Linda, Suzy, and I embarked on a fifteen-night camping trip on October 12. We made two Georgia State Park stops on our way to Pigeon Forge, where we spent seven nights. Pigeon Forge has Dollywood and is next to the Smoky Mountains National Park. On the way back, we made two Alabama State Park stops. I took several of my portable rigs and two older rigs to participate in the Fall Classic Exchange CW event. I did not want to miss it. Our camping trailer is twenty-four feet long, and the tow vehicle is a Ford F-150.
The first stop was FD Roosevelt State Park near Pine Mountain, Georgia. I activated the Dowdells Knob Summit in the park for POTA and SOTA credit. I used the Elecraft KH-1 QRP CW rig with a whip antenna for two contacts and the AlexLoop magnetic loop for the rest. They were all 20 meters.
The second stop was Cloudland State Park near Rising Fawn, Georgia. I drove the last ten miles with a flat on the trailer. I activated the park for POTA using the Chinese FX4-CR and The Alexloop. I got five FT8 contacts using the Android FT8CN app and the rest on CW. All were 20 meters.
The third stop was the Foothills RV park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A few miles from the RV park, I had my second flat of the trip. I chose to drive it in a flat. I bought two new tires in town. Of course, the RV park is not POTA, but I drove to a beautiful picnic area in Smoky Mountain National Park. I used the FX4CR rig and the Alexloop and got ten 20-meter CW contacts. I especially liked the stream next to the picnic area.
Our RV site in the park had a deck with a nice view. I participated in the Classic Exchange event using my Icom 703, which is about 16 years old, and the Heathkit HW-8 rig, which is about 42 years old. I have even older rigs at home QTH, but these were the easiest to pack. The age of your rigs factors into the multiplier for the event. I enjoyed working the old rigs the other participants were using, too. Note that one contact was Steve K1NA, who was back in Dothan.
I worked ten POTA activators from the deck with the KH1 and its whip antenna for fun. You can all that Decks On The Air, DOTA.
Of course, Linda and I spent a day at Dollywood. My favorite part was riding the Steam Locomotive train. It was the real deal, including the whistle.
My new toy is a DJI Mini 4K Drone. At several stops, I sent it straight up and got a bird' s-eye view.
The fourth stop was Cathedral Caverns State Park near Woodville, Alabama. I met some hams who had come to the park for a Coleman Lantern Event. I activated POTA with the Icom 703 and the SOTABeams 40-30-20 link dipole. Linda and I took advantage of the Cathedral Caverns Tour. The guide did a great job.
The fifth stop was Cheaha Mountain State Park near Anniston, Alabama. I activated POTA at the campsite using the Icom 703 and the Elecraft KXPA-100 Amplifier. I worked Tom WD0HBR, portable, on 40 meters CW at the Wiregrass ARC Tailgate in Headland, AL. I then drove to the mountain's peak and activated it for SOTA, making four 20-meter CW contacts with the Elecraft KH1.
We took advantage of the mild weather and blue skies, saw lots of pretty trees, and drove the curvy roads. Linda enjoyed the attractions, and I participated in five POTA activations and two SOTA activations. Suzy met many fellow campers, dog lovers, and their dogs. It is hard to beat camping and ham radio.
73,
Greg N4KGL
