Memorial South Park

I t has been a while since I was last at a park with Ralph. After finishing all the parks in the Northshore, we entered a lull and haven’t been back at it in any significant manner. Perhaps because we have completed all the local parks and neither of us really wants to travel in Vancouver. As we want to visit new parks, we will need to brave the traffic of Vancouver. The next area is even much further out, up the valley to Chilliwack and beyond! In time we will be there, but for now the adventure takes to around 15 more parks in Vancouver.

The benefit of being retired is that we can squeeze our travels between the two rush-hour periods and with that in mind, Ralph arrived at my place a bit before 10am and we were soon on the road, but not to Vancouver. Our first stop was of course for a load of caffeine at Starbucks, then it was back to the route the navcom had selected. We made good time on the highway and city streets and soon we had arrived at the end of 43rd Ave and the entrance to the park. There were a number of open parking stalls and I selected one next to the open grassy area. We then began a walk around the park.

Our first goal was to explore the park looking for two places from which we would operate our radio stations. This is also the time we explore the features of the park and I gather some photos. This park has a large running track and several ball parks. It also sports a kids’ area and an adult exercise park. Ralph spotted a nice area next to the running track that offered open space next to some shade. It was already getting hot in the sun, we are never satisfied, to cold, too hot never just right. I found a nice location quite close to my car and so we returned to the car and loaded my cart, we went to my location and unloaded my gear then Ralph used the cart to carry his stuff to the further point.

I set up my portable table and chair and then my radio equipment. I was soon done and ready to start talking around the world. I called Ralph on my handheld but got no response. Not waiting for him, I then started scanning the radio bands and learned that the noise level was quite high. I soon learned that operators around the continent were all experiencing the same problem. I managed to work one chap in a park in Montana, but no others. I tried Ralph again and this time he responded. That call gave me a second contact. Ralph and I then called each other on the 70cm UHF band and the 1.25m VHF band. I had my first four contacts logged, six to go. We decided to start calling and see how things went for the next 20 minutes.

By the time I was back in touch with Ralph I had completed the required ten contacts. It had been a tough session with the high noise floor. A few regulars came through as did fellow club member Bob back in White Rock, he reported a very weak signal from me and he couldn’t hear Ralph at all. Ralph commented that he had only managed two contacts beyond those with me, even the automated stations couldn’t hear him. So, to complete the activation for Ralph we worked each other on a few HF bands giving him the needed count for the day. We were now both feeling we had achieved our goal and with the poor conditions we decided to pack up and go eat lunch.

I quickly took down my station and as I was near the car I simply carried my equipment to the car in a few trips and then waited for Ralph. Once he had returned, we grabbed our lunches and sought out a bench in the shade. We found one at the Adult Gym. While there we watched a chap do a few exercises on the equipment, then a pair of young guys came by who were also working out. The one chap was doing some very strenuous lifts and planks that I could only dream of having ever been able to do. We chatted with them a bit and then when done our lunch we wandered back to the car and set out for home. It had been a pleasant day in the park, though fairly busy, no one came by me to ask about the radio. Our drive home was early enough and we missed the soon to arrive afternoon traffic. It had been a nice visit in the park though the band conditions made operating a challenge. We will be back next week I hope for another park in the area.