Another of my favorite rides is a loop in central Wisconsin from Montello to Hartman Creek State Park, near Waupaca. I often make a three day trip of it, doing a day trip to Amherst where, if the planets align properly, I have lunch with Todd, N9NE, another avid CW operator. This time, I started on Monday, planning to do the Wednesday 13Z CWT from Hartman Creek, and 19Z from Saxeville, on the way back to Montello. Montello to Hartman Creek is about 100 km each way, and the Amherst loop is about 60 km.
When I got out of the car in Montello, it was clear that the oppressive humidity we had been suffering was gone. Three days of excellent weather were forecast. As usual, the wind was blowing the wrong way, but you can't have everything. And it helps keep the bugs away.
For the first time on a bicycle portable CWT operation, I planned to use a computer for logging. It nearly doubles the weight of the equipment, to about 4.5 kg, but I figured it would be worth it on this relatively flat route. In addition, mobile phone coverage is fairly good in the area, so I thought I might be able to get skimmer spots.
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| Route |
What makes this part of central Wisconsin such great cycling is that all the minor roads are paved, traffic is very light, and it's not terribly hilly. It's a mix of farming and trees, in some areas looking a bit like the north woods. There's a lot of irrigation, not because it rains less than in the rest of the state, but because of the sandy soil. Potatoes, among other crops, grow well here.
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| Not Completely Flat! |
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| A Quiet Road |
After a lunch stop at the bar in Richford, I picked up some groceries in Wild Rose. Too late, I realized I'd forgotten to buy any eggs for breakfast, and there's no convenient shopping near the park. Fortunately, just outside the park I came upon this farm:
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| Eggs for Breakfast! |
Four eggs, and the guy didn't even want to take my dollar. I skipped the goat milk.
Some years ago, after many CW contest contacts with Todd, N9NE, I discovered that it was a very easy ride up to Amherst from Hartman Creek, so we've been meeting for lunch ever since. He happened to be in town this time again. Todd is not yet a member of CWOPS, but I think he will be soon.
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| Visiting Todd, N9NE (R) |
Back at Hartman Creek, the 13Z was a bit of a fiasco. The best spot I could find in the park was the horse trailhead. There were some picnic tables, morning shade, and it wasn’t even in TOO deep a hole. Unfortunately, the clearing was paved with hard-packed gravel, making it impossible to get tent stakes in to hold up the fishing pole. It took some work to drag another table into position and lash the pole to it. Then the wire detached from the pole and tangled. When I finally got the antenna up at 1230, at least the radio and computer worked. RBN reports were poor, though. When the CWT started, conditions seemed good, but it was very tough to get through to anyone. A few answered my CQ’s. Not many. One of them was Todd. Then the horse people showed up and, naturally, wanted to park right next to me. More QRM.
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| Hartman Creek RBN Reports |
Much to my surprise, the results were pretty good. Or maybe the propagation just wasn't favoring Peter, W1UU.
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| 13Z Results |
The new computer worked fine with the KX2, and the phone hotspot provided the internet connection for the skimmer spots.
After packing up and leaving the horse people behind, it was a short ride to Saxeville. I was in plenty of time for lunch at the Crossroads Cafe.
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| On the Road to Saxeville |
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| Farm and Forest |
The park in Saxeville has a nice shelter next to the fire station. The shelter, however, is always packed with stacked-up picnic tables. As nearly as I can tell, the tables are used once each summer for the fire department chicken barbecue, and the rest of the time they're just stacked up in the shelter. I had to wrestle one down and drag it around into the shade. That was number three or the day, though I didn't have to drag this one as far.
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| Saxeville Park |
The fishing pole went up in the clear, and the far end of the wire conveniently went to the fire department tower.
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| Saxeville Antenna |
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| Saxeville Operating Position |
RBN reports didn't look to bad. Ominously, however, I couldn't get a single report on 40.
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| 19Z RBN Reports |
Once the CWT started, the going was tough. Many loud stations just couldn't hear me at all, even when no one else called. I really thought this location would be a lot better than the one at the park at 13Z, but it apparently was not so. 48 QSO's and 43 mults this time, for a fourth place finish in the QRP category.
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| On the Road to Montello |
I was packed up and back on the road a bit after 2030Z, 1530 local time, with almost 70 km to go to Montello. The wind was blowing the wrong way again, but it wasn't too strong.
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| Sand Country Scene |
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| Another Quiet Country Lane |
About a dozen deer crossed the road in front of me before I rolled into Montello about 8 PM, with an hour of daylight to spare. Those deer inspired me to drive slowly back to Madison, but I got home just in time to get on for the 03Z CWT. With real antennas and 1.5 kW, it was a much different experience.
While it was interesting to try the CWT's from some new spots, I don't think I'll do these two again. It's a great bike ride, though, and I'll certainly do it again, but I'll take the radio on some different rides.
