Over the next few weeks, you won’t see my US callsign, K4SWL, out there in the spots—but you will see my Canadian callsign, VY2SW!
Yesterday, we finished packing the Subaru, handed our keys to a friend who’s house-sitting, and hit the road!
We’ll be in Canada through the rest of June and most of July for some much-needed family rest and relaxation.
The past few months have been a bit hectic on the home front with storm clean-up, parent health issues, and family obligations. We’re looking forward to a real break—and hoping there’s no reason to cut the trip short.
More ‘OTA for VY2SW
If you’ve been trying to work me from a spot where North Carolina’s a tough catch, you might have better luck while I’m roaming through Ontario and Québec.
I plan to do a fair bit of POTA, and hopefully some SOTA, while in Canada. I’m especially excited to activate a few parks and summits I’ve never visited before. If solar conditions stay the same (read: unstable and poor!), I’ll likely spend extra time on the air at each location.
Radios Packed
For this trip, I packed four of my smaller HF rigs: the KX2, KH1, MTR-3B, and CFT1. I had planned to bring a larger radio like the RGO One, Argonaut VI, or K2, but there just wasn’t space.
A six-week road trip with a family of four means every nook and cranny in the Subaru was put to work—and I’m quite proud of the packing job, to be honest! (One of my daughters helped—she and I are both known for our extraordinary abilities in loading the dishwasher… obviously a transferable skill!)
Ham Alert?
If you have a moment, please go ahead and add VY2SW to your Ham Alert. I’ll definitely need all the hunter help I can get on those activation days!
Now to get my muscle memory ready to send CQ POTA de VY2SW—I guarantee I’ll accidentally send K4SWL at least a few hundred times! Ha ha!
Time to hit the road again—I hope to catch you on the air soon!
Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL / VY2SW)
Have a great vacation Tom! Why the Canadian callsign though? Can’t you just sign K4SWL/ what ever Canadian province you’re in?
Frankly? Because I wanted to. I spend enough time in Canada that I simply wanted a Canadian call.
You’re correct, though: VA2/K4SWL would have worked, too.
Hope you are enjoying the bugs and heat that late June has brought to Ontario and Quebec. Will you be joining any Canadian Radio Clubs for Field Day?! On a minor point, the convention when using a US call sign in Canada, I believe the US call sign comes before the stroke and Canadian Province prefix. e.g. K4SWL/VE3. Will watch for your call sign!
Hope to work you road-trip to road-trip, Thomas. We’ll be RVing around the Dakotas, WY & MT for July & August. The KX2 is coming along but will probably also bring the FT-891. Have fun and 73!
Now that sounds like huge fun, John! I hope to work you in your roves as well! The KX2 will serve you very well! 73 OM!
I hope you hadn’t a very relaxing stay, and I hope to pick up your VY2 call!
It would be brilliant working you as VY2SW. I should be able to as I do plan to operate 30/40 meters at times. Trying to decide what park to hit this AM.
Have a wonderful time in Ontario with your family Thomas! In two weeks we’ll be leaving Ontario, pulling our RV trailer, heading to Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and PEI.
Btw, as a Canadian I feel honoured you chose a Cdn callsign
Safe travels and 72!
Brent VA3YG
It’s very much an honor for me to have a Canadian call, OM! It was a proud moment getting my license.
It sounds like you’ve got quite the adventure ahead of you and some gorgeous scenery–all beautiful provinces. We’re way overdue to visit the Maritimes again–and Gaspé!
Safe travels!
Cheers
Thomas
Safe travels.
Thank you!
Wonderful Thomas !!! Alanna & I are very happy for you, Heather and the twins. This Canada sojourn sounds just what your soul needs after Hurricane Helene, wildfires and being a great helper to your neighbors and community. Plus, it will be a great family trip before your twins head off to college…it will be memorable.
Not sure you can make Cape Breton Island like Alanna & I did last year, but that was a bucket list trip and one of our best travels. Parks Canada is great. Great choice of radios, too.
Safe travels, have fun and let me know if I can help here.
