Smiths Falls...

I had a very good day yesterday.  After three years the Smiths Falls Ham Radio Flea Market was back in business.   No dealers this year, it was mainly piles of over-priced ancient junk that nobody in their right mind would pay any money for.  The good side was seeing, and talking to, so many fellow hams I haven't seen in the last three years.  

So what made it so good?  Well, meeting with friends from Ottawa and Smiths Falls, a good social lunch, and an afternoon of POTA beside the Rideau Canal National Historical Site made up for the disappointment of the flea market.

Eric VE3DN, Ranson VE3RCD, Don VE3MNE, and I went to Matti O'Shea's Irish Pub for lunch.  It was the first time we had been there, other than Ranson who recommended the place.  The food was great and the locally brewed beer was excellent.  I'm sure we'll be back next year.

After lunch we all headed back to Lower Reach Park, which is along the Rideau Canal, VE-4882, and active it for a few hours.  The weather was superb, we couldn't have asked for better.  I managed to activate the park on 40m with 15 contacts, including 9 P2P's.  Don spent his time hunting and made several good contacts.  Ranson activated with his digital station, and Eric chased European DX unsuccessfully.

Saturday's Contact Map

The propagation was pretty decent, other than some deep QSB.  SFI=162, SN=109, A Index=5, and the K Index=0.

Here's some pictures of the afternoon:

Eric VE3DN figuring out Ranson's IC-705

The VE3FI and VE3MNE mobiles at the Canal.

It was a great day with good friends!

Stay Safe Out There!!