My POTA Journey - How it all BEGAN!

With a few years of Parks on the Air (POTA) activations under my belt, I now look back to 2014 and realize I was totally oblivious what the future would hold for this first time bike tourist and the Ham Radio equipment I was carrying as it relates to the current Parks on the Air phenomenon.

In 2011 after recovering from a 2008 pancreatic surgery and treatment, I started training for triathlons. I incorporated bike commuting to and from work as part of the my tri training with twice weekly before work swimming then biking 12 miles to work and treadmill running several times a week.  The triathlons were easy and fun; but the training was grueling.  In December 2013 I decided the tri training was not fun anymore and hang up my Tri Suits.  What Next?

I wasn't ready to give up cycling as I found solace in bike commuting to and from work and weekend rides with a local bike club was equally fulfilling. I felt a need to fill the void of participating in triathlons. In early 2014 I started planning for a late spring, early summer bike tour. 

Preparing for a self supported bike tour was quite a leap from preparing for triathlons.  As a diabetic cyclist, my family, my endocrinologist and oncologist were concerned about managing my diabetes and the potential for experiencing issues possibly far away from assistance. At the time, there was not a lot of internet resources of diabetic bike tourists.  Nonetheless, I was up for the challenge and felt confident of my health preparations for my first bike tour.  My children's' apprehensions were slightly calmed knowing I would be armed with my Omnipod Insulin Pump and Dexcom Continuous Glucose Meter but were dramatically relieved when I informed them of another item I was carrying to relived their anxieties.  Ham Radio.

I knew there could be areas where I camped or traveled that there was a strong possibility of no cell service. I had purchased my Yaesu FT817/z817 in 2002 but had only used it as a portable rig a couple of handful of times. Coupled with a random wire for 80 -10 meters and the 2m / 50m Rubber Duckie antenna, it was a perfect rig for bike touring.  Since my FT817 had 2m/70cm capacities would be stored in one of my panniers, carrying along a Dual Band HT in my handlebar bag for easy access  was a good idea. 

Ham radio was actually an afterthought in my bike tour plans at the time. I never intended to do much Ham Radio operating as my focus was on enjoying the scenery and travels of bike touring.  

Surly Long Haul Trailer LHT

In the photo below, I had already travel 12 miles as the sun rose above the horizon as I crossed the Ohio river from Kentucky into indiana.  This was my firsts of these many scenic images I experienced on my first bike tour.

 

On my bike tours I've found it interesting that once you leave the confines of urbana onto the rural roads of America, there were times I could travel for miles before encountering another person or vehicle.  I'm fortunate to have been born before the Interstate System made car travel slightly more convenient.  I have missed traveling along those rural highways experiencing the roads that built America.

Back Road of Indiana

Back Road of Kentucky

Back Road of Kentucky

Back Road of Indiana

I remember as a child when traveling on these rural roads, there were areas along the road with picnic tables under a few trees where you could stop to rest and have a lunch.  Today, those areas are long gone. Nowadays these farm rural roads are far less traveled, so whenever I felt the need for a short break, I just found a comfortable spot along the road to stop to hydrate and eat a shack.

In some of the rural towns I've traveled through there are not many what you would call, well known restaurants.  Most are Mom and Pop establishments; which to me' have the best restaurant foods on the planet. Like this one in Carrollton, KY. USA where I came upon a couple who were Bike Touring from Canada to New Orleans, LA. 

And there was a time I've came upon a walk up Dairy Queen which most people do not know exist. Like the one below in Milton, KY.

Diary Queen Milton, KY. USA

Diary Queen

Most of my travels took me through towns where there are no Buc-ee's, Publix , Walmart, Target, Meijer ,Wapman, Wegman, Kroger or Albertsons markets. Only the "Corner Grocery" for me to replenish my essentials.

While bike touring in portions of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, I've had scenic views along, overlooking, at the shores, and over the Ohio River.  Part of my route along the Ohio River took me by the construction of the Lewis and Clark Bridge connecting Utica, IN. to eastern Jefferson County, KY.

The photo below is the completed Lewis and Clark Bridge.

I had spectacular views from the overlook at Clifty Falls State Park at Madison, IN. overlooking the Ohio River into Kentucky.

And views along shores of Waterfront Park at Madison, In., where the annual Madison Hydroplane Boat Race takes place over the 4th of July Holiday.

When crossing the Ohio River you can usually get a glimpse of commerce moving up and down the river.

.. and only a couple of hundred yards away from the river is an operating lighthouse attached to a residence providing a nostalgic glimpse of how river traffic used lights along the shore to navigated the bends of the Ohio River.

Far from the shores of the Ohio River, I travel through many acres of farmland being worked for spring crops and...... .  

... acres and acres of land worked and planted waiting to sprout.

I've passed many rural properties with horses which you don't see much of in suburbia,

or cows cooling themselves under a grove of trees during a hot June afternoon.

And I've ridden by structures over one hundred years old.

Living and working in a fairly large America city, busy with people 24 hours daily, it was somewhat lonely but rather tranquil riding along stretches of roads like below, and not see another person for long stretches of time. 

But when I did come upon someone, they always gave a friendly wave. When it was overwhelmingly hot; they offered a cold drink and shelter from a blazing sun.

At times when my cycling day ended with no motels, cities or campgrounds around for miles, I found churches, barns, and places that were off the beaten path to pitch my tent to sleep.

But there were times when the end of my cycling day would land me at a campground full of other campers and cyclists. The one thing I had that no other campers had was Ham Radio. My multi-day stay at this campground in 2014 was a staging site for daily 30 mile travels out and back from the campground. 

My campsite became the talk of the grounds among campers. Whenever I was operating during the day and after supper, adults and kids would gather around my picnic table and gaze in amazement hearing voices from around the U.S. coming from my compact FT-817 and a wire hanging from a tree. 

NOW!

2025 brings me into my third time of remission from cancer. Not one sit on my laurels, I've started planning for some 2025 POTA Bike Tours and this touring season I plan to take FULL advantage of operating from Parks on the Air sites.  I'm setting up my routes which will take me to POTA sites throughout my travels.

Since it has been a few years, my plan is to start in mid to late spring with a few (30 - 50 mile) overnight tours to POTA sites close to home in Kentucky and Indiana.  My folding tour bike will be the perfect vehicle for these short trips.

I'll have room to take along any of these QRP beauties for some evening and early morning Parks on the Air activations.

You Kits HB-1B

QRP Labs QCX Mini 40/20 Meters

QRP Labs QDX 80 - 20 Meters

After these short bike tours, hopefully I'll be able to take some longer multi-day POTA Bike Tours during the summer and early fall months and use my Surly Long Haul Trucker LHT so I can carry along more radios .......

.....  and to operate Morse Code at POTA sites like this one below in Ohio. Maybe I'll dress like those long forgotten telegraph operators wearing their Telegraph Hat Caps who manned the Telegraph Office at Train Stations along rail lines. 

Who knows where my the wheels of my bike will take me. 

As the song says:

The wheels on my bike go 'round and 'round

'Round and 'round, 'round and 'round

The wheels on my bike go 'round and 'round

All through the towns.