Operating from the Garden
June 2015
There's an impending thunder shower on the horizon. So I didn't
go anywhere today... But I was outside in the garden. I set up
on the grass surrounded by flowers and worked Croatia, Slovenia,
Northern Ireland and Germany with the KX3 and the 44 foot dipole.
Multi-flora rose on left. Raspberry patch on the right.
I set up the 44 foot dipole between two trees and sat down on the
grass with the KX3.
I operated for about 10 minutes on 17 meters. It was beautiful.
Behind me, not far
away, was a patch of irises in bloom.
My first QSO was with Steph in Croatia... 9A2YM. We exchanged quick
599s and I went up the
band a bit and worked Slovenia. Milan S57V gave me a 539, but he
copied everything.
GI4DOH in N. Ireland was calling CQ. We exchanged quick 599s. I've
worked Richard
at least a half a dozen times before over the years.
Not far from the Iris is a wild rose Judy dug up along the roadside
many years ago.
Its fragrance fills the garden.
Before packing up I called Hans, DJ7MI in Germany. He was booming in
and he
gave me a 579 and we chatted briefly before signing.
As the sky darkened, I packed up and headed into the house to wait
for the rain.
It sure is helping the garden stay in bloom.