05 August 2025
Another year has passed and, with the vacation approaching, my wife and I thought about what we wanted to do this year, especially since we didn’t have anything planned until the last minute. We all know that when you plan your vacation in detail, your freedom becomes somewhat restricted. Why do I say this? Because you end up depending on that planning, and if a problem arises, either at the beginning or along the way – such as accommodation, a plane ticket or something else unpredictable – everything can become difficult to manage. And no one needs additional stress during a period of relaxation.
So we decided to do what we know best: simply set off without any fixed plan and see what the present had in store for us along the way. However, we set a general target: the north of the country, the east, places where neither of us had been before, with the city of Iași as our reference. Determined to set off on the first day with enthusiasm towards our chosen destination, we realized the night before that we could change the route of the first day, adding a small detour through Fetești, Cernavodă and AtlantyKron Island – a place where, year after year, amateur radio events are also held.
The road and activities
We left the capital very early, in order to get to the first park as quickly as possible. We also took into account the fact that the propagation, in the last two months, had been capricious and that between 12:00 and 16:00 the chances of activating a park were very small. The first stop was at RO-0400 Mlaștina de la Fetești, a huge area, a natural reserve created by the overflows of water from the Borcea arm. Before the activation, we had a short chat with a local, who told us that what we see today no longer corresponds to the title of “swamp”. Due to the drought of the last 6–7 years, the lands are no longer covered by the waters of the Danube, as they used to be. It was an interesting place to visit, quiet, free of noise or interference, good for radio activation.
After the activation, we headed towards Cernavodă, a city that we had only passed by so far. We took a walk through the bridge area at the entrance to the city, where there is a promenade, and after a stop for shopping at a grocery store, we continued our way to the Atlantikron island.
Arriving in the area, we met up with our friend and fellow amateur radio operator YO8AIU – Marius, to activate RO-0970 Allah Blair – Capidava National Park together. The activation was a success, and then we talked about our shared passion. We said goodbye to Marius with the promise of seeing each other again at DxCamp, the event organized by our club in August.
The road then took us to RO-1057 Bratul Măcin Natura 2000, where we managed a beautiful activation, in a quiet area that also offered us a few moments of relaxation.
Around noon we approached the town of Măcin, where our destination was RO-0798 Tineretului Măcin Park. Here, the propagation played tricks on us: we barely managed to activate and, after several attempts, we decided not to waste any more time in the future between 12:00 and 16:00, when propagation conditions are clearly unfavorable.
We left for Brăila city, where we already had our accommodation booked, and planned to have lunch followed by an hour of rest. We then prepared for the second part of the adventure.
The first stop was at RO-1054 Balta Mică a Brăilei, then we continued to RO-1053 Lacul Sărat Recreation Site. Towards the end of the day, with the sunset, we arrived at RO-1056 Ianca – Plopul Sărat Natura 2000, where we had a spectacular pile-up, with over 70 stations. We spent the night at the station, trying to answer everyone who called us.
After dinner, we took a short walk along the Brăila waterfront. We took the opportunity to explore the area, see other places with potential for future activations, and enjoy the fresh air before ending the first day of the marathon.
This is how the first day of the POTA marathon ended, a perfect start with a long road, successful activations, consistent pile-ups and the first beautiful impressions of Dobrogea and Brăila.
06 August 2025
We woke up early and started the first activation not far from our accommodation, at RO-1052 Monument Parc Brăila. The activation was quite cumbersome, because a tram was turning right in the middle of the park. Because of this, we had constant QRM, at S4 level on S-meter, and we couldn’t hear many stations. It took about 45 minutes to achieve complete activation.
The night before we had decided to go to Galați, so the next stop was at RO-1012 Lacul Brateș State Fish and Wildlife Area. We didn’t have spectacular success here either – we stayed for about an hour and, in addition to the 20 m band (where we usually work), we also tried on 40 m, but the results remained modest.
Being quite close to the border, we had two options: to go directly up to Vaslui and then Iași or to follow the route through Focșani. We chose the second option, which included some additional activations.
