Doggone It: A Winnipesaukee Trail Ride to Remember

August 2006

I discovered a new adventure close to home this morning. I had to stop at the bank and the teller told me about a nearby bike trail!

So when I finished the banking, I headed down the road behind the bank with my dog Meghan in search of the spot... a rails-to-trails route right along the Winnipesaukee River between Tilton and Franklin.

Barely a half mile down the country road we found the gate at a road crossing. The sign warned: Pedestrians, bicycles and horses only.

The trail runs a total of three and a half miles... an easy ride. It's a glorious laneway through the woods with spectacular views of the Winnipesaukee River – swollen from recent flooding.

About 3/4 of the way to Franklin I leaned my bicycle alongside a beautiful masonary wall – part of a railroad building from many years ago. I set my gear on top of the wall and tossed a wire over a branch maybe 25 feet above me and extended it horizontally another 40 feet to a nearby tree.

I had brought an FT-817, Elecraft T-1 tuner and a laptop battery in my pack. Meghan stands guard for any QRM!

I tune up on 40 and hear Dick Partridge, W3ORU/2, calling CQ. He comes right back to me and we chat for 10 minutes or so. He's 589 and he gives me a 559. "This is the first time in my 57 years of ham radio that I've ever worked someone biking with their dog," Dick replies.

After the QSO, I pack up and head up the trail to the road. The whole adventure extended my trip to the bank by little more than an hour. But what a difference an hour of outdoor radio can make!

* * * * * * * * * *
Jim Cluett, W1PID, is a veteran QRPer and outdoor adventurer living in Sanbornton, NH.



	Doggone It: A Winnipesaukee Trail Ride to Remember
		By Jim Cluett, W1PID Special to The ARS Sojourner
August 2006 I discovered a new adventure close to home this morning. I had to stop at the bank and the teller told me about a nearby bike trail! So when I finished the banking, I headed down the road behind the bank with my dog Meghan in search of the spot... a rails-to-trails route right along the Winnipesaukee River between Tilton and Franklin. Barely a half mile down the country road we found the gate at a road crossing. The sign warned: Pedestrians, bicycles and horses only. The trail runs a total of three and a half miles... an easy ride. It's a glorious laneway through the woods with spectacular views of the Winnipesaukee River – swollen from recent flooding. About 3/4 of the way to Franklin I leaned my bicycle alongside a beautiful masonary wall – part of a railroad building from many years ago. I set my gear on top of the wall and tossed a wire over a branch maybe 25 feet above me and extended it horizontally another 40 feet to a nearby tree. I had brought an FT-817, Elecraft T-1 tuner and a laptop battery in my pack. Meghan stands guard for any QRM! I tune up on 40 and hear Dick Partridge, W3ORU/2, calling CQ. He comes right back to me and we chat for 10 minutes or so. He's 589 and he gives me a 559. "This is the first time in my 57 years of ham radio that I've ever worked someone biking with their dog," Dick replies. After the QSO, I pack up and head up the trail to the road. The whole adventure extended my trip to the bank by little more than an hour. But what a difference an hour of outdoor radio can make! * * * * * * * * * * Jim Cluett, W1PID, is a veteran QRPer and outdoor adventurer living in Sanbornton, NH.