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Hanz W1JSB and I hiked to Knox Mountain this afternoon. What a day! We worked England, Italy, Hungary and Spain… but that was only part of it. This was the most stunning early fall day. Perfect for a hike. We walked along the brook, sparking in gold sunlight. The greenest moss I’ve ever seen adorned the rocks. Piercingly blue gentians were in full bloom below the dam as we approached the pond. It was a dazzling view.

We walked around the pond and came to the two small cabins that overlook the water.

We set up between the cabins, in front, toward the lake. We threw a water bottle over a 40 foot high branch on the large cherry tree. I used the KX3 at 5 watts. The antenna was a 33 foot wire connected to the rig through an earchi.org 9:1 unun. I started on 15 meters with a quick contact with G3PJT. Bob gave me a 559 and he was a 599. Then I gave the key to Hanz.

We switched to 17 meters and right away Hanz worked Laci, HA0NAR in Hungary. Laci was very strong and gave Hanz a 579. It’s really exciting to set up portable gear from a small backpack and work across Europe with a few minutes’ effort.

Hanz handed the key back and I worked IK5ZWU, Walter in Italy. I was 559 and he was a 589. “FB UR 5 WATTS,” he sent before we signed.

I made one more quick QSO with Vic in Spain before packing up. EA3MM gave me a 559 and he was a 599.

We paused on the way back to take one more photo of the pond.

Hanz and I talked about the places we want to hike to during the fall… the ledges, mountain pond, and, of course, a return to Knox Mountain.

This afternoon Judy and I rode our bikes a couple of miles to Old Hill Village. I worked Greece, Poland, Venezuela, Ukraine and Steve WG0AT in Colorado.

It was a cool afternoon, but warm enough in the sun. I set up alongside a field with the KX3 and a 33 foot wire. I won’t detail each QSO; here’s the log:

15 Sep-13 1956 18.085 YV5YMA CW 599 599 Venezuela
15 Sep-13 2000 18.078 SV2CQB CW 569 599 Greece
15 Sep-13 2007 18.076 UY2UQ CW 599 599 Ukraine
15 Sep-13 2009 14.004 SV2CQB CW 599 599 Greece
15 Sep-13 2012 14.060 WG0AT CW 559 559 CO
15 Sep-13 2022 14.024 SP2EFU CW 599 599 Poland

I actually worked SV2CQB twice… once on 17M and again on 20 meters. He was strong both times. The real surprise was working Steve WG0AT. I had just looked up his QTH this morning to see if he was in the flood zone. I don’t think he is. He sent, “CAN’T STAY X JUST WANTED TO SAY HI.” I told him I was operating /P in the field. Judy got a quick snapshot of me right after I worked Steve.

The clouds seemed to take over the sky at about the time I decided to pack up and head back. As always, it’s great to get out and operate a little.

Judy and I went to the beach today. I launched my antenna with a kite and worked Greenland, Greece and Italy in less than 10 minutes.

It was a remarkable day. In the mid-90s and not a cloud in the sky. We headed to the New Hampshire coast and arrived at Rye Harbor for a picnic lunch. After a walk on the beach, Judy went for a swim, and I went up to the point and launched a parafoil kite.

There was a good breeze and it went up in a jiffy. I had it up about 120 feet. At about mid-point I placed a loop in the line and tied my 33 foot wire to the loop. I had a nice vertical and set up the KX3 right below the wire.

I started on 15 meters and heard Peter OX3XR in Greenland with a strong signal. He returned my call and gave me a 599. He went on to the next station. I was thrilled.

I switched then to 17 meters and quickly worked a special event station SV130PAP in Greece. Again there was a quick exchange of 599 and we signed. Back to 15 meters and I heard IK3VUT in Italy calling CQ. Luca gave me a 559 and I gave him a solid 599.

With that I shut the station down. In barely 10 minutes I had worked three nice DX stations with the kite wire and I was pretty excited. Who could ask for more? Besides I had agreed to meet Judy in a few minutes.

This afternoon Judy and I hiked on Shute Hill. I worked Italy, France, Russia, Slovenia and Sardinia.

It was a cool but beautiful day. The trail is lined with wildflowers… asters, goldenrod, and jewel weed. We stop to enjoy the brook that flows out of the beaver pond.

About a mile up the trail there is a rich fragrance permeating everywhere. It is a vast field of goldenrod.

At the top of the hill there is a clearing. We will stop here. I heave a wire in an old butternut tree. Judy finishes up some knitting in the warm sun.

I have brought the KX3. I pull up 33 feet of wire and begin operating on 17 meters. The band is excellent. I make six contacts in about 25 minutes. Here is my log.

8 Sep-13 1948 18.075 IK2CIO CW 599 599 Italy
8 Sep-13 1950 14.011 F8DGY CW 549 599 France
8 Sep-13 1956 14.060 W9PP CW 569 599 Ind
8 Sep-13 2008 14.037 UA0IT/6 CW 559 599 Russia
8 Sep-13 2011 18.072 S51WO CW 589 599 Slovenia
8 Sep-13 2016 18.074 IS0GQX CW 599 599 Sardinia

Now I pack up the gear. It is a perfect afternoon. I glance behind before starting the hike back.

