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Friday 3rd January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After my audacious attempt to be QRV portable on Top Band from The Cloud G/SP-015, simply by approximately doubling the legs of my 80m dipole, I met up with my mate Sean M0GIA to try a different approach using an end-fed aerial with an ATU. We walked up Gun and continued beyond the trig point, to a bit of a clearing between the public footpath and a small wood.
Sean hoisted the end-fed longwire on the 10m Travelmast while I walked out the counterpoise in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, whatever we tried only resulted in a similar mediocre VSWR indication to what had been experienced with the full half-wave dipole attempt earlier. A contact was made - with David G3RDQ - but that was all, and it was clear something was not quite right; the system was not working as hoped.
Four QSOs on 2m FM with the handheld completed the activation, and qualified me for my annual point from Gun.
Sunday 5th January 2020 - Kinder Scout G/SP-001, Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I drove over to Gun for a fourth activation of the day. A pleasant short walk in the cold January air, and I was pretty tired by this stage! No wonder after 31,000 steps, as recorded by my Fitbit tracker watch.
After the measly two QSOs on The Cloud G/SP-015 just before, I was pleasantly surprised to bag eleven contacts in just 14 minutes from Gun. It seems the 2m band had come alive as I drove between the two summits!
Tuesday 7th January 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 I reversed my usual order for Gun and Cloud, due to it being the first UK Activity Contest night of the year that evening, and The Cloud is my preferred spot for that. Hence I went out to Gun for a morning SOTA activation, with the objective of working multimode on 80m in the SOTA "Flavours" 2020 Challenge. I spent just over an hour operating, making contacts on 80m CW, SSB & FT8, plus a couple of 2m FM. Then back home before heading out that evening to The Cloud G/SP-015.
Wednesday 8th January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Usual routine following a The Cloud G/SP-015 activation - I was in the area anyway, and it would only cost me an extra hour of my time, maximum, to add in a second activation. So drove over the Dane Valley, and walked the short easy diatnce to Gun summit with my handheld. Six QSOs in seven minutes - 2m FM alive and well in North Staffordshire (and surrounding areas) it would seem!
Thursday 9th January 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 So another UK Activity Contest date, and therefore another reversal of my usual order of Cloud and Gun. Or, today, Gun and Cloud. The plan today was to play some 30m FT8 on Gun during the afternoon, return home for tea, then head out to The Cloud G/SP-015 for the contest. This all happened - except that I didn't exactly get to "play radio" on Gun. Just two QSOs were logged on 30m FT8; things seemed to be unusually hard-going.
Friday 10th January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 The day had been dominated by a walk with Marianne in the Manifold Valley, the photos of which are on The Cloud G/SP-015 webpage. After Cloud, I drove over the valley and did a similarly rapid activation of Gun. Both summits were activated using just the handheld on this evening.
Saturday 11th January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I'd been on The Cloud G/SP-015 with Richard G3CWI earlier on, then at the Moss Rose for the footie. Straight after the match, I drove down the Leek road (on which the football ground is actually located) for a snap activation of Gun G/SP-013 before returning home. Six QSOs in four minutes came quickly, and I could get off home for my tea!
Sunday 12th January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015 I drove over to Gun for another quick handheld activation. However, I was surprised to fins a couple of SOTA activators already on summit. These were Steve M0YZY and Paul M0PWC. They were just between set-ups at the time, so after the customary photos, I sneaked to the trig point to squeeze in a quickfire 2m FM handheld activation before they were ready to go QRV once more.
Monday 13th January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 So after The Cloud G/SP-015, I went over to Gun and faced up to the winds of Storm Brendan once again. It was a decent night using just a handheld radio with rubber duck - 36 QSOs in 46 minutes' operating time across the two summit activations. I then went home to listen to my son Liam’s weekly radio show on Canalside Radio 102.8MHz FM. The full archive of his radio broadcasts is available on demand from his website.
Tuesday 14th January 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 My handheld SOTA activation during the
morning on Gun G/SP-013 solicited just a single QSO.