Thus, on the way to Focșani we activated RO-1005 Sand Dunes at Hanu Conachi, and then RO-0036 Nicolae Bălcescu Park. However, the propagation did not help us at all between 12:00 and 16:00, so we decided to go straight to our accommodation and then look for a restaurant for lunch.
In the second part of the day, after 18:00, we went out on the road again, this time to two important tourist sites: RO-0669 Mărășești Mausoleum and RO-1221 Mărăști Mausoleum. Unfortunately, the propagation remained weak that afternoon, so we decided not to try any other activations on this day
This day was quieter, with difficult propagation, but with the satisfaction of visiting historical sites such as the mausoleums of Mărășești and Mărăști
07 August 2025
We left early again, with the intention of activating more than five parks that day.
The first stop was at RO-1027 Lacul Berești. The morning started nicely, the propagation was on our side, and the activation went quickly, so we set off for the next destination – RO-1017 Lacul Răcăciuni, located on the Siret River. Access here was a little more complicated, because we went the wrong way and ended up in a field. Soon we intersected with the route of the A7 highway, which was under construction, and we drove on it for about 1 km, trying to avoid turning onto the communal roads, which were quite bumpy. The choice was not the best: we shortened the route, but the terrain was quite difficult. However, once we reached our destination, we had a successful activation, with a nice pile-up of 38 stations.
We continued towards RO-1024 Lacul Galbeni and, after activation, we realized that we had skipped a proposed destination for the day. So we went back about 10 km to reach RO-1028 Cineritele de la Nuțasca – a location that would have been a great shame to miss. It is located on the top of a hill south of Bacău and offers a superb 360-degree view. We drove up through an off-road section, and from the top we enjoyed the spectacular landscapes. The activation was not exceptional in terms of the number of connections, but the beauty of the place more than compensated – the photos say it all.
From here we went directly to our accommodation in Bacău, where we rested a bit and had lunch at a local restaurant. Then we contacted our radio amateur friend YO8TNC – George, with the idea of meeting in the afternoon, possibly even at an activation.
In the second part of the day, we left for RO-1122 Culmea Petricica and RO-0091 Luizi Călugăra, both located west of Bacău.
After the successful activations, we decided to go into town to activate on RO-0076 Recreation Island Park. The area was very crowded, but we managed to find a parking spot, and then we went down to the island and started the activation. Unfortunately, the propagation was weak once again that afternoon, but we still managed to validate the park.
Finally, we met with YO8TNC – George, with whom we talked for about two hours. Since it w
as already evening and we were tired after the busy day, we decided to retire to our accommodation around 9:00 PM.
We discovered spectacular places, checked off more parks than we had planned to activate, and had the joy of meeting up with local amateur radio friends – an intense but rewarding day.
08 August 2025
The previous day left us with a very good impression of Bacău – a rather small but beautiful city, where we will definitely return. We left early in the morning, intending to reach Iași, where we had arranged a meeting with the local radio amateurs.
The first activation was in RO-0345 Parcul Roman, a large and beautiful park located in the city center, which filled us with peace and fresh air. After a short stop for fuel and some food, we set off towards Iași, determined not to miss any park on the way.
We arrived at RO-0346 Conacul Bogdan, not far from Roman, where the activation was successful due to its positioning on a high hill. Next stop: RO-0889 Lunca Mircești, a natural habitat near the Siret River. Here, without any RF noise on 20 m, we caught an impressive pile-up with over 50 stations.
Next came RO-0895 Podul Ilioaiei, a large reservoir built in the 1960s – a splendid area for relaxation and, of course, for POTA.
At the entrance to Iași city we ran into YO3RIO – Cristian , then went to the accommodation to drop off our luggage and have lunch, following a recommendation from YO8PIC – Marius, with whom we had already discussed the Meshtastic YO project and with whom we were to meet in the evening.
