The itch that must be scratched

 Last weekend was a great time to be outdoors here in Michigan. Summer was still clinging on and the days were at mid 80F and no rain in the forecast. But life has a cadence of its own and my previous commitments meant I could not take this opportunity to go out camping for the entire weekend. However, come late Saturday I found that I had accomplished all I had set to do at home and had the rest of the day and Sunday all to myself. I had an intense desire to get out and camp. A quick check at the Michigan DNR website showed only one campground with open slots. Lake Hudson State Park, a park that I have not activated before was only about 90 miles away. This was also a designated "dark sky" park. My recent interest in astronomy means that I can get some stargazing done there as well.

So I quickly packed up my motorcycle with camping gear, food and my radios (KX-3 and KH-1) and set off for the park around 4PM EDT. It was a little too warm for my taste under the riding gear, but the 90 minute ride was fun and enjoyable. As usual, upon arrival, I found the access road to the campground was a gravel road. I had to take it very easy on the surface with my heavily loaded tour bike. I passed the campground office on the way [closed for the day] and headed up to the campground. I was hoping there would be someone there to check me in.

Alas, not only there were no campground staff, but I was asked to go back to the office and pick up a courtesy phone to book my campsite. [I was surprised that there were no drop boxes for cash payments at this entrance either]. I wish they had posted a sign by the office as I was passing through. So after tricky U turn I headed back to the office and got the wonderful site number 26. I picked this one because it was pretty secluded, but also close to the amenities [more on that later]

After speaking with a helpful agent and completing my reservation, I headed back to the site and took off my riding gear. The fresh air against my body felt nice. I then proceeded to set up my tent. I put up the wire antenna up the tree first[one of my criteria for the campsite] and then based on its stake point on the ground, I mapped out a convenient site for the tent that will allow me to operate the radio from inside the tent at night. Setting up the Cabela XPG tent was an easy affair; at least it wasn't raining like the last time I was out on motorcycle camping! I pulled the picnic table closer to the antenna stake point to set up my KX-3 for operation.

All the setup made my hands a little dirty. So I walked up to the water source across from my campsite. It was a water pump; it had some loose parts scattered around it, but fortunately, it seemed to work. When the water gushed out, I washed my hand. I did not fail to notice that the water was not clear and I did not want to use for drinking. Fortunately, I had a 2 liter bottle of water and a 2 little bottle of Gatorade. That will see me through the night.

I was all set to play some radio. There was no cell coverage at the campground. So I spotted myself using SOTAMaT. I started off with CW on 20m band. The spotting using SOTAMat seemed to have worked. The contacts came in at the usual clip as I was enjoying the cool evening breeze under the clear blue skies.

It was now 7PM EDT. Dinner Time! Time to take a break from radio. I pulled out my camp stove and proceeded to make my camping staple - noodles. I set up the stove on the rim of the fire pit and got the pot going. When the water boiled, the pot started to move and it was about to fall into the ash pit. I reached out and grabbed it. Ouch! silly me! My hand got a nasty burn on the ring finger and the pinkie in my right hand. I set the pot correctly and put some noodles. I then headed over to the pump to put the fingers under the cool water. It wasn't that bad, but the burning sensation was unpleasant. I was hoping it would not be much painful on my ride back home the next day. After consuming the noodles, I took a walk around the park. The light was beginning to fade. I decided to return to the tent and play some more radio.

KH-1 in the tent at night

I moved the KX-3 into the tent and started working some SSB and CW on 40 meters. It was fun.  It was dark by now. But being a dark sky park, I wanted to keep my light pollution at a low level. Fortunately, my head lamp has a low power red LED. I turned it on and used it for see what I was logging. Midway through the CW run, I changed to my KH-1.It performed well and I had many contacts at 5w or less late into the evening. By around 9PM EDT, the contacts started to taper off and I decided to call it a night. Time to put on some podcasts and have it lull you to sleep.

I woke up around 3AM. The near full moon had just set and the skies were spectacular. I was able to spot the usual suspects in the sky. Orion's bow was clearly seen. I could never see it from my residence. Gemini's Castor and Pollux and Taurus' Aldebaran were comforting to see. I took a quick walk around the site and enjoyed the views from various perspectives. It was back to bed again and wait for the morning light.

Out of bed again at around 6AM. It was still dark outside. Nothing to do, but to play some radio! I was looking around the band on 40m. I managed to work another ham in FL. We had a decent chat for about 20 minutes. After he signed off, I decided to slowly start putting things away. I wanted to get out as early as possible. I had heard from a friend that there was going to be a motorcycle show at Stockbridge, MI. I decided I want to take it in on the way back to home.

Sun rises over the campsite

Dawn at last! It is now 7:30AM. After the morning ablutions (well what counts for it in a primitive campground) I put on a cup of coffee and start packing. Packing up took up about an hour and I it was almost 9AM when I bid adieu to my campsite. 

Stockbridge was an hour away. The early morning air was almost fall-like. The ST1300 cut through the early morning breeze as I headed east and then north towards Chelsea and Stockbridge.

I rode into Stockbridge just as they were getting started. There were bikes already parked in the city square. I took a leisurely stroll and talked to various enthusiasts. I was specially interested in the section for electric motorcycle riders. I got into an interesting chat with a gentleman who makes his own electric bikes. 

Vintage Harley at Stockbridge, MI

I spent a leisurely couple of hours at Stockbridge and then made the trip back home.