Wednesday 15th January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Gig: Liam Read (Open Mic) Venue: Swan With Two Necks, Macclesfield After The Cloud G/SP-015, I came across to Gun and walked briskly up to the summit. Four contacts were made on 2m FM with the handie, before I descended and went home to get ready for the gig.
It was a very good night at the Swan. Liam hosted Open Mic and introduced sets from Lisa Travers, Lewis Hallam, Alistair Bower, Mat Arnold & Emily-Rose Newman, Euan Coupland, Sam Petchell as well as performing a few tunes himself accompanied by his dad - a certain Tom M1EYP!
Thursday 16th January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I drove over the Dane Valley and up onto the shoulder of Gun Hill. The parking spot here is 30m below the summit, and therefore a mere 5m needs to be ascended in order to be in the activation zone. I went a little further than that - about halfway - which is marked by some kind of old marker stone. Just in case I didn't get any QSOs from the summit before midnight, I put out a call from this midway point, which is well within the AZ. Steven 2W0JYN answered - and that at least ensured that an activation had taken place on the current UTC date. I then continued to the summit true and operated beside the trig point. I was in plenty of time as it transpired, and there was plenty of activity, so I needn't have worried. A further five stations were logged before midnight, and the change of UTC day.
Friday 17th January 2020 - Gun G/SP-013, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Long Mountain-Beacon Ring GW/MW-026 As the clock ticked past midnight, I commenced a new activation, and four of the chasers just worked "yesterday" were all keen to QSO again, and collect the SOTA chaser point for the new UTC day. I was still feeling fresh and energetic, so after descending to the car, I decided to go and walk up The Cloud G/SP-015 again on this outing, and activate that summit in the "new day" as well!
Tuesday 21st January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After my surprise on The Cloud G/SP-015, where I made two midweek S2S contacts, I went over to Gun - and made another one! This time it was Paul 2E0KPD/P on Titterstone Clee Hill G/WB-004.
Later on, I walked from home into town to meet my good friend Tom for a few beers before going to watch Macclesfield Town v Crewe Alexandra at the Moss Rose. Tom went in the other end of the stadium as a Crewe supporter!
Wednesday 22nd January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Gig: Tom Read (yes me!) Venue: Swan With Two Necks, Macclesfield
So after The Cloud G/SP-015, straight over to Gun G/SP-013. I walked up to the trig with my handheld and made two QSOs. I walked back down and was in my car just after 7am. I was home around 0740 UTC, and back out, washed and changed, walking to my school assignment by 0815. Talk about making use of every minute of the day!
That night, even though Liam wouldn't be joining me, I decided to go out and support my friends Kiara and Josh, who were hosting Open Mic at the SW2N. It was, of course, something of a rarity for me to perform solo, but I quite enjoyed it, it was something a little different!
Thursday 23rd January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, where I had made seven contacts in eight minutes, I drove over the valley and walked up to Gun summit. Where I made seven contacts in eight mintes...
Saturday 25th January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Bardon Hill G/CE-004 Gig: Simon Faulkner Band Venue: Bistro Live! Milton Keynes
I was pleasantly surprised to have no fewer than nine callers on my quick handheld activation of Gun, including two S2S - Nick G4OOE/P on Ingleborough G/NP-005 and Jordan M3TMX/P on Bardon Hill G/CE-004. In fact, Jordan's summit was exactly where I was heading to next on my commute to Milton Keynes!
Much of my drive between Leek and Coalville was kept entertained by listening in to Jordan's ongoing activation. I even called in myself at one point, as M1EYP/M to give him (sort of) one extra QSO. I parked on Vercor Close where Jordan now was, having descended.
Sunday 26th January 2020 - Wendover Woods G/CE-005, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 Gig: Liam Read Band Bandeoke Venue: Swan With Two Necks, Macclesfield
I had a decent run up the M1 after Wendover Woods G/CE-005, and made it to Gun for early-ish afternoon - but the weather was still horrible. Still, the cardio exercise and the SOTA activation were both there for the taking, so why not? I would be having a shower and a hot mug of tea when I got home anyway!