In the afternoon we set off towards the recreational area of Iași. We started with RO-0088 Lacul Veneția, a wild area on the outskirts of the city – exactly to our taste. We continued upstream with RO-0022 Parcul Ciric, inside which are RO-0079 Lacul Ciric 1 and RO-0080 Lacul Ciric 2. The area was very crowded, being Friday and the beginning of the weekend, but we still managed to activate them successfully.
A little higher up we reached RO-0081 Aroneanu Lake and RO-0082 Dorobanț Lake, two other natural beauties of Iași, activated at the end of the day, around 8:00 PM.
From ths point the problems started: the car showed the first serious signs of engine failure, on the injection side. With the OBD tester, I discovered misfires, suspecting a faulty induction coil. I never go on vacation without a complete check of the car, but the inevitable happens when you least expect it.
With the APRS on, we were greeted by YO8RXT – Adrian. I noticed the message later, but I called him to say hello. Adrian was at a scheduled meeting with radio amateurs in Iași at YO8SHP – Iulian, the host of the event. We did not refuse the invitation and we went too, even though we did not meet the whole team (YO8OY – Virgil, YO8SHU – Robert and others).
We spent about an hour talking with our radio amateur friends, but being already tired, we left for another meeting – this time with YO8PIC – Marius and YO8RXA – Cornel, involved in the development of the Meshtastic network in Iași. Obviously, we were caught in the middle of the night with the activation logs, and we had to wake up early the next day to solve the induction coil problem.
It was a day of both radio and technology: we explored the beauties of Iași, activated lakes and parks, but we also had our first serious emotions with the car – proof that in a POTA marathon the adventure is not only on the air, but also on the road. The day ended with the satisfaction of 9 successful activations and the joy of meeting our radio amateur friends from the area – a beautiful balance between nature, road and community.
09 August 2025
In the morning, at 09:00, we was already in Iași, looking for car shops. Unfortunately, being Saturday, we couldn’t find the solution. We set off towards Târgu Neamț, but just 10 km from the city, the car started again with violent misfires. We pulled over, put the tester back in, and surprise: now two coils were affected and the engine wouldn’t even start.
After 15–20 minutes of torment with error resets and warning lights lit up like a Christmas tree, I managed to “trick” it into starting. We drove in 2–3 pistons to the city, where – great luck! – we found a scrapyard that had exactly the coils I needed. With the tools I always take on long trips, I managed to repair the car and continue our route.
The first activation was at RO-0338 Rezervația Zimbri Neamț, around noon. The propagation was very weak, being between 12:00 and 16:00, and we struggled to make the necessary connections.
Next came RO-0872 Vânătorii Neamț National Park, where, from the heart of the forest, we managed to activate with difficulty, also using FT8, because nothing could be heard on SSB. With no GSM signal in the area, we couldn’t even ask a friend to put us on the cluster. The reservation is huge, with thousands of hectares, a place where you can completely disconnect from the daily hustle and bustle. However, the road was full of cars, caravans and tents
Since we already had accommodation in Piatra Neamț city, we went straight to RO-0051 Pietricica Hill Park.
After we checked in and left our luggage at the “Camping Ștrand Municipal” we decided to also activate RO-0342 Cetatea Petrodava, located a few kilometers away. The place is spectacular, with a 180° view of the Bâtca Doamnei reservoir, on the Bistrița River. We had a very nice activation, with over 40 stations in the log, using a long-wire antenna with a 4:1 balun mounted on an 8 m rod.
The evening hit as we were on the hill of the fortress, around 8:30 pm. After we packed up our equipment and had dinner, we had a restless night: being accommodated in a recreational area with restaurants and bars, the music lasted until the morning, with the bass felt in the walls of the cabin.
Although we started the day with great emotions on the engine and with weak propagation, we ended it with memorable activations and a fairytale view from the Petrodava Fortress.
10 August 2025
We started the morning early, and by 09:00–09:30 we were already at the first planned activation: RO-0340 Pângărați Lake. Then came RO-0348 Pângărați Tisă Reserve, where we had no phone signal at all for self-spotting. Fortunately, we managed to get in touch with a radio amateur who helped us and spotted us – something that saved us from any wasted time.
