Tom Read - click to email meBDXC ISWL WAB SOTA RSGB IOTA - see my radio page for more detailsLiam & Jimmy

Black Down 2018

 

National Trust sign at our access to the estate        Jimmy by the Black Down information board

After finishing with Chanctonbury Ring G/SE-009 on Friday 30th May 2008, the JimNav directed me along the A283 through Pulborough and Petworth. Then it was onto country lanes through Lurgashall, and to the National Trust car park on the north of the site at SU920307.

Liam starts the walk to Black Down    Jimmy at the summit

We walked south down the forest track to meet the bridleway, which we followed to the vicinity of SU920296. Here, we turned right to follow trodden tracks into the area where the trig point was expected to be. It didn't take long to find it, but it was obvious that it would take a very long time to qualify this hill on 2m FM! A couple of calls on S20, together with a scan across the silent band, was all it took before we were busily setting up for 80m.

Donation box at NT car park, Black Down    Tom at the summit    Liam and Tom on Black Down

As usual, it was me on 3.557MHz CW, followed by Jimmy on 3.660MHz SSB. We shared a comfortable flat surface on a tree stump as a chair, while Liam lounged in the grass nearby. As usual, Liam began to make his way back to the car once he spotted Jimmy and I starting to pack away. We reached the car and quietly congratulated each other on another G SOTA region completion. And then began to feel a little excited anticipation. We had completed a major objective, and had a day and a half left to play. We could get stuck into the SC region, a brand new one for us.  We set off promptly for Win Green G/SC-008.  Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 80m with 5 watts:

G3VQO Horsham Les CW T
G3WPF Wilmslow Reg CW T
G3RDQ Stockbridge David CW T
DL1FU Biedenkopf Fred CW T
ON4CAP Oostkamp Andre CW T
G4WSX Chichester John CW T
G4SSH Scarborough Roy CW T
GW0VMZ Merthyr Tydfil Alistair SSB J
GW3RMD/P Mynydd Twyn-glas SW-019 Frank SSB T, J
G0PEB Whippingham, IOW Robert SSB J
G8ADD Birmingham Brian SSB J

Liam in the summit area        The SOTA pole and 80m dipole