Welcome to the story of 168DX/1 and 257DX/1 held during June 2003.

Story by 14DX007 Vincent

We arrive at the Paris airport at 13h30 for departure around 16h20. Unfortunately, just before take-off, the plane go back to the parking, then the captain inform us that this plane can’t fly and that we must change of plane. We wait three hours again at the airport, and then take-off at 19h30 for 11 hours night.

30/05/2003:
Landing around 9h00 am, we starting problems with my antenna bag (all my 3 element yagi packed on a “golf bag”). That because it’s too long and we need to go on a special desk to recover this bag. Then, we pass the customs without problems. Our contact in Mauritius waiting for us since 5h00 am, but with good smile he drives us to the “villa”. No problem to install the antenna at this place, and view to ocean and Europe are beautiful from the balcony. The only problem is I can’t turn my antenna to Australia and America, only to Europe. I start the activity but the propagation wasn’t so good and only 42 qso on my log.

31/05/03:
Around 130 qso during this day, mainly early morning and late on the afternoon as we start visiting the island and beaches during this day. Better propagation during the 13h30 – 15h30 UTC.

01/06/03:
162 qso with very good opening during the morning. Also during this day, we rent a car and start to drive at the left side of roads (Mauritius was an old English territory) … and it was a hard time for me!!

02/06/03:
Only 41 qso, all made during the evening. We spend all the day at beach, and to visit beautiful waterfalls and mountains around the island.

03/06/03:
126 qso mainly during the afternoon. There was a very good propagation to Europe. We visit Port Louis (the capital) during the morning, it was a nice experience, and we enjoy the nice Indian food there. In fact, Mauritius is composed of Indians, Chinese, Africans, Europeans and others cultural groups, all living in a peaceful environment.

04/06/03:
Few qso during the morning because I must qrt the station to prepare the flight to Rodrigues. I was nervous because of possible airport controls, and I really want to active this remote island. We arrive at Mauritius airport at 13h00, and (as expected) we have some problems with the transceiver and the antenna “golf bag”. Customs ask me what is this electronic equipment on my bag (hopefully I place the microphone on my girlfriend bag) and I answer them that it was only a power supply and a receiver … and they believe me!! For the antenna bag, they ask me why I take golf equipment to Rodrigues because no golf exist in this island (with chance they don’t open the bag) … and I answer them that I come from France and I can’t leave my golf bag in Mauritius during my Rodrigues trip. During the flight we have an incredible beautiful view to the Mauritius lagoon, and then to the Rodrigues lagoon and surrounding islands. The Rodrigues Airport was the little one I ever see!! Only a desk with the Air Mauritius officer and another with the custom officer!! Again, the antenna bag gives me some difficulties, but this time, the custom asks me if it was a “long rifle” !!! I smile and I open the bag … and he answer me “ok for your fishing equipment, that no problem .. You can pass” !! Incredible, customs have imagination but never discover the true (better for me hi). The 10km bus trip take us 1h00 because road in Rodrigues was dirty. It was nice for me to see this beautiful island, without any luxuriant touristic hotels building … only smiley peoples who take time to live. When we arrive at our “villa” at night, I built the dipole antenna and start the station but unfortunately, no propagation at all ..

05/06/03:
View from the balcony is incredible, blue lagoon, nobody around us … but to erect the Yagi antenna, it become a nightmare … I decide to start the activity with only the dipole element of the Yagi, and firsts qso was made with the DX team of Denmark. Then, we start to visit the island.. Life is really different on this island, the bus are very low (5/10 km/h) and we prefer rent a scooter to move quickly. At the east part of the island, there are beautiful beaches with nobody … the dream!! Every people are friendly and take time to explain our way.

06/06/03:
Early in the morning (3h00utc, 7h00 local time), I decide to build the Yagi on the balcony … it wasn’t so good because again, I can beam my antenna only to Europe … but at least it was better for south Americans stations, maybe because of a better take-off in this direction or a better propagation path. Around 70 qso made during this day. We visit again the east part of the island and go to the highest point of Rodrigues Isl 389m .. Where we can see the ocean in every direction.

07/06/03:
First it was plan to go on Cocos Island during this day, but unfortunately, the weather was so bad and we must stay at home during the morning. I make around 150 qso. During the afternoon, we do a quick trip to the south of the island. When we come back at home, good opening to South America with 5/9 reports both sides.

08/06/03:
The better day of the activation (thanks to my girlfriend who spend the day at home, listening a crazy man asking hundred of time: “257DX/1 .. QRZ ?” ). More than 300 qso made with a beautiful propagation.

09/06/03:
This day was spending to discover nice beach, and to take little boat to visit the beautiful lagoon. With scuba, we discover beautiful fish and corals, it was a nice experience.

10/06/03:
The last day of activation in Rodrigues, and not so many peoples answering to my call … maybe everybody at work … I finish the activity with a beautiful qso with station from Namibia. Then I pack everything quickly to be ready at 14h00 (the time of bus appointment) … and the bus arrives at 15h00 for another 1h00 trip to the airport. This time, no problem to pass customs as the same officer knows me and smiles when I simulate a “long rifle” with my golf bag ! The return trip to Mauritius was ok, but at the Mauritius airport, again customs ask everybody to open bags… with luck (and help of my girlfriend), I pass the customs desk without any control (I was maybe the only one of this flight) … We arrive late during the evening at the hotel, and no radio at all during the night.

11/06/03:
Location is really good, with many tropical trees and a private beach at 75m. We are only two persons at this hotel during the firsts nights, and I put out the yagi antenna to the balcony (with many wind and difficulty). Only 4 qso made during this day.

12/06/03:
Around 60 qso with many difficulty and qsb. Propagation wasn’t so good as during the 1st part of the 168 activity. We spend the day to Cerfs Island and around the East coast.

13/06/03:
Again propagation was bad, and we decide to visit the north coast with beautiful beach and islands. Only 43 qso made today, during the sunset time.

14/06/03:
We visit for the second time the Port Louis capital, and go back to the hotel early in the afternoon because I decide to take part into the RC Contest (with callsign 168/14RC007). Propagation was better than previous days, and I manage 43 QSO with RC friends for the contest, and around 50 qso for the DX activity.>

15/06/03:
We decide to stay at the hotel, and to use the tennis court, private beach and all others services. I also have plenty of time for radio but unfortunately for a Sunday: not propagation at all, only 15 qso … I decide to finish the activity this day and to not active again during the Monday.

16/06/03:
One of our better day during our trip, we take a little boat to visit southeast surrounding islands. It was a very nice experience, as weather was beautiful, and boat crew fantastic. They prepare us a lunch on a little island (only for us), and we can see so many beautiful fishes on the lagoon. Unfortunately, every dreams ending, and we must go back at the airport at 20h00, to another 11 hours flight back to France. No problems at all to pass the customs, and we arrive safe at home during the next morning.

I would like to thanks all stations contacted during both activities, it was nice to see that many of you thanks me for the QSL of my previous activity (170RC/0). 11M Dxers are really a good and big family, and I’m proud to be part of them. Special thanks to DX Group for the help, especially to Soren, John, Pete and Mike.

A big special thanks to my girlfriend Eulalia, for her patience and comprehension. She knows that radio is more than a hobby for me .. Big thanks !!

Cuagn from somewhere.
Vy 73’s
Vincent 14DX007


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