Further on we arrived at a spectacular place: RO-0336 Izvorul Muntelui, a huge and impressive lake. We admired it both on the way and from several dedicated stops for photos. We discovered the “Grădinile Romane” area, a superb place with a restaurant, accommodation and a pontoon at the lake, but also the “Debarcaderul Ceahlău”, a pier where we found a large beach and over 30 parked caravans. From here, excursions on the lake with 10-person boats were also organized, for a fee – a place to remember for the future.
Not far away is RO-0337 Palatul Cnejilor, which I activated with difficulty, because after 12:00 the propagation had already become precarious.
The next stop was in the heart of the forest: RO-0335 Durău Resort, located at the foot of the mountain, starting point for the tourist route to Toaca peak. Our initial plan was to climb to the peak for a SOTA activation, but we realized that it was too late and we risked not reaching the booked accommodation in Gheorghieni. Instead, we chose to continue the route and activated RO-1201 Drumul Axial.
We then passed through the Cheile Bicazului, following the road to RO-1176 Lacul Roșu. The landscapes reminded us of our first visit to these places, so we walked slowly, to admire the nature and to capture some beautiful shots with our camera.
Before reaching the accommodation, we also stopped at RO-0270 Pasul Pângărați, a spectacular viewpoint towards the city of Gheorgheni.
The day ended late, with a dinner at the Gheorgheni campsite, where we chose to stay in wooden houses for two people – just like 20 years ago, when we used to roam the mountains together.
11 August 2025
We set off from the Gheorgheni campsite in the morning, with good energy and the plan to cover several locations in a single day. The first stop was at RO-0272 Izvorul Turistic al Mureșului, a symbolic place, because it marks the birth of one of the most important rivers in Romania. We took advantage of the morning’s silence to set up our equipment and make the first connections of the day.
Not far away is RO-0273 Muntele Greteș, where we arrived quickly. The area was much more secluded, with multiple roads on the hilltops, which made the activation more difficult, but also more beautiful.
The third stop was at RO-0283 Conacul Henter, a historic building that bears the mark of local architecture. We had reasonable propagation here and some interesting connections, which gave us extra energy for the rest of the route.
We continued with RO-0275 Ciomatu Mare Massif, a spectacular mountain area with outstanding views. The activation was a bit more difficult, due to the relief and the propagation which, after lunch, started to weaken again.
The road then took us to RO-0537 Măieruș Fortified Church, a medieval monument with thick walls and well-preserved towers. It was a special place for a radio activation, combining our passion for POTA with Transylvanian history.
The next stop was RO-0523 Feldioara Fortress, recently restored and very well presented. After visiting the interior of the fortress we had a slightly easier activation, taking advantage of the somewhat friendlier propagation in the second part of the afternoon.
The day ended on RO-0140 Dealul Ciocaș – Dealul Vițelului, an excellent viewpoint for the sunset. We caught the last connections just as the sun was starting to descend behind the hills, and the quiet of the evening was a perfect end to a day full of roads, activities and discoveries.
12 August 2025
After seven days full of driving and activations, August 12th was different, with fewer parks, but with a strong sense of community and tradition.
In the morning we went to YO3KEX – Radio Club DXExplorers, where DXCamp 2025, the summer camp of the club we are part of, had already been taking place for five days.
Together with a team of 12 operators, we went out into the field for a POTA activation in RO-0113 Bolintin Forest. Here we learned and practiced together the installation of a long-wire antenna with a 9:1 balun – a practical experience, but also a good opportunity for teamwork. The propagation was friendly and we managed a consistent log, with each of the participants having the opportunity to get their hands on the microphone.
Towards the evening, we completely changed the scenery and went to our apiary. After a few days of walking around the country, we could not miss it during such an important period for bees. Being drought, in the south of the country near Alexandria, they need the replenishment stimulation after the sunflower harvest.
We spent two days here, to balance the families and prepare them for the next stage of the beekeeping season. It was a welcome break, both for us and for the bees, before we got back on the road.
