From the park website:

A large sprawling lake, sunny meadows, and a wooded ravine await visitors at Caesar Creek. Boaters will find all the amenities for a great day on the water, including a marina, several launch ramps, and dock rentals. A large campground provides campers with cozy sites and modern facilities. The Hopewell Day Lodge is a great venue for family gatherings. Other activities include fishing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and archery.

Pictures

The park sign; photo by Miles McFadden
Caesar Lake in the setting sun
Eric's station in the setting sun; photo by Miles McFadden

Description

On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2020, two members of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team performed a successful activation of Caesar Creek State Park in Ohio as part of the Parks on the Air (POTA; link) program.

Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, and Miles McFadden, KD8KNC, performed the quick activation of Caesar Creek State Park in the fading sunlight while enroute home following a family visit to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. They were accompanied by Vickie McFadden, KC8MAJ.

The trio arrived at the state park swimming beach at about 2145 UTC. Parking the car in an end parking space, Eric and Miles deployed Eric's 28½' wire antenna on his 31' Jackite telescoping fiberglass mast and drive-on base. Because of the cool temperature, Eric set up his station in his car. Eric was on the air at 2156 UTC.

As expected, Eric had excellent cell-signal and was able to self-spot himself on the POTA Spots website as well as to look for park-to-park (P2P) QSO opportunities.

Eric began operations on 80m and his first QSO there came at 2200 UTC with N3XLS in Pennsylvania. QSOs came very quickly, with Eric's sixth QSO coming at 2202 UTC with NN3E in Maryland.

Switching to 40m, Eric's first QSO there came at 2207 UTC with W4SK. As on 80m, QSOs came quickly, with Eric's eighteenth QSO on 40m coming at 2221 UTC with KK2BPP in New York.

After checking POTA Spots, Eric made a P2P QSO on 40m at 2225 UTC with AB9CA who was performing an activation of Tombigbee State Park (K-2553) in Mississippi.

In all, Eric made twenty-five QSOs, including one P2P QSO. All of Eric's QSOs were CW and were made at the 5-watt level. Miles did not operate but helped with navigation, set-up and tear-down, and photography.

Eric also submitted his log to the World Wide Flora and Fauna in Amateur Radio (WWFF; link) program.

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