Monday 25th February 2013 saw me up and about early in order to get maximum exercise out of the day.  To afford this privilege, it was necessary to take only one painkiller the previous night.  I normally have two or three, but this makes me very groggy the next day, as well as ruling out any possibility of getting up early!  The catch would be that I would experience more of my long-running headache than usual throughout the day, but fresh air and exercise is found to be an effective antidote!

My first stop was Chester Services on the M56 for a McDonalds sausage & egg McMuffin, hash brown, and a Costa coffee.  Thence onwards to the A55 and A494, and the right turning just past Loggerheads.  This time the road was clear of snow and ice, and I was able to make it to the car park at Bwlch Penbarrass without anxiety.  The first uphill walking section of any day is always the toughest, and today was no exception.  I just put my head down and ignored the pain and breathlessness as best I could.  The ice cold water from my hydration pack never tasted so good.

At the summit, it was rather cool and breezy, but dropping slightly off the lip of the grassy circle surrounding the cairn got me sufficient shelter for a short activation.  I had made good time, and was QRV on 40m CW, using the HB1B and dipole, well before 9am.  In fact, 24 QSOs and 14 minutes later, I was packing up to conclude my activation and it was still before 9am.  My thoughts began to turn to the possibility of a third summit in the day.

For the descent, I decided to heather-hop in a westerly direction and try to intercept the Offa's Dyke Path around the west side of Foel Fenlli.  There was much more descent than I anticipated, but sure enough I got to the wide green National Trail route, which I then followed back around the side of the hill to the car park.  There was no need to revisit my vehicle, so I marched straight ahead and onto the wide "motorway" track that leads to Moel Famau GW/NW-044.