This summit was activated by myself on the evening of Thursday 3rd February 2005.   

Brownhills High School in Stoke-on-Trent had just been awarded "Mathematics with Computing Specialist College Status". As Head of Mathematics at the school, during the bid process, I took up an opportunity to join the "Mathematics with Computing Steering Group" set up by Specialist Schools Trust, as I thought it may be in some way advantageous to our bid. Whether it was or not I don't know, but the bid was successful.

Anyway, having signed myself up for this steering group, I was summoned to the initial gathering in Sunderland (nice and central that) on Friday 4th February. Inspired by all these midweek evening activations in darkness that seem to be in vogue these days, and also by G3CWI who always manages to tag an activation or two in with his business trips, the gear was packed into the back of the car as I set off for work on Thursday morning.

Thursday was a normal school day for me, except that I left shortly after classes, around 3.30pm, and made to the south of the city to pick up the A50 across to the M1 near Derby. The M1 was then followed north as I had a few contacts on unfamiliar repeaters, and then the M18. A bacon butty and coffee stop in the services near the end of the M18 was in order, and then it was onto the M62 for a short distance eastwards. Back along the A614, with a striking view of the M62 bridge over the Ouse in the almost dark skies, and then north on the A19 towards York. Right onto the A64, and right again onto the A166. It was now completely dark, and I seemed to remember this road climbing higher than this. In any case, I was fooled, realising when I got as far as Fridaythorpe without noticing my target summit.

I rotated 180 degrees and climbed back up the hill, and this time remembered to pull into the lay-by at the top. This was of course the magnificent mountain summit of Bishop Wilton Wold G/TW-004, with the trig point lying in the adjacent (no access) water board field, and over-shadowed by a covered reservoir. I gathered the very basics - pen, logbook, headtorch, FT-817 and rubber duck from the boot and went for a little walk. Just enough of a little walk along the grass verge to get well-away from my motorised vehicle, and to satisfy myself that my method of final ascent to the summit was very much person-powered.

A station with whom I was in QSO while driving was waiting for me, and had gathered a couple of buddies on the frequency by the time I was back on and calling portable. The summit was qualified inside 8 minutes, after which there were no more takers. Back in the car, I drove back towards York on the A166, while chatting to a couple of the stations that had worked me on the summit. Another point in the bag, and off to Sunderland we go.

Back on the A64 York ring road, it was necessary to follow signs for Leeds, Harrogate and Thirsk, which brought me to the A1, which was to then take me north to the A690 into Sunderland. I arrived at the Travelodge around 10.15pm, and it was extremely cosy and comfortable. Before retiring however, it would have been very wrong not to conduct a most thorough inspection of the facility directly across the road - "Blue Cobra Cafe - Contemporary Indian Cuisine". House speciality dishes of spiced mussels followed by Blue Cobra lamb - and coincidentally washed down by a couple of pints of Cobra beer - were devoured with deserving enthusiasm. Taxpayers don't be alarmed - it's not going down on the expenses claim!

Thanks to the following stations worked, all on 2m FM with 2.5  watts: