Clifftop /P

Well, yet again I had intentions of walking out to the clifftops for some evening /P operating, probably on 15m. Instead the 2km walk was just that - a pleasant stroll in the late evening sunshine and a chance to take a few more photos. They have removed the 2 seats on the coastal path as well! The weather is becoming less settled, but I may try Wednesday evening as we are at my brother's for a meal tomorrow evening. I think with my voice being such hard work I am less keen than I was on /P operating.

In all we have walked much further this holiday than I was expecting, which is a good sign: I still have a poor voice, I still tire easily, I still feel giddy but I can do more than I expected. I guess I have to learn to adapt to the "me" I am now and not the "me" I used to be.

Before coming away I feared I would never be able to walk the south west coast path from Hope Cove to Salcombe ever again. Although I would be done in at the end, I think I could manage this - just. Maybe on a future visit....

QRP News

This came in from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
QRP Rendez-Vous weekly report (May 9 to 15, 2016)
Visitors  of  the week: UR7VT, RA1M, UA1CEG/p, RU3NJC, US3EN, IK2JET, IK5SRD,  GM0LVI/p, OY2CJX, R1OA, OM6TC, RV3GM, UA1ASB, RN4AO, UA1ADF, IK2RGV, UT8NR, G3UD, RJ3T, RL3DA
UT8NR became Honor Frequenter of the QRP Rendez-Vous
See  full  lists  of  Visitors  and Frequenters, also QRP Rendez-Vous
schedule here - www.club72.su
The  QRP Marathon "Look In the Horizon" finished in May 1. Thanks ALL for  activity.  The  memory  certificates  has  been  sent  to  all Marathoner's today. See you on the next 2017 year Marathon!
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

Coleton Fishacre - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fishacre .

This is a very fine Art Deco house near Kingwear, Devon with gardens in a sheltered valley going down to the sea. We visited it (again!) today. It is one of our favourites and the gardens were a riot of colour. It is owned by the National Trust but was owned by the D'Oyly Cart family in the 1920s and 30s.

Bolberry Down - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we went for a walk on Bolberry Down. 

It was from here that I worked a station in France (160km) with my handheld 10mW 2m Fredbox many years ago and South Africa with 1W pep on 10m. It is a lovely spot for a walk.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon May 16th 2016

Solar flux is 103 today. Sunspot number is 78 (K=3) and the 10m propagation forecast remains "poor". Let us hope there is 10m Es today, although there is a chance of N-S F2 on the band.

Evening stroll - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky that where we are staying is very near the coast. This evening we did a short stroll and got these views. Southernmost Devon really is the best place, although I am a bit biased!

Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio

My dad worked for the local water board in South Devon until he was 60, Then, for a few years he worked for the National Trust supervising youngsters on a job creation scheme restoring coastal footpaths. When he died the NT erected a couple of seats on the coast path in his memory. This is me sitting on one of them earlier.

 On the path it is quite common to see dung beetles and, of course, spectacular coastal views.

Kites (birds) - NOT amateur radio

At one time to see a kite outside Wales was rare. These days they seem to be everywhere. We saw one in the Cotswolds on our way to Devon on Friday.

I have seen a few swallows in South Devon as well as swifts, but I am sure there are fewer swallows about.

5GHz amateur band for wi-fi?

Southgate News has an item about the use of the 5GHz amateur band for wi-fi. This would be a controversial move, although in this case I have some sympathy with OFCOM. There are not many amateur users of this band and there would be widespread use of wi-fi.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/may/ofcom_propose_using_ham_radio_band_for_wifi.htm

Sunspots and 10m - Sun May 15th 2016

Solar flux is 102 today. Sunspot number is 88 (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".