My Parks on the Air Activities - NOT about "The Numbers"
18 July 2024 at 12:10
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My Parks on the Air Activities - NOT about "The Numbers"
Parks on the Air has never been about numbers for me. I became aware of Parks on the Air (POTA) in June 2021. This was during the height of the COVID pandemic. At that time I was recovering from surgery and treatment for liver failure and treatment for Bladder cancer.Β My body's ability to fight any type of infection was basically non-existent, so social distancing was a MUST for me. I was not going to totally isolate myself from the world by staying indoors, knowing how vital exercise, fresh air and mental stimulus was vital to my recovery. Parks on the Air has been the BEST medicine for me over the last 3 years.Β I've been able to combine bicycling with my Ham Radio activities as part of my health treatment plan. What a great combination.
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Lewis & Clark National Historical Trail Along the banks of the Ohio River at Waterfront Park Louisville, KY. USA |
POTA is not about the numbers for me.Β Oh, I've hadΒ a few failed POTA activations over the years; but it is no big deal. WHY? BecauseΒ I've been able to meet so many people; in part due to my ham radio POTA activities.Β I've met current and former teachers, current and retired nurses, doctors and other medical professionals, current and former military personnel, a retired Federal Judge, Boy and Girl Scout leaders along with kids from Scout Troops, inquisitive children, Nature and Wildlife conservationists and park staff, countless animals, dogs, cats, minks, river otters, deer, snakes, frogs, coyotes, giraffes, hawks, ducks, turtles, wild turkeys, aircraft pilots, other hams who've been inactive, numerous sunrises and sunsets, operating at night, and more than anything; thousands of other hams who've I been able to contact and some who've visited; like Ed / W4EMB, Marcos / K8ARE and Doug / N6UA.
Recently, I had one of several QSOs with a man I like to call "The POTA LEGEND", Bob Voss / N4CD.Β Β
During Hamvention 2022, Charlie "Red" / NJ7V got a chance to talk with Bob who at that time was one of the activation leaders for Parks on the Air (2022)Β Below is a link to that interview;
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxHLxrtnfmb8L8jN2apWDOHOkze_Kdkgjy?si=ExcnnWVtW3oQCkv-
When I have contacts like those with Bob and other operators who I regularly communicate with and those operators who are NEW to CW pedaling along at 10 WPM, I get excited as that little kid who was introduced to the hobby in the mid 50's.Β Β
When I have contacts like those with Bob and other operators who I regularly communicate with and those operators who are NEW to CW pedaling along at 10 WPM, I get excited as that little kid who was introduced to the hobby in the mid 50's.Β Β
One of my other cherished Parks on the Air activations came about amazingly unexpected when I was calling CQ and got HUGE greeting from an associate of a park visitor.Β
I've come to understand that with my Parks on the Air activities in an urban setting, I never know what to expect.
Here's a short slideshow of some of the things I've experienced during my Parks on the Air activities. After watching; you may have a better understanding why for me, "Its NOT about the NUMBERS"