Super Moon 2012

I know I know I haven't written much lately.....soon I promise!   Lots of stressful things going on in life these days that are wearing me down but still smiling with no regrets!   ;-)

Super "Orange" Moon 2012

New Ham Shack and Happy Easter!

Many of you know that for many years I was a very avid Ham Radio Operator.  I've operated from the Canadian Arctic (VE8RCS), Bermuda (VP9MM), Newfoundland (VO1XA) and finally here in Ottawa (VA3XA).   After my separation I packed up the radio gear and promptly walked away from the hobby except for when I was in Bermuda where I used a friends radio.   This past trip to Bermuda my buddy Glen (http://bermudaglen.blogspot.com/) was bugging me to get back on the air and to be honest I was starting to feel the bug a bit.

So this past 2 weeks I pulled my old vertical, a Butternut HF9V, out of the barn and found my radio gear and set it all back up.   Not as big as the old days where I had towers, yagi's, amplifier, etc etc...   Just a radio, no tuner, coax straight to the antenna.   Seems to work well, just had a nice chat with the guys/gals in Bermuda.   Glen asked to see a few pictures, here ya go;

 My man cave ;-)   We live in a side split so this is just under the kitchen.   I have my TenTec Jupiter setup with a W2IHY box and Goldline Microphone.   Off to the side I have my old IC-751A ready to go if needed.  No tuners in use, straight out to the antenna.

Couple of shots of the old Butternut HF9V.  It's not very straight any more, after being moved around this past 21 years but it's all original parts and still holding.  Of those 21 years it has probably been outside and standing for at least 15 years.  Says something of it's durability.   Only 3 radials down for now but it seems to get out well.   More permanent anchors going in soon and will bury the coax and radials so people don't trip on them.

For now I continue to resist the urge to put up towers and long wires hahaha.  But I do miss my 160m Inverted L, that thing was fun!

Hope everyone is having a great Easter weekend.  16C here today and turkey is in the oven!   Have a great week everyone!

Leaving Bermuda

Shot one more video as we took off.  You can get a pretty good look at the island and some of the reefs.   Going to start working on a much bigger video over the weekend but that one will take some time ;-)

Final from the Island

Hey everyone!   Bags are packed, camera gear cleaned and put away, final load in the laundry and dressed to head home :-(    Although I am looking forward to getting home to see Jen, Erin and Jackson.   

Might have a few more pictures to post over the next few weeks as I sort through all the images and directories.  Seems I always miss something so stay tuned ;-)

There will also be a rather long video coming at some point as well.  While here I filmed the entire south shore, north shore, Somerset, St Georges, St David's, Harbour Road and some of middle road.  This all needs to be pieced together into 1 video.   There will probably be a couple of versions, one that I hope to shorten down considerably by doing fast forwards and another at "real speed".   For those who love Bermuda and want a video of the entire island for yourselves or to show your friends and family let me know and I'll try and make something that is easy for download or something that can be put onto a DVD.    But that is a project that's going to take some time to complete, bug me if you don't see any results, I do have a habit of moving on hahaha.

Next post will be from home, take care everyone and thanks for all the comments here, Facebook and Google +.   It was fun shooting this trip and had a great time visiting all my friends and extended family.

Later!

Southlands

Two posts in one day!   Didn't expect to get back out shooting today as I was in Hamilton for part of the day, thanks for a nice lunch John!   Heather and Sharon took me down to Southlands.  A place that I have heard lots about in the Bermuda press but I was not aware that you could drive down to it.   Thanks to the continuing wind and weather patterns running through there was some nice dramatic clouds.   Got to shoot a time lapse as well.

Tomorrows my last full day :-(   Looking forward to getting home to Jen on Thursday but will miss "my island" and all my friends down here.   Will try and get a few more shots tomorrow.  Have a great evening everyone.

Spittal Pond - Stormy Day

So far this trip the Bermuda weather forecasting has been dead on.  All weekend we were awaiting high winds on Monday and they arrived right on time.   Not much rain with it so far but the wind is blowing.   Took a run down to Spittal Pond yesterday to catch the wave action.   Ended up coming home covered in salt spray but was fun.   Wanted to do some time lapse work with the GoPro but finally hit the problem of humidity inside the case, lesson learned.  Need to get some humidity strips.   But did manage a video and some photos.

A 4 minute video showing the surf.

 The GoPro on duty

 Couldn't resist some Pano work.  Horizon is a bit off with this lens but came out ok ;-)

In the final few days before coming home so running around a bit.  Out for lunch in a bit with a friend so a bit light on the text but have been enjoying my time!  Even with the crappy weather having moved in.

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Flatts

Good Monday morning everyone.  Had a great weekend on this end visiting with friends.   Was out to Bristo J's on Friday night for supper, a must place to have supper while your on the island (Flank steak done with a Bermuda Rum sauce), Saturday with Glen and supper at Hog Penny (Wahoo and Bermuda Fish Chowder), Sunday was F1 racing with Bruce in the morning, IndyCar racing with Bruce at Tom's house in the afternoon and an evening with Sharon and Heather eating BBQ'd chickens with corn on the cob!  A great weekend!

Tom's house is in an amazing location with a million dollar view, a few shots before the race;

Heading into the final stretch before heading home on Thursday.   Sunny here right now but very high winds. They're talking gale force later today and maybe some rain.  More wind tomorrow and then a cold front moving in to finish my trip.    Looking at the wave action down on the south shore and thinking of taking the gopro down in a bit and do some time lapse of the waves hitting the shore.   Could be fun.  Out again with friends this evening, tomorrow for lunch, tomorrow afternoon and probably tomorrow evening again.   Busy busy busy. ;-)

Later!