Refuelled and refreshed after Ponderosa lunch on Sunday 25th April 2010, we set about the relatively easy ascent to Cyrn-y-Brain GW/NW-043. Working conditions for the three of us were identical to Moel y Gamelin GW/NW-042 earlier, but only I got away trouble free. Jimmy on 2m FM suffered poor signals sent and received, due to desensing. Richard on 40m CW with the vertical aerial (RSA) failed to make a single contact due to the hash from the nearby transmitters making it impossible for him to hear any incoming signals.

           

I had no problem at all on 20m CW, and worked through a few stations - EA was a pleasing one - though not as many as earlier. I concluded my own activation and took the 817 over to Jimmy's operating position by the SOTA Beam. The aerial was flipped to horizontal polarisation and the rig switched to 2m SSB, and then everyone lived happily ever after. S2S contacts with Andy MM0FMF/P on Culter Fell GM/SS-049 and Gerald G4OIG/P on Dent G/LD-045 were made before I had a rare (these days) dabble on 2m FM. Jimmy's QSO with Andy was his second AM2AM of the day, prompting Richard to propose a new award stream in the SOTA programme.

       

By now, the weather was stunning on summit - wide bright sunshine, dry and blue sky. We did have 20 minutes of very heavy rain - but that just happened to be within the 30 minutes we were inside the Ponderosa having lunch!  Following descent, we drove to The Moors pub a short distance away and enjoyed a couple of post-match beverages. A nice day out - thanks to Richard for the driving (and sorry for forcing the planning alterations by forgetting the walking boots...).