Day 11 - Wednesday 4th August 2010 (part 3)

After Cleeve Hill G/CE-001, we headed out through the 1980s suburbia that is Eastern Cheltenham, and North up the A435 and A46. With time cracking on, I realised I needed to feed us all, but knew that time to sit in somewhere, or even wait for an order, was not available. At the same time, I needed to fill up with diesel, and I noticed that the garage were selling Pot Noodles - and that they had a tea/coffee machine - that could produce hot water - and there was a cup of white plastic forks. Bingo! Four hot Pot Noodles it was then!

After a short journey, we turned into the minor lanes towards Kemerton and up the long cul-de-sac to SO954384. Fortunately, one of the three parking spots was available, so we grabbed that after a tiring (2n+1) point turn in the small turning space at the end of the road.

And off we walked by the side of the field and into the woods for another 'dart' to grab another easy activation. In all honesty I had forgotten what distance was involved with this one. I remember it as easy - which it is, with barely 120m of very graded ascent involved - but had forgotten how long it was. Not that it is long at just over 2km, but for some reason I had remembered it as about a quarter of that!

       

A nice sunset was in progress over the steeper western escarpment of the hill. Time really was getting on as we approached 8.30pm, and still with ambitions to do one more summit afterwards! We elected for a handheld/rubber-duck only activation, but this was more than sufficient for Jimmy to collect 4 QSOs on 2m FM and set off back down the hill with Liam and Craig. I remained on summit for a further 12 minutes, making 7 contacts, including stalwarts like Frank G3RMD, Stewart G0LGS and Richard G4ERP, with whom the rag chew was so compelling that it was difficult to say 73 and crack on with contacts 2, 3 and 4!

I pursued the three lads back down the descent route, and surprisingly caught them about halfway down. "Are we still doing Walton Hill even though it's so late?" asked Jimmy. You bet we were.