DX and Blazing Fall Color
October 2016

I hiked across Shute Hill this afternoon to David Swain's Farm. The colors 

were stunning. I worked Bulgaria, the Cayman Islands, St. George Island, 

Aland Island, and Italy.

I started out at the old cemetery off the Rufus Colby Road and hiked south

along a snowmobile trail. Along the way I took a snap shot of some of the trees.

It stayed in the 50s today, but was warm in the sun. I hiked about two and a half miles 

to the old range road and then into Swain's field. I tossed my antenna wire into a gold 

maple and sat down in the grass with the KX3. Here's a photo of the tree.

 I operated on both 20 meters and 17 meters. Here's my log:

11 Oct-16 1755  14.010 LZ3QE  CW 559 589 Bulgaria 
11 Oct-16 1758  18.072 ZF1DX  CW 599 599 Cayman Islands  
11 Oct-16 1800  18.074 K4G    CW 599 599 St. George Island  
11 Oct-16 1801  14.020 LZ1DS  CW 449 599 Bulgaria 
11 Oct-16 1806  14.027 IZ2QXG CW 559 579 Italy 
11 Oct-16 1810  14.024 OH0Z   CW 599 599 Aland Island 


The color is a few days away from peak. But we may not get another brilliant
day like today. I'm glad I got out.

Operating in Hawaii

Yamashita Bay
Molokai - December 2012

Yesterday, Judy and I flew from New Hampshire to Molokai, Hawaii to visit our daughter, Catherine.
We are staying at a friend’s house while the owner is away. The place is stunning. Think of a classic
South Pacific getaway… and this is it! Today I made two QSOs… one with California and one with
Japan. Operating here is SO different from being portable in New Hampshire.
Before leaving I had mailed a box containing the HB-1B, the Par End-Fedz tuner and wire, a lithium
battery, and accessories. Late last evening I ran a 33 foot wire vertically from a palm tree. I didn’t
have any luck. 20 meters had already gone to bed. I used a 66 foot wire to try 40 meters. No luck
there either.

There are a few problems. First we’re roughly 3000 miles from the nearest land. There aren’t a whole
lot of signals. Secondly, we’re surrounded by hills and have no access to the horizon accept for an
opening of about 35 degrees toward the Southeast. I have to relearn a few things.

 This afternoon I strung the 33 foot wire as a sloper to a palm tree. The wind has been nearly 40 MPH
and it’s pretty wild. The wire is bobbing up and down. Anyway, just before lunch I tuned around
20 meters. After trying a dozen weaker stations, I finally made a QSO. KB6VSE was calling CQ
and he was strong. Steve in California gave me a 449. He was running 75W to a doublet, and was
599. I was encouraged.

Right after lunch, I tried again. This time I heard 7L1WII calling CQ from Japan. He gave me a 559
and I gave him a 579. Now, I am elated. I know there’s hope for making some more contacts over the
next several days here.

Hello

I'm just trying this out.
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http://www.w1pid.com