Working Europe from the Swain Farm

This afternoon I took a quick walk up the range road and into one of David Swain’s back fields. I worked France, New Mexico and Croatia.

lane1

The range road runs north from Hunkins Pond Road in Sanbornton… not far from where I live. I walked up about half a mile and then turned right toward the Dearborn farm. I stopped in Swain’s field.

field

The view was fantastic… to the south is the Belknap range. The grass is pretty high and David is doing the second hay cutting on his fields now.

At the edge of the field I tossed a wire into a maple tree. I sat right down in the grass along the stone wall and set up the KX3. I used a 33 foot wire with the earchi.org 9:1 unun.

rig

I started out on 15 meters and answered Ollie F5IAE as soon as I turned on the rig. He was 579 and gave me a 559. “FB JOB UR NICE QRP,” he sent before signing.

Then I called Paul KW7D in New Mexico. He had just finished a contact with Ireland, and he gave me a 579. We chatted for a minute before saying goodbye.

Then I switched to 17 meters and heard Kiko 9A4WY in Croatia calling CQ. He gave me a 559 and was a strong 599. In all I made the 3 contacts in about 15 minutes.

I packed up the gear and headed back.

lane2

How fortunate to live in the countryside and have so many beautiful places from which to make radio contacts! To walk and bike through the hills, lane ways and fields of New Hampshire is a real privilege. And thanks to all of you who listen a bit harder for weak stations and make it all so rewarding.

Jim Cluett, W1PID, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Hampshire, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

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