Activated on Mother’s Day, 2024
There was no Albert’s today. However, I did not activate US-3548 Rio de Los Angeles State Park. You see, my kids and I went to celebrate Mother’s Day at a local park, very close to my home in Alhambra. It was a lovely time as we chatted, ate pizza, and they played a card game while I napped on a park bench. My son said that my snoring was not disruptive. However, that nap rejuvenated me. As we were packing up and saying our goodbyes I decided to take a drive to US-3548 to “see” what it was like. I suppose that I already decided to activate if there was a spot open.
This was the latest I ever set out to activate, arriving at the park around 1600. I was acutely aware the current Zulu day would end in less than an hour. So, the pressure was on! Around 1625 I was set up on the 20-meter band. I chose 14.063 MHz to call CQ. In time I got two contacts, one of which was my friend Emma from Washington. However, the well ran dry and fifteen minutes later I bailed and QSYed to 18.079 MHz. Again, the well ran dry after a single contact. There were now ten minutes left for the current Zulu day. I jumped onto 21.063 MHz now with eight minutes to go. One more contact with Georgia and then…
Crash and burn.
So, I did not activate. However, I was already set up with nothing else to do. I waited for tomorrow starting at 1700 local in about a minute. Why not? It took about ten minutes to get my first contact. This does seem to be par for the course for me, but I am chalking it up to the fact I was on a new band.
The first trio of contacts was made in about 12 minutes. Now, I am still very conscious at the time between contacts, so I decided to halt my video recording to save the viewers some boredom. When I started recording again, I had five contacts.
I did notice, however, that conditions were on and off. There were several contacts to which I responded only to have them fade back into the shadows, only to act like teasing ghosts. Some of them faded after I barely got my RST. I counted them because of POTA’s rules defining them as proper contacts. Still, I feel the need to finish out the exchange with the 72s and such.
Some contacts came in beautifully with a 599 enhancing the environment at that moment. You see, the sky was a nice blue, the shade of the tree under which I set up was a perfect counter to the sun, and the very light breeze made it perfect for activating. Add to that a signal coming in at 599, and well, it was awesome. Now, if Field Day in a month were like that, that would be the chef’s kiss.
Something happened during a QSO with a Virginia station. Evidently, the hunter was heard by two activators, and when I responded to her call sign, she was actually responding to the other activator! Repeating my response, we finished up the QSO with her and I got it in the log. I think this was the third time I was involved in an activator pile-up, one while I was activating on SSB many moons ago.
I continue to be challenged getting call signs on the first round. This happens because I cannot yet multitask with anything having to do with Morse Code. This happens with good signals as well. Many times, I am commenting on video, or taking a note, or updating something on the laptop I will invariably only get the first couple of characters when a call comes in, and that’s it. So, repeats it is.
The other challenge is hunters referring to me by Savi, instead of Walter. Many times, hunters who wish to be friendly call me Walter. And that’s okay because they are trying to be friendly—they just don’t know I go by Savi. I appreciate it and understand. Those who know me would call me Savi. This comes from many contacts (Zoom, Discord, etc.) where we get to know each other a little better. Even so, it is hard for me to put a face, a name, and a call sign all together. So, when folks refer to me as Savi when I don’t recognize the callsign, I feel awkward, like I failed them as a friend. It has nothing to do with the hunter.
That said, I did manage to activate, get my three safeties, and three more contacts to boot! When I first got here, I was on 20 meters and made two contacts, then the band shifted, only to do a full activation an hour later, on the same band. Persevere.
On my way home, before leaving the park, I stopped and went over to a group of spectators watching (and betting on) a game called “Pelota Tarrasca” (Tarrasca Ball). This is an ancient Mayan game from a region called Tarrasca, in what is now the states of Hidalgo and Guerrero in Mexico. The ball can only be hit with the fist but served with the palm. Just watching, as I did, I could see similarities between volleyball and tennis. Now you know.
I hope to have another serene (weather) activation like this one. Doing this more often will only make me better. So, ‘til next time.
Ciao for niao…
Activation Statistics
| Activation Number | 62 |
| Date | 12 May, 2024 |
| Park | US-3548 Rio de Los Angeles State Park |
| Number of Contacts | 16 |
| DX Contacts | None |
| Park Activated? | Yes |
| Previous Attempts | 14 |
| Park to Park Contacts | None |
| Mode | CW |
| Radio | Elecraft KX3 |
| Antenna | MPAS 2.0 in the vertical configuration |
| Tuner | Internal |
| Power | 5W using a 3Ah Bioenno battery |
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