Vacation – a whole week!!  Looking at the calendar at the beginning of the year, I know I’ll want – need – some outside time in decent weather.  Meaning fall.  So I blocked out the first week of fiscal November for some bona fide decompression time.

I hope to get somewhere new and exotic later in the week so today I headed out to US-2991 Bonham State Park.

Northeast of Dallas, Bonham State Park is small but filled with natural beauty at the right time of year. In North Texas, everything is considered beautiful when the temperature is under 80 degrees. The park wraps around a 65-acre lake and has hilly trails, colorful history and a quiet place to relax.  I chose a spot across the lake from the visitor center that’s often overlooked by park goers.

Being of little imagination, I toted my trusty FT-891.  It’s worth noting, we’re developing a robust “891 appreciation society” at the club of late.  It’s hard to beat this tough little rig for portable ops.

Loadout:

• FT-891
• 20Ah LiPo Battery
• 20m EFHW
• RG-8X feedline
• Begalli Expedition paddles
• Admin Pouch

Up and operating about 09:45, I hunted two activators on 20 meters, slipped down to 14.057.5, sent QRL, spotted, then called CQ POTA.  KL7NL from North Carolina was first to come back.  I’d increased power to 50w to break the pileups while hunting and forgot to bring it back down.  So, once things started, plenty of folks came back. 

All told, 30 QSOs in 30 minutes, including the slow pace of hunting two parks.  I’ve mentioned it before and will again, sliding just a tad off the zero beat really helps you get heard in a pile up of beeping  I don’t use any RIT or CLAR.  I just nudge the VFO until I hear the activator’s tone change, then send.  Works every time.

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