This day marked the transition to the second part of the POTA marathon – after rest and time spent with the family and the apiary, we were to return to the mountains for new activities and, this time, with SOTA objectives on the list.
13 August 2025
The second part of the marathon started with an ambitious plan: to climb up into the mountains again, this time on the Bucegi Plateau, with the intention of also installing a Meshtastic node on 433 MHz at a strategic point.
We chose to stay at Cabana Piatra Arsă, where we met our friend YO3LCC – Răzvan and his wife Georgiana right upon arrival. They were just leaving for Brașov, but we exchanged a few words and wished each other a safe journey.
After dropping off our luggage, around 17:15 we set off towards to Vârful Coștila RO-1152 2 FER with RO-0973 Parcul Național Bucegi and summit YO/MC-009. The route is not easy at all: long, steep in places and demanding, but the beauty of the landscape motivated us to continue.
Around 19:15 we found a suitable place to set up the Meshtastic node, close to Costila, in a good position for coverage. After installation, we hurriedly climbed to the summit to start the combined POTA & SOTA activation.
We powered on the transceiver at 20:00, but the cold quickly took us out of rhythm: the temperature had dropped to almost 10°C, and after 25 minutes our hands were frozen on the equipment. We managed just enough connections to validate the POTA activation, but we couldn’t stay any longer.
The descent was a race against time, to avoid the darkness. However, the inevitable happened and the night caught us on the road. Fortunately, the company of the RoLink network, where we sat and chatted with YO3DEL – Dan and other amateur radio friends, made our journey seem shorter. We didn’t even realize it when we arrived at the cabin, tired but happy with the success of the day.
14 August 2025
After the adventure on Costila Peak, the morning caught us with our calves blocked by a terrible muscle fever. We also got blocked mentally: we had no clear plan after the first part of the trip through Moldova and we knew that we would not be able to cover all the parks in the Bucegi plateau in just two days.
In the end, we decided to do what we could today, and then go down to Brașov, to relax over a meal with YO3LCC – Răzvan and his wife Georgiana.
We set off in the morning towards the Babele and Sfinx route, not knowing exactly how long we would last, considering the pain in our legs. Halfway through, we made a first stop and activated RO-1154 Drumul Babelor 2 FER together with RO-0973 Bucegi Natural Park. The approximately 40-minute break during the activation was a real balm for our feet.
Around 11:00 we arrived at Sfinx, where we activated RO-1153 Sfinxul din Bucegi Geopark 2 FER with RO-0973 Bucegi Natural Park. We felt encouraged by the success and by the fact that the muscle fever had subsided, so we decided to try RO-1151 Crucea Eroilor de pe Caraiman 2 FER also with RO-0973 Bucegi Natural Park. The route was long and difficult, but we managed to activate relatively quickly. It was also from here that we talked in simplex with Razvan who was in Brasov on Varful Postavarul and was following us on APRS.
On the way back we flirted with the idea of climbing Omu Peak as well, but at the crossroads of the routes we made a realistic calculation: we didn’t have enough time and we were already at the limit with fatigue and pain. We postponed Omu for another occasion.
However, we went up again to Costila, because the Meshtastic node installed the day before had reported a low battery (7%) at lunchtime. After the Salvamont hut, I left my luggage with Dana and continued alone to the node location. To my surprise, it was 99% charged. I stayed there for about 15 minutes to test the transmission and reception with a few nodes in Bucharest and my node in Alexandria – something I had not managed to do the previous day, due to the late hour.
Everything being in order, we went down to the hut, retrieved our car and set off towards Brasov. After 2.5 hours of driving, we arrived at the accommodation, where the muscle fever worsened: we could barely climb to the 3rd floor of the apartment.
However, the evening brought us the long-awaited relaxation. We spent a few hours at a Romanian restaurant in the center of Brasov, together with Răzvan YO3LCC and Georgiana. Just like in Iași, the discussions went on until late into the night, losing track of time between adventures, memories, and amateur radio stories. We arrived at our accommodation around 1 a.m., with a smile on our faces and the feeling that the day, although difficult, had been one of the most memorable of the marathon.
