{"id":6311,"date":"2024-10-05T12:57:26","date_gmt":"2024-10-05T17:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catracing.org\/hendrb\/?p=6311"},"modified":"2024-10-06T21:44:55","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T02:44:55","slug":"road-trip-a-weekend-in-gainesville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catracing.org\/hendrb\/road-trip-a-weekend-in-gainesville\/","title":{"rendered":"Road Trip! \u2013 A Weekend in Gainesville"},"content":{"rendered":"

Road Trip! \u2013 A Weekend in Gainesville<\/span><\/h1>\n
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  It is amazing that I had not been on a road trip since Jul of 2023!  That is a lot of time staying around one\u2019s home.  I had been planning to visit the Lubee Bat Conservancy for quite a few months since making reservations for a private VIP tour!  This trip almost did not happen.  However, working the numbers in my head while 8 hours of driving round trip was a slog.  It was entirely possible!<\/p>\n

  The plan was to drive up on Friday, see some of the local attractions on Saturday then take the Bat Conservancy tour on Sunday then drive home!<\/p>\n

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Driving Route to Gainesville<\/p><\/div>\n

  Preparing for the trip.  I wanted to play radio as much as I could while driving, so I mapped out as well as I could which 2 meter and 70cm repeaters I would be passing along the way.  The programming software for the Yaesu FTM-500DR makes that very easy with its online Repeater Book integration.  I simply compared the cities I would be passing next to on Interstate 10 and 75 with what was in Repeater Book. <\/p>\n

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Selected them and imported them in a range of open memory slots.<\/p>\n

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  Here are is a conversation (known as a CUE-SO  \u201cQSO\u201d) I had with John W4CJB a radio amateur near Defuniak Springs on the WF4X repeater using 2 meters FM.  Hearing everyone\u2019s surprise that I was going to tour a bat conservancy always made me chuckle!<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.catracing.org\/hendrb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Defuniak-Springs-QSO-w-W4CJB.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

  \"\"<\/a>The radio made the trip go by much faster than it would have otherwise.  Before I knew it I was pulling in to the hotel, where it was time to check in, find a place to eat dinner (Which turned out to be the McDonald\u2019s across the street), take a shower and go to bed!<\/p>\n

  Saturday dawned bright and early and I had scheduled an experience flight at the Gainesville airport. <\/p>\n

Here is another QSO I had with Kevin, KE4NVI via the East Coast IRLP Reflector on my way to the airport, discussing the Lubee Bat Conservancy and the University Of Florida Bat Houses.<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.catracing.org\/hendrb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Lubee-and-bat-houses-KE4NVI.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Unfortunately  the airplane had some technical difficulties that precluded me from being able to go up.  I compliment the companies attention to safety and detail and am glad the problem was discovered on the ground rather than in the air.<\/p>\n

  So, I had the entire day to kill and ended up at Depot Park and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention.  An interactive children\u2019s \/ science museum named after Dr. James Cade one of the inventors of the sports drink Gatorade.<\/p>\n

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  \"\"<\/a>They had some interesting exhibits that captured the attention of children and adults alike.<\/p>\n

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One of my favorite exhibits was this thermal camera exhibit.<\/p>\n

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Proceeding outside I finally got to lay eyes on an alligator.  Even if I was a captive audience!<\/p>\n

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I had a lot of fun after finding this hopscotch board laid out on the walking path.<\/p>\n

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So, I got some walking in, played radio, and got some great pictures!<\/p>\n

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I then broke for lunch and found a really good Mexican restaurant near the university ( I will post a formal restaurant review after the Bat Conservancy blogs are complete and published..).<\/p>\n

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  I then became lazy and headed back to the hotel for a quick nap before heading off to the University of Florida Bat Houses.  I had some time, so I set up for some selfies and more ham radio!<\/p>\n

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  At sunset the bats come out of the houses and begin their search for insects to feed on.  I learned a few things!<\/p>\n

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