POTA Today: Arches National Park

Sometime between 1600-1900z today I'll be activating US-0004 in Utah for 30 minutes. 

FT-891 (100 watts), vertical antenna, 20m CW.

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TAT bust; future travel plans

I've been home from my TAT ride for several weeks now. More accurately, it was a 1/2-TAT as I headed home after riding Colorado.

My age and the Oklahoma heat did me in.

Oklahoma was three days of slow, sandy riding in 104F/40C heat with more of the same for Utah. Colorado was a cool relief in between that made the upcoming desert even less appealing than if I hadn't ridden in those snow-covered mountains.

I rented a cargo van in Ouray, loaded the bike and headed home.

TAT Video update: AR-OK-NM

Arkansas

Heavy rains made for muddy riding through a beautiful state. I managed a quick activation (US-4425) just before the rain started but the high winds preceding the rain made the audio from the activation's recording unsuitable for posting to YouTube.

Thanks all, for the contacts.

Lunch was at the cafe in Oark where I met a great group of people who invited me to join them at their table. Everyone was from somewhere else and the conversation was all about travel. 

I saw more wildlife in Arkansas than in the previous three states combined, mostly deer but also two coyote. 

The set-up of my moto-POTA kit from Davy Crockett SP

A few folks have asked about what I'm using on the road, particularly in regard to the antenna and how it is mounted.

I'm currently taking a day off the ride to wait out the heavy rains due here in central Arkansas which gave me time to put a short video together. 

Back on the sure-to-be-muddy Trail tomorrow. 

 

Directly on YouTube 

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TAT update: Tupelo MS

Two days on the TAT now and making a fast progression west - not due to any skillful or fast riding on my part, it's all due to the fact that the TAT from Tennessee eastward is mostly paved roads. County roads make up most of the TAT in these eastern states and, while beautifully scenic, they are not what comes to mind when the word "trail" is used.

That changes tomorrow. From here on out, "trail" means unpaved.

I expect to reach Arkansas tomorrow and the ride will be along the Mississippi Delta. Cotton and corn will present themselves in abundance.

I'm postponing buying new tires for the bike until early Colorado. The originals seem to still have life in them so I passed right on by Lake Hill Motors in Corinth MS today.