15 August 2025
We set off in the morning from Brașov, heading towards Poiana Brașov, where our first activation awaited us: RO-1193 Munții Bârsei. The area is well known as a ski resort in winter, but in summer it shows its beauty in the smooth trails and cool forests. We started the day in a superb natural setting, ideal for radio and with a beautiful pileup
The second stop was at RO-0534 Biserica fortificata Cristian, one of the best preserved Saxon churches in Transylvania. We quickly set up the equipment and did the activation among the thick walls that preserve stories from hundreds of years.
The third activation took us to RO-1196 Poiana Mărului – a place that proved fantastic for propagation. Here we had a memorable connection with DK1AJ – Mișu, report 59/59, and a consistent pile-up. The clearing, surrounded by mountains, seemed to amplify every signal and offered us one of the most enjoyable operating sessions of the day.
We then continued with RO-1125 Perșani Mountains, a wilder area, where access was not the easiest, but the tranquility of the place compensated for the effort.
The next stop was at RO-1185 The Cave Monastery din Şinca Veche, a spiritual and mysterious place, often called the “Temple of the Fates”. The activation here had a special energy, as if influenced by the charge of the place.
From Şinca we went up to RO-0664 Poienile cu Narcise in Dumbrava Vadului, a famous nature reserve especially in May, when the meadows are covered with flowers. Even though it was not their season, the place remains spectacular, with vast expanses and clean air.
We continued our way to RO-0665 Cetatea Făgărașului, one of the largest and best preserved medieval ensembles in Romania. The activation near the imposing walls, with the moats full of water and swans, was a special experience.
The last activation of the day was at RO-0529 The Biserica fortificată din Cincșor Historic Site, smaller, but equally fascinating for its simplicity and Saxon authenticity.
In the evening we arrived in Cârțișoara, at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains, where we stayed at Casa Dușe. After a long day with eight activations, the muscle fever was still tormenting us, but the feeling of accomplishment more than compensated.
At dinner, we went on RoLink and talked to YO7JYL – Cristina, who was with her husband YO7GQZ – Cătălin in the Parâng massif. They asked us to try the repeater on Vârful Florea when we climbed Făgăraș, to test whether its problem was power or lack of internet connection. We also noted this test in the plan, as part of the next activations.
Although fatigue and muscle pain slowed our steps, we managed to add 8 new parks to the log, a good performance for such a hard day.
16 August 2025
We set off in the morning from Cârțișoara, heading towards Bâlea Lac. At around 09:00 we parked in a paid area, to have some peace and quiet while we were going to be on the mountain.
The climb was not easy at all – the muscle fever after the adventures in Bucegi was still tormenting us – but with patience and willpower we set off towards Capra Lake. Here we activated RO-0969 Iezerul Caprei 2 FER with RO-1146 Munții Făgăraș, where we stayed for about an hour. The presence of the equipment aroused the curiosity of many hikers, and one of them, an aviator, recognized the phonetic alphabet. We got into a discussion about amateur radio, and to the question “what motivates us?”, I answered simply: going out into nature, mountain trails, tourist vestiges, fresh air, combining business with pleasure and promoting Romania through the POTA and SOTA programs.
The second stop, after another hour of climbing, was at RO-0712 Vânătoarea lui Buteanu 2FER with RO-1146 Munții Făgăraș and summit YO/MC-007.
On the way to the top, I also tested the Făgăraș repeater, together with my friend Bogdan – YO3IXW. I found that it was functional, but with internet connection problems: it did not enter the network, but it worked very well as a local repeater in its coverage area. Once at the top, the first SOTA/POTA attempt was with YO3IXW on 2 m, but we could not hear each other. However, I convinced him to open the SSB transceiver and we managed the first contacts on 40 m.