Despite the poor weather, Ian GW8OGI/P and Eleri 2W0NYR/P were activating Cadair Berwyn GW/NW-012, and I worked them both S2S. A total of nine QSOs were made on the handheld, and I took my first opportunity to switch off and descend. Next - The Cloud G/SP-015 - and then home (and then a gig!).
Monday 27th January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, the customary brisk walk up Gun, and a call on the HT. Six contacts flying in on 2m FM in the space of four minutes. Perfect for me to be back in plenty of time to finish packing and set off in plenty of time to Manchester Airport.
We had a great time in Berlin; here's a selection of photos.
Friday 31st January 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Having landed at Manchester Airport on the Thursday night, I'd originally intended to activate my two local summits that night before going to bed, but in the event I was far too tired! But I did get out on Friday teatime to do them - but just on the 2m FM handheld again.
Monday 3rd February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015 I drove over to Gun. The QSOs were not there in volume as they had been on the earlier summit, but they were in pace, with three calls logged in under 60 seconds!
Wednesday 5th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Gig: Tom Read & Dan Toft (Open Mic) Venue: Swan With Two Necks, Macclesfield
After The Cloud G/SP-015, straight over to Gun for another smash-and-grab activation. Exactly the same four stations that I'd worked on The Cloud 40 minutes earlier, were worked again from Gun. Next it was straight up the road to the Swan With Two Necks in Macclesfield where I caught the last hout of my friend Dan's Open Mic night. I got up on stage and collaborated with him on a few songs, even singing a couple myself!
Thursday 6th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another day in the old routine of school maths teaching. Another evening where I got myself far too comfortable on the sofa and then shack chair, before eventually hauling myself out the door shortly after 8.30pm. But nonetheless, another day where I completed a pair of SOTA activations on local summits.
Saturday 8th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, over to gun as per usual and a very typical selection of four QSOs worked. It was the couple of couples - Steve 2W0JYN and Steph MW6SHJ from Rhos, near Wrexham, and Pete 2E0LKC and Anne 2E0LMD from Heald Green, near Manchester Airport.
After driving back home, I teamed up with Jimmy and Liam for a walk into town and a bit of a boys' night out. We kicked off at Five Clouds, then called in at MASH Guru, so the standard of the beers was outstanding. For dinner, we opted for the Kandy Sri Lankan restaurant, a bit of a favourite of ours. We then returned to MASH where the outstanding jazz fusion trio Thr33 were performing covers from Allmans to Zappa plus originals too. Superb!
Sunday 9th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Like my first summit on this evening, the contacts were there aplenty on 2m FM. Eleven QSOs in eleven minutes, operating with a handheld and rubber duck on Gun. VHF is alive and well!
Monday 10th February 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 So to my third summits activation, all within the teatime-evening period of a Monday! I walked fairly swiftly because I wanted to try and get home in time for Late Night Liam on Canalside Radio 102.8 FM, although I would be tuned in while driving just in case. Again I used the 2m FM handheld. Five QSOs in three minutes - and then back down.
Tuesday 11th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 While driving across from The Cloud G/SP-015, I worked Simon G7WKX/P who was now activating Gun. I continued to monitor his activation as I drove. Towards the end of my drive, Simon went QRT. As I anticipated, Simon and I met at about the halfway point of the path up to the summit. We had a good natter for five minutes, before comtinuing our short walks.
Simon was one of the chasers that worked me, as he drove away from the Staffordshire Moorlands. All nine of the stations were regular callers, and most of them active SOTA chasers.
Wednesday 12th February 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 Gig: Tom Read, Dan Toft & Neil Marshall (Open Mic) Venue: Swan With Two Necks, Macclesfield
A day off from any work today, but there was a planned FT8 sked at 1000 UTC. I planned to be on The Cloud G/SP-015 for that, so reversed my usual order and nipped on Gun first. Just one QSO on 2m FM from the handie.
Thursday 13th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 This was a more typical evening "clear off after tea when the soap operas start" Cloud-then-Gun outing. Three contacts on 2m FM before returning to the home QTH.
