Atsena Otie Key FL: the island, the pile-ups, the video

Well, that was certainly fun.

I arrived at Cedar Key almost an hour early for meeting my water taxi sked. "No problem - we can go over now."

The boat ride was $16 round trip, staffed by friendly folks. It took less than 15 minutes to land on a sandbar that would be underwater by the time I left the island 3 hours later, thanks to the incoming tide.

For anyone considering an activation of this park, the boat schedules do take into account the tides, as they are quite pronounced in this area. No boat travel within 2 hours either side of low tide.

 

There were about 25 people on the island while I was there. Most had kayaked over, the rest had arrived via a skiff as I had. They consisted of picnic'ers, hikers and folks just wanting to explore the ghost town aspect of this old settlement. Pencils were made here until 1896 when a hurricane devastated the island and killed 31 people.

It's a pretty little place to spend a day.

My operating position faced directly toward Europe and the antenna was on (and then, in!) the water. I knew it would perform well and it did. Set-up took 15 minutes due to all the POTA practice I've been obtaining for a few years now.

I've had the MFJ-1979 for exactly 5 years this month. It's been all over the US, to Ecuador and now an island beach. Still looks like new. Still retracts and extends smoothly.

The vise-grip base I use with it is much older, and it shows. But it clamps anywhere and on anything. Add a few elevated radials and you have a no-compromise antenna for 10-20 meters.

My future plan is to get to Atsena Otie early some morning and use the same set-up with the addition of my Wolf River coil for operation on 30 and 40 meters. I'm also going to see if it's possible to get a special use permit to camp on the island.

As you'll hear in the video, there is much demand among POTA and WWFF hunters for this park. This was the first activation for WWFF hunters and the first CW activation for POTA. Any local FL hams who read this and want to make a joint activation, just let me know.

Cedar Key is a funky little town with an authentic "Margaritaville" vibe. It's socially acceptable to have a beer or three at 11am, sit on the bar's outdoor area and watch pelicans and gulls while the Stones or Dire Straits play on the juke. February attire is T-shirts and flip-flops.

Passers-by during the activation were numerous, wanting to know what I was doing. A young woman brought me a sand dollar she found to "pay me for the radio tour".

OQ5M (future POTA/WWFF op), PE4BAS (future 30wpm CW op) and K4SWL all went into the log but I was wearing headphones by then and didn't get them on video. Thomas, were you really QRP? You were loud, dude! And I saw the "blowtorch" comment LOL!

Thanks for the contacts, the spots and the awesome level of activity. I'm looking forward to doing it again.

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