When we moved to 20 m, Laurențiu – YO7EPY from Pitești and Mișu – DK1AJ joined us again. Then a massive pile-up began, one of the most intense of the entire marathon, similar to a “Battle of Călugăreni”. Stations were calling from all directions and often we managed to catch only fragments of callsigns, a sign that the propagation was excellent, but the callsigns congestion made it difficult to fully understand each one.
Finally, the propagation suddenly dropped. Without a mobile connection, we could not check the bands on the HamClock server at home, so we gathered our equipment and began the descent.
On the descent, however, we managed to talk again with Laurențiu – YO7EPY, but also with Cristina – YO7JYL and her husband Cătălin – YO7GQZ. I explained to them the tests I had done with Bogdan on the repeater and my conclusion was that the problem came from the internet gateway. YO2DDG – Mișu also joined us in the discussion, thus completing the picture of a day full of connections and experiences.
We had lunch at the Bâlea Lake chalet around 3 PM, and before leaving the chalet area we also activated RO-1000 Transfăgărășan Road 2 FER with RO-1146 Munții Făgăraș.
The road to Vidraru surprised us again: from above, from Capra, we saw the huge queue of cars on the northern side of the Transfăgărășan Road – at least six or eight full serpentines. Further down, on the way to Vidraru Lake, we were shocked by tourists stopping to feed the bears on the side of the road. I have to mention it here as well: the recklessness is staggering — not only among romanian tourists, but also among foreign visitors who stopped to film and photograph such dangerous scenes.
The last activation of the marathon was at RO-0982 Vidraru Dam, where reception was very poor, the area being closed in by steep cliffs. We managed to log the necessary contacts with difficulty, but the satisfaction was immense: we had completed the POTA & SOTA 2025 marathon.
We then left for the apiary, where our bees were waiting for us. On the way, fatigue mixed with joy, and nostalgia crept in: two weeks of driving, mountains, nature, friends, and radio were coming to an end. Yet we promised ourselves that we would return next year, perhaps better prepared — not only with antennas and equipment, but also… muscle-wise, HI.
Final closing words
The POTA & SOTA 2025 Marathon was more than a succession of activated parks or kilometers traveled. It was a journey through nature, through history and through friendships. It was a test of patience, physical endurance, but also of the passion that unites us: amateur radio.
Each activated park meant more than a ticked-off spot. It meant a sunrise seen from a hill, a cold evening when your hands freeze on the microphone, a long road that seems endless but shortens when you talk to friends via RoLink, an unexpected meeting with someone who recognizes your phonetic alphabet and asks you “why are you doing this?”.
And the answer is simple: for nature, for the clean air, for the tranquility of the forests, for the beauty of the mountains, for the adrenaline of the pile-up and, above all, for the community of friends that grows every time someone answers the call “CQ POTA”.
Tired, with stiff legs and hundreds of kilometers behind us, we finished the marathon with a smile on our faces and the promise that we will return. Next year – maybe better prepared, maybe with new equipment, but certainly with the same desire to explore and share the beauty of Romania through the radio.
Because, beyond maps, antennas and logs, the real treasure is the fact that you are left with the memories and connections created – both on the air and in your soul.
73! YO3BEE & YO3DYL
😊 WILL BE CONTINUED 😊
O scriere pe gustul meu și pentru sufletul meu și a tuturor celor pentru care minunățiile acestor plaiuri divine te fac să crezi în nemurire. Superbul reportaj , măiastru scris , presărat cu imagini mirifice și intensele și palpitantele trăiri ale excelentelor activări Pota & Sota , este cu certitudine o mare pledoarie pentru uluitoarea simbioză între pitoreasca Românie și inegalabila noastră pasiune.
Felicitări! 73 de YO5AM
Multumim pentru cuvintele frumoase Marius – YO5AM si te invit sa intri in aceasta minunata comunitate POTA&SOTA, 73 de YO3BEE
wonderful ! very good travel and lot of Pota!
hope to hear you friends F4JCF
Thank you, it was a great POTA adventure! Glad you read the article — merci! Could you tell us if the French translation is OK? 73 from YO3BEE & YO3DYL!