Saturday 25th January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Bardon Hill G/CE-004

Gig:  Simon Faulkner Band

Venue:  Bistro Live! Milton Keynes

From Gun G/SP-013, I drove down through Leek and the Staffordshire Moorlands, through Derbyshire and into Leicestershire.  Much of my drive to Coalville was kept entertained by listening in to Jordan's ongoing activation.  I even called in myself at one point, as M1EYP/M to give him (sort of) one extra QSO.  I parked on Vercor Close where Jordan now was, having descended, and we had a quick natter - and, of course, a selfie!

Both the ascent and descent of Bardon Hill seem to be requiring extra care each time I visit on the short steeper section as you begin to climb above the quarry.  It is incredibly slippery, and it is some considerable feat to make it up - and down - without going over and hitting the deck!  On this occasion I did manage it, but only because I was concentrating really hard and taking great care.  Family groups on the hill, seen in both directions, were not so successful!

Bardon Hill's summit has a fantastic take-off to the west, and so handheld + rubber duck operation is easy, and more than enough to qualify the summit.  On this occasion, I bagged seven QSOs in ten minutes of operating.  I could have stayed and done some more, but once it went quiet I took the opportunity to get back down, get back on the road, and keep ahead of schedule.

Always a pleasure to see and work with Simon and the guys.  A terrific band, and the night goes really quickly.  I wondered if we were going to be able to get out afterwards thanks to the brainless parking of a van right in the entrance to the loading bay!  Fortunately, we all managed to squeeze our cars out off the kerb to the left-hand-side.  I drove the short five minutes to my digs in Milton Keynes where I got my head down for a very comfortable night's sleep.  I would head home in the morning, after first visiting Wendover Woods G/CE-005.