Friday 14th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Gig: Funktion & Co. Venue: Fatbird, Wigan
After The Cloud G/SP-015, over to Gun and a quick wander up with the handheld. Six contacts all on 2m FM with the handheld.
Marianne and I enjoyed a pleasant Valentine's Day lunch at Flour, Salt, Water in Macclesfield. Soon enough, it was time for me to go to work. It was the first of two consecutive nights of gigging with Rick Henry's band - Funktion & Co. We were playing as a trio with Tasha Novak fronting the band on guitar and vocals.
Saturday 15th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Gig: Funktion & Co. Venue: Rising Sun, Hazel Grove
Horrible day part 2. Well the rain abated somewhat after The Cloud G/SP-015, but its impact still meant that I got wet feet on Gun! Another swift activation. Four minutes' operating, six 2m FM QSOs.
That evening, I dragged Jimmy and Liam out to my gig. It was a local one just up the road in Hazel Grove, and we set out early and went to a curry house, literally across the road from the venue, for our tea before setting up. It was a fun gig, and a relatively early return home, as gigs go.
Sunday 16th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, a very quick raid on the summit of Gun with my handheld. Just two replies to my calls, but I needed to then get back and prepare dinner. Fortunately Jimmy M0HGY was on hand to help in the kitchen and we rustled up a splendid pasta bake between us.
Monday 17th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I couldn't quite match the 15 QSOs in 15 minutes achieved on The Cloud G/SP-015 a little earlier, but five in four minutes was satisfactory enough. A pleasant little evening exercise in the cold February air.
Tuesday 18th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, a quick raid on Gun - and another quickfire activation with nine 2m FM contacts logged inside five minutes.
Wednesday 19th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another after-tea raid on my two local summits. With a VHF handheld. This has the potential to become boring for the reader, but thankfully not for the author / activator!
Thursday 20th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I couldn't quite match the 5 contacts in 2 minutes recorded on The Cloud G/SP-015 around 40 minutes earlier. But 4 in 2 minutes was not a million miles away!
Friday 21st February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 So, with three QSOs recorded inside one minute on The Cloud G/SP-015 a little earlier, could I go even faster and even shorter? Just about - this time I made two contacts inside 30 seconds!
Saturday 22nd February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Gig: Soultown USA ft. The Platters Venue: Princess Theatre, Hunstanton
It was to be more of the same on the Saturday. The weather was still unpleasantly cold and damp, plus I had a long drive to that night's gig in Norfolk. So a quick handheld activation of my two usual summits before getting a lot of miles in.
After loading out from the theatre, I set off on the long drive back to Macclesfield. I reached home at 3am, unloaded, then walked round to my mate Steve's house where we planned to watch the big Tyson Fury - Deonte Wilder heavyweight boxing rematch, taking place in Las Vegas. It was a very enjoyable hour snacking, drinking and watching Fury stop Wilder in the 7th round in a boxing masterclass.
Sunday 23rd February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Gig: Liam Read Band Bandeoke Venue: Swan With Two Necks, Macclesfield
Although I actually set up for HF on The Cloud G/SP-015 and operated a little bit of 30m FT8, there was only now time for yet another rapid handheld VHF activation on Gun. This was due to time marching on towards that night's gig. So for the second day running on Gun, it was four contacts in two minutes!
Monday 24th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, yet another swift handheld activation of Gun. In fact, the third consecutive daily activation of this summit that recorded four QSOs in just two minutes!
Tuesday 25th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another token activation and excuse to bank another 3K steps on my Fitbit tracker, after a typically more substantial activation on The Cloud G/SP-015. One minute, three contacts - then home.
Wednesday 26th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another rapid four 2m FM contacts from the summit of Gun after an activation of The Cloud G/SP-015 just over half-an-hour earlier.
Thursday 27th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 My first priority after school was to go to Big Sainsbury's in Macclesfield to buy the shopping for the following day. It would be my mum's 75th birthday and Jimmy wanted us to host one of our paella nights for her. So I got all my ingredients and stored them away at home. Much later on, I ventured out for my exercise and activations, and again, despite the late hour, the bands were busy enough.
Friday 28th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Four QSOs in three minutes was exactly what was required on this activation. I wanted to get the walks in. I wanted to get the activations in. But I didn't want to over-elaborate as I needed to get back and get cooking!
Marianne and Liam were at the Manchester Arena for a concert of The 1975. My mum came round for her birthday tea, and also my brother Will and friend Steve with his girlfriend Wendy. Mine and Jimmy's paellas were well received, and we had a very pleasant evening.
We made a lot of food - two full pans of paella, one with seafood, one without, plus a tray of paprika chicken thighs. And plenty of beer and wine of course! The king of desserts for afters - Magnums!
Saturday 29th February 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I took the very familiar drive straight over to Gun. A quick stroll up and a quickfire four QSOs all on 2m FM.
Sunday 1st March 2020 - Brown Clee Hill G/WB-002, Titterstone Clee Hill G/WB-004, View Edge G/WB-018, Long Mynd-Pole Bank G/WB-005, Stiperstones G/WB-003, Corndon Hill GW/MW-013, Mynydd-y-briw GW/NW-060, Gyrn Moelfre GW/NW-049, Hope Mountain GW/NW-062, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I parked up on the shoulder of Gun Moor at around 11.25pm, after driving over from The Cloud G/SP-015. The prospects of me setting a new personal record of an 11-activation day looked good. For the last time in a long day, I grabbed my Yaesu FT-70D handheld and set off for the summit.
Upon arrival at the summit, I noted that I had gone over 34,000 steps for the day as recorded on my Fitbit tracker watch. Even though all the walks were relative short, a total of nearly 27km had been covered in the day. Six contacts were made on the handheld - two on 2m C4FM and four on 2m FM.
Monday 2nd March 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 With me activating on Gun right up to the midnight UTC date change, I stuck around to record an extra activation for the new day. Three 2m FM contacts were made immediately after 0000 UTC. I was now very keen to get home and to bed, especially with being in school th next day! There would be an activation of The Cloud G/SP-015 on the Monday evening (as opposed to on the Monday early morning!)
Tuesday 3rd March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I nipped over to Gun for a quick handheld activation before going home to bed! Five QSOs were made on each of 2m FM and 2m C4FM, and a few new unique calls were added to my 2020 SOTA Challenge score.
Wednesday 4th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another quick route-march to the trigpoint with my handheld following a (slightly) more substantial activation over on The Cloud G/SP-015.
Thursday 5th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After the quick switch over from The Cloud G/SP-015, it was already approaching 11.30pm, so I needed to get cracking with the walk in order to record an activation for the current UTC day. But being so close to midnight, I might as well hang around and record one for "tomorrow" as well - even though it would mean a daftly late night on a school night! Like on the earlier summit, eight contacts were made on the handheld, though this time a couple of the were "dupes" added on C4FM Fusion mode.
Friday 6th March 2020 - Gun G/SP-013, Winter Hill G/SP-010, Billinge Hill G/SP-017 & The Cloud G/SP-015 When I quickly raced through four QSOs on 2m FM, in the first two minutes of the day, I was absolutely not anticipating that this would end up being a four activation day! After what would be a very late night on a "school night" - getting to bed about 1am - I certainly wasn't expecting to be up and about early enough for a pre-work activation. But I was, and so I would take a very long way round to Timperley - via Winter Hill G/SP-010! This was actually my 3000th SOTA activation!
Saturday 7th March 2020 - Moel Gyw GW/NW-053, Foel Fenlli GW/NW-051, Moel Famau GW/NW-044, Penycloddiau GW/NW-054, Mynydd y Cwm GW/NW-076, Great Orme GW/NW-070, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 This really was a race against the clock! By the time I had driven across from The Cloud G/SP-015 and walked to the summit, there was less than ten minutes of the day remaining! Fortunately, plenty of stations were still up and active, and four contacts were logged very easily. It was nearly midnight, so it made sense, again, to stick around until "tomorrow's" activation!
