Traveling CW Adventures

Becky (N4BKY) and I, Mike (N4FFF), recently embarked on a delightful road trip down to Florida, combining our love of travel and Morse code (CW) for a uniquely enjoyable journey.

Armed with our trusty Yaesu FT-891, we took turns at the wheel, each relishing the chance to operate the radio when it was our turn to sit passenger. This teamwork made our trip fly by as we enthusiastically hunted Parks on the Air (POTA) activations, ultimately logging contacts with 21 POTA operators. Each new contact added excitement and a sense of camaraderie, keeping spirits high and the drive entertaining.

As a big of a spoiler, we used a custom device we are still developing to make controlling the radio super easy with an app:

Alongside our POTA adventures, we enjoyed two memorable ragchew conversations—one with Emmet, who was operating a special event station down in Florida, and the other with Benny, whose passion for "bugs" (semi-automatic Morse code keys) sparked a captivating discussion. Becky has long been curious about trying a bug herself, being primarily a straight key operator. Chatting with Benny, a prominent figure deeply immersed in the bug community, couldn't have been more perfect. Our engaging and enjoyable conversation with Benny was a highlight of the trip, inspiring Becky further on her Morse code journey.

Throughout the trip, I challenged myself with practicing head copy, though occasionally succumbing to grabbing a pen for backup, while Becky steadily improved her head copy skills too.

Reflecting back, the combination of radio, camaraderie, and Morse code made our journey to Florida genuinely unforgettable. Huge thanks to everyone we contacted, both activators and fellow enthusiasts who rode along with us over the airwaves, enriching our adventure.

Here's a map showing all 23 contacts we made during our drive. Each QSO was a delightful reminder of why we cherish this hobby. Thanks again for making our travels not just fun but truly memorable!

73, Mike (N4FFF) & Becky (N4BKY)

Contacts

1. NA7DO (Aldo, WA) - 2058 miles
2. NQ1F (Steve, MA) - 1002 miles
3. N2AKJ (Drew, NY) - 850 miles
4. KM3STU (Stuart, NJ) - 850 miles
5. W4MY (Marty, NC) - 806 miles
6. K3TTS (Joe, PA) - 755 miles
7. K8XCO (Charlene, MI) - 748 miles
8. K5KV (Benson "Benny", TX) - 705 miles
9. WA1VEI (Paul, FL) - 664 miles
10. W8EO (Ed, FL) - 664 miles
11. NA9M (Paul, WI) - 646 miles
12. NA9M (Paul, WI) - 646 miles
13. AF5DM (David, WI) - 616 miles
14. KW5CW (James, TX) - 592 miles
15. NM3A (Daniel, PA) - 581 miles
16. KQ1O (Santiago, VA) - 576 miles
17. K8NWD (Timothy, MI) - 572 miles
18. W4MY (Marty, NC) - 553 miles
19. N9QF (Jeffrey, IL) - 549 miles
20. W4F (Emmet WA5EWN, FL) - 528 miles
21. AB9CA (Dave, TX) - 480 miles
22. WC8L (Harold, WV) - 456 miles
23. W9OWL (Justin, IN) - 191 miles