful and usually deserted. I did have a Ranger check up on me about a year or do ago. She seemed interested in my operation and, since I had my ice-fishing tent set up as a warming shelter, I guess she wanted to make sure I wasn’t camping there. We have occasionally seen various wildlife there, mostly squirrels and a couple times I smelled and heard a bear checking us out.

Well that is my latest update. Please feel free to leave comments. So long and namaste!

The plaque on the bottom of the monument

From Ides To Now

March 24, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Hmmm … 10 days since my last update. I can’t say it wasn’t fun for the most part. I did work 6 days in there (12 hour night shift) so I guess the fatigue factor was present. I had to fill in for one of the others as he had a karate tournament to host.

So on the 15th, last Sunday, the day following my last post, we found ourselves in Gettysburg PA after doing some photography in Shepherdstown WV in Elmwood Cemetery. SWMBO and I like going to cemeteries and looking for interesting gravestones and stained-glass windows in mausoleums. I mainly like to photograph stones with interesting carvings as a way of preserving them. The weather is taking its toll on older stones and some of them are fading fast. I collect pictures of them so that there is a record (albeit un-official) of what the carvings looked like. Maybe someday I will produce a coffee table book.

Anyway, in Gettysburg on Culp’s Hill we did a short activation. We worked 10 stations in 11 minutes. Not bad for a quick setup. After this we went for lunch, did some shopping and then headed home.

The week passed slowly going forward but quickly looking back. Our dryer broke the other day and the repair guy was scheduled to come over today. He actually showed up early and was done in about 15 minutes. The belt had broken. They no longer make this model (it is a GE) so he had to substitute a belt from a different model: a Maytag. He tested it and SWMBO was happy. She immediately put a load in and started it up.

This morning, rather than wait patiently for the repair guy (scheduled arrival was between 1230 and 1300), I went and activated Big Spring State Park US-4355. I have activated this park 25 times so far. It is close by; a 12-minute drive (roughly). When I arrived at 11:40 UTC, the temperature was -2C (28 F for those who dislike metric) and did not warm up much while I was there. The sun did start to appear over the horizon and through the trees, promising an enjoyable day. I set up and got on the air around 11:50. I chose the 40M band and it was in good shape. The past few days propagation has been in a slump but today it picked up. In 47 minutes, I made 59 contacts. Not too bad.

A few words about Big Spring State Park. It sits at the Western end of Perry County and does not get a lot of visitors, especially between October and April. It is a good place to go for a quiet picnic or to just enjoy solitude and nature. There is a little stream running through it which is fed by Big Spring. It makes for a nice walk if you like walking along streams. A couple hundred meters from the park is a trail which goes about 1 Kilometer to a hole in the side of the mountain where they started building a railroad tunnel. They gave it up but the tunnel is still there and goes in about 100 meters. The walk to it is nice. Maybe someday I will pack my radio into there and activate (it is in Tuscarora State Forest).

Well, it is time for slack. Namaste, kids and keep your stick on the ice!

One of the stones at Elmwood Cemetery. Clasping hands was a common theme.

An unsheathed sword. Usually indicating a soldier.

This dove (symbolizing the Christ) is fading and will soon be unrecognizable.

Moxie, Ollie and Missie keeping me company at Big Spring State Park

Looking Northeast through the trees in Big Spring SP

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

A Warm And Sunny Valentine

February 14, 2026April 9, 2026 / KB3CVO / Leave a comment

Howdy kidlets. The other day SWMBO and I were talking. I mentioned that I am grateful she doesn’t take Valentines Day seriously and require me to take out a second mortgage every February to fund some shiny hunk of metal with a sparkly rock stuck in it (or other foolishness like that) just to affirm that I love her. She said “Hey. For Valentines you could take me to Buc’ees!” Easy ’nuff.

We left this morning at 0600. The temperature was a balmy -4C and the sky was still deciding on whether to brighten up or not. The light had that pre-dawn crepuscular appearance when we hit the highway. We drove south for about 2 hours and reached Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historic Park US-0730. When we arrived, the temperature was about 6C. We drove around the park for a bit and found a good spot to set up. We decided on the small parking lot across from Bell Grove Plantation Mansion. The area didn’t seem well traveled and was ideal for an activation. In 21 minutes, we worked 30 contacts including 4 park-to-parks. Definitely a good activation. After we tore down we touristed around the area and took some pics. I used my app and heard American Robins, House Finches, Northern Cardinals and Mourning Doves. It is nice that the birds are coming back out.

We continued down the highway to Buc’ees where we gawked around like tourists for about 1/2 hour and grabbed some of their fine vittles. I got a sausage-on-a-stick and SWMBO went for the chicken fingers and fries. We also got a box of Beaver Chips, which are damn good chips. After gassing up the car we headed back on the road. North of Harrisonburg, VA, SWMBO and I decided to take a more leisurely approach to our return home and we cut across to Shenandoah National Park and took Skyline Drive for the 35 miles to Front Royal at the North end of the park. During the drive I had plenty of opportunity to look over some potential activation sites for our next sojourn into VA. After we left the park I took a wrong turn which set us back about 20 minutes on our return trip; it was ok as we were in no hurry.

Now we are back home and are letting the kittehs know that we still love them even though we abandoned them for the day. Time for more coffee. Namaste, kids!