05/14/2017

Today is Mother's Day.  I doubt any mom's read my blog but it was a wonderful day in central Indiana.  Today I got a chance to sit outside in the backyard and play with the radio.  I haven't been active with the SW+ this past week.  Last Saturday was the Indiana QSO party.  I operated with my Elecraft K2 so none counted for my SW+ WAS challenge.

The QSO of today is with KG4IUQ/Mark in Shelby, NC.  I was set up in the back yard with the SW+ going to my Hustler Vertical antenna.  It is such a nice day today.  I called CQ and Mark gave me a shout.  As it turns out we have a lot in common.  We are both musicians with music degrees.  We talked for an hour!  That is a fantastic QSO with any radio.  It is such a great feeling when you really start connecting with someone during a rag chew.  It doesn't happen all that much so I will remember Mark.  Shelby, NC has some very historic homes but I thought I would talk about the Anne Dover Bailey Carrousel Pavilion and Rotary Train.  The city park Carrousel is a year round carrousel with Twenty-nine original horses and three hand carved replacements.  It was built in 1919 and what a bargain at only $.50 a ride!  I'll stop there if I get to Shelby someday.  

Pictures taken by W9ODX

Within the same Zulu day I also went Hiking with my local ham friend Mike W9ODX.  We made a trip to the Morgan Monroe State Forest with the MFJ 9040.  Mike and I both made a QSO with a new portable dipole Mike got.  We suspected it was not quite long enough and sure enough, when we got back to my place and we measured it it was short.  The antenna still tuned and we got a SKCC QSO and one in the AR QSO Party.  The mosquitoes are out!  I'll suffer from that trip for a little bit.  However, it was very nice to be in the woods again.