Earlier in the week the Mrs. and I took off with the camper and headed to Red Top Mountain State Park on Lake Allatoona. This was the first time in almost six months we were able to get away and do some camping. In retrospect we should have picked a different park, or at least a different site. Our site was simply too small for our camper (which is only 22' long, from bumper to hitch) and was so difficult to get in to that it was dangerous. Red Top Mountain is undergoing a major renovation, and the state is re-habbing most of the campsites, so maybe we'll try it again in a few years. But what the state can't fix is the traffic noise from I-75 which runs close to the park. There was a constant low roar coming from this heavily used interstate that ruins the camping vibe. But we enjoyed ourselves regardless.
As usual, while preparing for the trip I flipped and flopped around trying to decide what radios to bring. I followed my own advice and brought my MARS-modded Yaesu FT-891 as a 100 watt 'last ditch' radio, but what else to bring? What would be this trip's QRP 'toy'? My KX-2? My IC-705? My FT-818? My CTX-10? Decisions decisions decisions.
The nod went to the IC-705 and the backpack setup.
Picnic table portable. The radio is connected to the ParEndFedz long wire. The near end of the antenna is hanging from the lantern hook next to the table, and is resonant on 10, 20 & 40 meters |
Home away from home. A Forest River R-Pod 192. Just big enough for two humans and three dogs |
Speaking of dogs, when you are a butthead at the campground you get time in doggie jail. Don't worry, there's plenty of warm, fluffy blankets in there |
When camping, one must share surfaces. Dinner prep and ham radio go together like peas and carrots |
For me, camping is more than playing with radios. I'm a huge fan of using classic camping gear like Coleman stoves. Nothing says 'camping' like hearing the roar of the stove burner on a frosty morning |
So, one camping trip down, another one coming up in January. Maybe, just maybe... snow?
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