Sunday 8th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Gig: Liam Read Band Bandeoke Venue: Swan With Two Necks, Macclesfield
As the clock ticked past midnight, it was a new day. That meant a new activation - but not a substantial one. I just worked everyone who was there - three stations - then got myself home for some much needed sleep. I would do The Cloud G/SP-015 later, to again complete my "daily double" - but it would be mainly a day of rest ahead of a gig.
Monday 9th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another late one as I tagged a swift Gun activation to follow one on The Cloud G/SP-015. Ten contacts in less than ten minutes. VHF is alive and well!
Tuesday 10th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After bailing out early from my contest activity on The Cloud G/SP-015, I grabbed a hit-and-run activation of Gun.
Wednesday 11th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another evening run out to activate my two local summits, with no agenda other than to record an activation and get some exercise. Five QSOs from the 2m FM handie on Gun.
Thursday 12th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 So after finishing very early on The Cloud G/SP-015 due to equipment failure, I had plenty of time to add an activation of Gun, and still be home nice and early. Three QSOs on 2m FM, all with prolific and loyal chasers.
Friday 13th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Like on The Cloud G/SP-015 an hour or so earlier, a quick walk and three contacts on 2m FM with the handheld.
Saturday 14th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 In what was becoming a bad habit, I'd again gone most of the day without getting any exercise or fresh air. So again, it was not until after the evening meal that I hauled myself off the sofa, into my car, and ultimately up the hills. Two summit activations with the 2m FM handheld ensued.
Sunday 15th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Although I had already worked Martyn MW1MAJ/P and Caroline MW3ZCB/P S2S from my earlier summit, they were still QRV when I reach the summit of Gun. As such, they became the first two QSOs in my activation log for Gun, as well as being the final two from The Cloud! Four 2E0 stations, all regular SOTA chasers, also made it into the log.
Monday 16th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 In a curious parallel, after I'd made nine QSOs in nine minutes on The Cloud G/SP-015 a little earlier, this activation resulted in seven contacts in seven minutes! Six of the chasers from The Cloud were also worked from Gun.
Tuesday 17th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 A quick change of plan meant me returning home after The Cloud G/SP-015 instead of nipping across to Gun as originally intended. After dinner, and the XYL settling down to watch a load of rubbish on the telly, I went back out and took a drive to Gun in order to maintain my run of consecutive days doing both Cloud and Gun. Five 2m contacts were made - four on FM, one on C4FM.
Wednesday 18th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, another high-speed activation (raid) on Gun with the handheld! Five QSOs made in a whirlwind three minutes - then home to bed!
Thursday 19th March 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 I can't recall the reason for this, but the usual order was switched for my two local summits on this evening. It was probably linked to other errands required of me at the time! So Gun first, and six 2m FM contacts on the handheld, before heading over to The Cloud G/SP-015.
Friday 20th March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Like on The Cloud G/SP-015 a little earlier, just two contacts made on 2m FM with the handheld. Still, it still counted as two more SOTA activations, and completed my exercise quota for the day.
Saturday 21st March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I zipped over to Gun as usual. I walked up to the trig, as usual. I worked a station on 70cm FM, not as usual. I worked Pete and Anne on 2m FM, very much as usual. I went home as usual. But, not as usual, later on I went out again for an evening walk up Shining Tor G/SP-004.
Sunday 22nd March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, we drove over to Gun on our way to Tittesworth. It was very busy and a bit of a challenge to find a space to safely and considerately park the car. Once off the road and onto the hill, it seemed much quieter, and appropriate social distancing did not prove challenging.
I took absolutely ages to get going, and when I did, I couldn't get a contact on 15m FT8 for love nor money. In contrast, Jimmy M0HGY was QRV very quickly and efficiently, and working down a good pile-up on 2m FM. Eventually, I did manage to scrape a couple of CW contacts out of 15m, and managed to snaffle a surprise S2S before leaving the summit.
We met Marianne and Liam at Tittesworth as planned and enjoyed a Mothering Sunday afternoon tea in the sunshine, before going for a long circular walk around the path that circles Tittesworth Water. It would prove to be the penultimate day of SOTA for me for some time.
