WFH RTO POTA
It is true! Like many of the recent hams -- new or returning back -- I will cite the recent COVID-19 pandemic as an important factor for my return. Upon my return last year, I started my foray into HF and then on to POTA. I started learning CW and now am sufficiently proficient to inflict pain and suffering on other CW ops; HI HI
Fortunately, the brunt of the pandemic is in our rear-view mirrors and life returns to normal. For me that means that the RTO [return to office] mandates are kicking in. We are now asked to come back to work; despite having proven over the last few years that we can do our work remotely and still be productive.
Even when I was WFH [working from home], my POTA activations were always reserved for the weekends or late summer evenings when the sun was up late. One would hope RTO would crimp my POTA schedule. But fear not! It seems to have the opposite effect.
Milliken State Park K-1522 is barely a stone's throw away from my office in downtown Detroit. Today was especially nice. A 60 degree day in mid-November? What's a POTA activator to do but to go POTA activating. So come lunch time, I headed out the the park, a quick 2 min drive with my lunch box and POTA gear.
I worked at a furtive pace! Got the antenna set up and the CQs going within 7 minutes of getting on-site. A near record for me! I had very little time. The parking situation at our work garage is not ideal and I risk losing my spot in the garage if I stay out too late. So I did not dally and went out to the trusty 20m band that almost never seems to fail.
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| POTA and a Lunch at K-1522 |
I got 14 contacts in about 22 minutes. I also managed to eat my lunch in between. Thanks to the memory keying putting out CQs when I grabbed a bite! A quick wrap up and check to ensure I am leaving nothing behind...I was back at work within 40 minutes. The stars seemed aligned today; the traffic, the weather, the band conditions. Hopefully I will be able to repeat it a few more times over this winter! Hope to catch you during lunch sometime!
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