Ebey’s Landing, a Washington Gem

NPOTA Entity: Ebey’s Landing  RS02

SOTA summit: N/A

Activation Date: Oct 1, 2016

Portable operation: Yes at picnic table in Coupevdlle, WA

Radio: Elecraft KX2/KXPA100 operating at 50 watts

Antenna: SOTABeams dipole

Bands used: 20m and 40m

Furthest QSO: ~2,300 miles with KD2D in New York

Hike in: No

Solo operation: No, with Guy (N7UN/NS0TA)

Recommend: Yes

ATT Coverage: Excellent

Photos: Copyright Paul Gacek 2016

The couple says “Hi, Paul, you’ve got the coffee”. I’m searching every dusty recess of my mind to connect their faces with names or atleast a context of where I have met them. Nothing and panic sets in, should I just act as thought I know them or simply claim late breaking amnesia? They take pity and fess up we haven’t met and that they have spent thirty minutes chatting with Guy back at the picnic table and knew I was on a coffee run. Now that I know I’m not in a PBS mystery, we chat for a few minutes and they reveal the “secret” short cut back to the picnic table. Guy’s coffee is still warm and appreciates the short cut but he really appreciates the story of my encounter. He laughs out loud.

We are at Ebey’s Landing Historic Preserve on Whidbey Island in Washington State. This is another of those rare finds of a place I might never normally visit. Its a beautiful place. A combination of rolling hills, agriculture, sea shores, small hamlets and atmospheric weather that makes the place enchanting. I got us lost earlier in the day and having driven much of the coastal part of Ebey’s landing we settle into Coupeville. During the coffee run the mystery of floating wooden platforms was answered. Apparently these are all part of local mussel farms. I learnt Whidbey Island has been granted a rain exemption and unlike much of western Washington that apparently is rain central, Whidbey Island gets pretty descent year round weather.  Something to share with my wife who having lived in the Pacific Northwest for a long time laughs at all my protestations and attempts to claim the weather is all quite livable up here.

It’s the California QSO party this weekend and we don’t know if that helps or hinders as we muster some but not a stunning number of chasers on voice and morse.

Its time to leave and I’m wondering how long I have to wait to come back. I like this place.