ON7DQ Friedrichshafen 2025 - Day 1

As usual, I started my trip very early in the morning, I left my home QTH Ostend at 05:25 local time.
I drove to the first summit in one ride, and arrived at  precisely 08:00, perfect !

FL/NO-058, Bois Bryas - 396m, 2 points (POTA FR-3182)

This is an 'almost drive up' summit, the parking spot is here 49.9668,4.61695.

After I had my breakfast, I walked some 100m in the South-East direction to get into the activation zone. This was a combined SOTA & POTA activation, like many others that will follow.
It meant that I needed at least 10 QSO's for a valid POTA activation. SOTA only needs 4.

I think the chasers were still sleeping, it took me about one hour to get 12 QSO's, with 1 S2S. 

Anyway, the activation was saved and it was time to get going again ...

FL/NO-006, Les Dames de Meuse - 402m, 2 points  (POTA FR-3182)

This summit is a true drive up, the parking spot is in the AZ, position 49.900942, 4.633875, I arrived there at 10:10 local time.

But at the parking, people had setup a stand with food and drinks for a cycling tour that came by that day. So I took my gear and walked away into the woods.

The activation went well, I stayed on the air for one hour and 20 minutes, and made 22 QSO's, with 2 S2S (and 3 P2P), which was nice !

FL/NO-145, Garenne du Moulin - 340m, 1 point 

This summit was first activated by my friend Rob, ON4ROB, and I chased him that day.
So I felt some obligation to pay this one a visit as well, and make it a complete.

But ... I don't like Robs' description of how to get to the summit, scrambling through thorny bushes ... there has to be a better way. And there is !

The summit is also an 'almost drive up' summit, and you can choose between two access roads to a parking spot near the activation zone.
Parking position is here 49.396844, 5.105176 (see picture above), I arrived at 14:08 local.

I checked out both access roads. The long one is a 1.7 km dirt road that needs careful driving, it's full of bumps and potholes ... but at least I didn't wreck my car ;-)

It starts here 49.399809, 5.083794 , along the D115.

The better way is the short and easy road that goes through a farm. In the village of  Villers-devant-Dun, at the church (pos 49.395322, 5.110751) take the small road going North (Gr la Grande Rue),  and continue in the Rue du Beauséjour, which goes through a farm and ends at the parking spot. See map above.

A short walk (200m in direction South-West) brings you in the activation zone, I found a spot under some trees, in the shade.

At the summit is some sort of "bump", not sure what it is. Does anyone know ?

I made 26 QSO's in just under 50 minutes, with 2 S2S

I was still on schedule, so I had included an extra activation, a never activated POTA park, which was close to my first AirBnb in Dieue-sur-Meuse.

POTA FR-3150 Vallée de la Meuse

I parked next to the bridge at position 49.070694, 5.413607. Temperature outside was 33°C, so I decided to operate from within the car, which was a bit cooler after the 50 km ride with the A/C on.
An extra fan helped ... a little , hi.

I made the needed 10 QSO's in 30 minutes, and then it was time to find my AirBnb, take a shower, have a dinner and take some rest. It had been a long but succesful day ...

Continue reading ... go to DAY 2

or

Go back to overview HERE