You’d have to be crazy to stay indoors today! I rode my bike along the Pemigewasset River… on the other side… in Hill Village. I worked Poland, Russia, Italy and Croatia.

Judy and I took the old road south toward Franklin. We passed Bennett’s Brook and I took a quick photo. After riding two miles, we pulled over near a field along the river. There’s an old butternut tree alongside the lane. I stopped here to setup the KX3.

I tossed a line over the top branch and pulled up 33 feet of wire. I started on 17 meters and worked SP1JPQ in Poland. Jerry gave me a 439. He was only 569 and I decided to try 15 meters. That was much better. I called RX6AM after he finished a QSO. Mike gave me a 569. We’ve worked many times before. When I told him I was QRP at 5W, he sent: “Hi 5W great sigs Jim.”

Next I had a QSO with IZ8BRI in Italy. Egi and I quickly exchanged 599’s and then I worked Croatia. 9A2AJ, Tom and I also exchanged 599s. “FB WID UR QRP,” he sent when I told him I was operating portable with 5W. With that I packed up. Judy took a quick photo before we rode back.

Today was much cooler… in the 60s. Here and there a few leaves have started changing color. I’m trying to make the best of the warm days.

This afternoon I rode my bicycle along the Pemigewasset River. Today I brought a microphone along! I worked Italy, Svalbard Island and Estonia using five watts and SSB. This was a first for me.

Judy and I rode down to the old bridge to Hill. It’s right near the spot where Knox Brook flows into the Pemi. We stopped in a small grassy spot, and I set up the KX3 under an oak tree.

I tossed a 33 foot wire over the branch and sat directly under it, so the wire was vertical. I started out on 17M CW. Right away I worked S50R in Slovenia. Leo gave me a 599 and I gave him the same. When I told him I was QRP, he sent, “FB FOR UR 5W NICE.” Next I worked the Canary Islands. EC8AFM gave me a 559. He was a solid 599. Then I switched to SSB.

Right away I heard ES3AX in Estonia calling CQ. August gave me a 58. He was 59. I remembered his call and mentioned that we had worked before on CW. He also remembered. What a thrill. Tuning up a bit I heard Flavio
IZ1JLG calling CQ from Italy. He gave me a 55 and we chatted for a moment. Then I worked JW9JKA in Svalbard Island, Arctic Norway. Svein was on a DXpedition to Bear Island EU-027 and had a rough time getting my call but we completed the exchange and he gave me a 52. I didn’t realize this was a rare catch until I received an email from Dave W0CH who suggested I check closer…. Not just Norway, but Svalbard.

Next was another Italian station. IK6SNR, Lucio gave me a 59. When I told him I was QRP, he said that copy was easy and audio was excellent. I was really excited and equally surprised that I could make contacts so easily using 5W on voice.

I went back to CW to calm down a bit… Pavel OK4RQ gave me a 599 and when I told him I was QRP, he sent, “FB UR QRP S-9.” What more could I ask for? I packed up and headed back downstream toward the car. On the way, I rode alongside a beaver! The swimmer was so long, I thought it was an otter. But when it caught a glimpse of me, there was a loud splash of his tail as he dove beneath the water. As the sun started falling behind the trees, I stopped and took another snapshot of the river.

I rode my bicycle about a mile and a half alongside the Pemigewasset River this afternoon. I worked Belgium, Slovenia, Belarus, Germany and England. The river is a beautiful place.

The Pemi flows through Sanbornton where I live. An old road that has been closed to traffic since the 1940s runs along the river. It’s perfect for hiking and bicycling. I stopped near the old bridge that went to Hill. The bridge is gone but the abutment is still there.

Here’s another photo looking down the river from the abutment.

Is it any wonder that I like to operate from here? I tossed a wire into an old oak tree and set up in the grass not far from the river. I used the KX3 powered by one of the Chinese LiPo batteries. I ran 5W to a 33 foot wire. Here’s my log:

30 Aug-13 2030 18.080 ON6KE CW 579 579 Belgium
30 Aug-13 2041 21.017 S51XA CW 569 599 Slovenia
30 Aug-13 2050 21.055 EW8DJ CW 599 599 Belarus
30 Aug-13 2110 21.015 DL1DGS CW 549 599 Germany
30 Aug-13 2115 21.001 M0DHO CW 559 599 England

A fellow and his wife rode by on an ATV while I was operating. He was curious about the wire in the tree. I finished the QSO with Belarus and showed him the setup. I wrote down the ARRL web page for him. He was concerned about surviving the end of the world and wondered if ham radio would be a good option for communicating.

When he left I worked two more stations: Germany and England. Then I packed up and rode back to the car.

I love these outings.