After descending from Moel y Gamelin GW/NW-042, the Ponderosa Cafe was busy as usual, and no wonder. The steak & kidney pie with chips, peas, carrots and gravy was a tasty gargantuan feast as ever, and enjoyed by three of us at the table. Mr & Mrs G3CWI set off back to Macclesfield, while the EYP clan pressed on for the afternoon walk up Cyrn-y-Brain GW/NW-043.

 
The easy walk up the track to the summit was "rewarded" by even more intense wind blasting across the top. Jimmy had already qualified the summit on his HT by the time Liam and I got there. I decided to press on with 28MHz. After quite a struggle, I managed to get the antenna in the air, and had a listen around the band. A KP4 station was putting in good signals, but again I couldn't break the pile-up.

I went to the frequency on which I had self-spotted a few minutes earlier. Here I found Rich N4EX calling me! Rich was worked, but then just as we were saying 73 etc, my mast collapsed! Jimmy and I worked together to re-erect it, but various sections of the pole weren't having it and kept collapsing. In the end, and with the wind getting yet fiercer and colder, I gave up and decided to do the 2m handheld hit and run thing. I gave Jimmy the car keys and told him and Liam to get off down the hill.

   

Four QSOs were made on 2m FM to add to the 10m CW QSO with Rich N4EX. I was happy to be setting off down the hill, getting my legs moving again, and most importantly, with my hands back inside the warmth of my gloves. A swift descent saw me back at the car, where Jimmy and Liam were waiting inside, in about 25 minutes.

Our route back out to the A483 took us via the Five Crosses pub where we briefly adjourned for a pint of EPA each and a game of pool. Liam had a J2O and a bag of pork scratchings. The journey home was soured somewhat with the news that Macclesfield Town had lost 4-0 at Accrington Stanley (who are they?), but very slightly reprieved with the fact that Port Vale had lost at home.

Today was not a great day for radio operating, and much less of it got done compared to what I prefer to achieve. However, that fresh air, exercise, company and grub was all good. I made a note-to-self to stick to dipoles in windier weather in future. Thanks to all who worked us.