Looking forward to working VY2SW many times.
73 de K4RLC Bobby
Thank you, Bob and Alanna! We’re not hitting the Maritimes on this trip, but we plan to in the next couple of years. It’s been a while since we’ve been to Cape Breton and we also want to spend time in Newfoundland. We’l need a few weeks in Newfoundland when we do that trip!
All the best to you both and we’re still beaming Alanna healing energy (on the 20M band)!
Cheers,
Thomas
Thomas – Thank you & Have a wonderful trip. Looking forward to great photos and write-ups. Your Canada trip sounds very restoring.
Alanna still has ups and downs, but doing OK right now. Appreciate your healing energy and wishing you great propagation.
72/3 de K4RLC Bobby
Hi Thomas,
6 weeks roaming Ontario and Quebec sounds wonderful.
We are heading to The Maritimes in a week for a 10 day rove. Bringing the new KX2 and the QMX mid band for rigs. 40 meter EFHW and a collapsible vertical to cover all antenna circumstances.
I hope we can do some CA2CA P2P. Safe travels.
72,
Paul
Woo hoo! That sounds like fun!
Yes, let’s try to P2P–that would be brilliant! Safe travels, Paul!
Cheers,
Thomas
Safe travels! I still can’t believe I’ve not hunted either of your call signs yet.
Hey–it’s going to happen this year. Just open the window in flight, extend that KH1 antenna and work me when you see my spot!
(Okay, maybe a bad idea.)
Cheers,
Thomas
Have a great get away, Thomas and I’ll be listening for VY2SW!
73, Eric AC6NT
Thank you!
Enjoy your holiday up north with minimal QRN/QRM……
I’ve got you spotted on ham alert !
Safe travels
73 Mike VE3MKX
Woo hoo! Thank you! Hope to work you, Mike!
Enjoy the time away! Treasure the activations as much as the family time. With 2 girls of my own about the ages of yours, I know how precious some “me time” can be. Added your 2nd call to Ham Alert, I seem to hear Ontario and Quebec better than NC so there’s still hope for me! 72 de K2BRZ
Thank you and you’re absolutely correct!
I look forward to putting you in the logs, OM!
Cheers,
Thomas
Hi!
Enjoy this wonderful time to relax, and have lot o f fun.-
I hope to hear you , as we are almost everyday doing Parks on the air. If you go to Gaspé I suggest to go to Forillon Camp Ground , it is a wonderful “PARK CANADA ” and do not miss to go to Cape Gaspé ,
orillon National Park
Visitors next to a lighthouse at the top of a cliff.
The lighthouse and its buildings are perched almost 100 m above sea level.
The Cape Gaspé lighthouse site can be reached by foot or bicycle via the Les Graves trail.
A genuine sentry of the sea, the Cape Gaspé lighthouse rises proudly atop Forillon peninsula, standing watch over the boundary between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Gaspé Bay. When you recognize this tip of the Gaspé and breathe in the sea air, you’ll really know what it means to be at land’s end!
GRID LOCATOR : FN78WS
ARLHS CAN 087
95 METER (312 FT) HIGH CLIFF
The Cape Gaspé lighthouse is perched on a 95-meter-high cliff. It is located at the tip of a peninsula in Gaspé, Quebec, Canada, and stands watch over the boundary between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Gaspé Bay1. The cliffs around Cape Gaspé fall nearly: 700 feet !!!!
By the way, let me know if I can Help…
All the very best to you and yours,
72 Mike VE2TH & Georgette VE2RH
OM/XYL TEAM
Hi, Mike,
We *love* the Gaspé area and have overnighted in Forillon. It’s gorgeous out there! We won’t be going out that way on this trip, though. Likely into Charlevoix, Tadoussac, and possibly Sanguenay. For the most part, though, we’ll be in/around QC! Would be great to ee you at a park! I’m planning to attend a bit of Field Day with CRAQ.
Cheers,
Thomas
I’ll be listening, Thomas/VY2SW!
Enjoy the POTA/SOTA road and lovely Quebec!!!
73,
– Joe/W9NVY
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