Monday 23rd March 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 After making 18 contacts in 9 minutes on The Cloud G/SP-015 a little earlier, I didn't expect to match that on Gun. I didn't. This time, it was 18 QSOs in 5 minutes - remarkable! On the car radio, it had just been announced that lockdown restrictions were being introduced from Tuesday morning, so I knew this would be my last SOTA for a while. For the next few weeks, I would have to get my exercise by walking from the front door at home, and remaining within a reasonable distance of home. "Lockdown walks" as I would refer to them!
Wednesday 13th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 After my mammoth all-day activation on The Cloud G/SP-015, my effort on Gun could not have been more of a contrast. There wasn't another person anywhere on the hill. One minute, two QSOs, activation over!
Thursday 14th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Time was marching on, and I was getting very cold on The Cloud G/SP-015. I hurriedly packed away and hurriedly descended to the hill. I started to hurriedly drive to Gun G/SP-013, anxious to record an activation before the current day morphed into tomorrow. Then I remembered that we were in British Summer Time, and in fact I had all the time in the world - well, an extra hour to what I thought, anyway! I completed the drive and walk to Gun summit in a much more unhurried fashion. A single QSO with Troy G7LHK was made on 2m FM, but like on The Cloud earlier, VHF was uncharacteristically quiet.
Friday 15th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 This evening’s totals: 12 other people on The Cloud, 2 other people on Gun. Plenty of space for standing aside and letting people pass. Plenty of respect shown by all parties, so rapid evasive action was never required (unlike a typical trip to the supermarket). Set off from home at 8.15pm BST. Returned home 100 minutes later at 9.55pm. In between, I activated the two summits with four 2m FM QSOs on each. Great to get Steve 2W0JYN and Steph MW6SHJ in both activation logs - they are very supportive and regular chasers in my log. In contrast, I’d not heard anything of Pete 2E0LKC and Anne 2E0LMD since the end of Lockdown; I would have expected them to appear in my logs for every activation - I hoped that they were OK.
Saturday 16th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004 After The Cloud G/SP-015, over to Gun G/SP-013, with just six 2m FM handheld QSOs. Then home for a spectacular afternoon tea in the sunshine on the patio, before heading out for an evening activation of Shining Tor G/SP-004 with Jimmy.
Sunday 17th May 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 After Shining Tor G/SP-004, then drove over to Gun G/SP-013. This was very similar. Walkers in the oncoming direction to be avoided every five minutes or so, but again easy with loads of space and mutual politeness. 2m FM handheld - 8 QSOs Then, on the way home, The Cloud G/SP-015.
Monday 18th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 A little jaunt up my two local hills after tea on a Monday evening. A remarkable 31 QSOs made in a total of 15 minutes operating time across the two summits. Anyone still saying VHF is dead?
Tuesday 19th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, a quick handheld 2m FM activation to complete the usual double before heading back home. All the Stockport Radio Society contingent had gone QRT, but a few regular chasers were still on air. Including Frank MW0OFA - a great contact to the Pembrokeshire coast with just the HT!
Wednesday 20th May 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 My final contact on Shining Tor G/SP-004 earlier was with Simon G7WKX. He advised me of some Sporadic E on 6m, so a slight repack of the rucksack was necessary after parking on the side of Gun Moor. Once on the summit, I set up the SOTAbeams SB6 Moxon antenna and pointed it south. All the action was coming from EA, and several QSOs were made on 6m FT8. Switching to 6m CW, it was a GW and a G answering the call, but then a very nice contact into Gibraltar, followed by a station in Portugal. On Gun G/SP-013, I needed to be in the vicinity of the summit for take-off purposes, but well off the three paths that intersect there, for social distancing purposes. I found a spot in the heather just beyond the summit, and was especially careful not to misplace my sunglasses. Irritatingly though, I did lose my rubber. And I had a mistake in my logbook to erase as well - grrr! I next went over to The Cloud G/SP-015 to complete my local triad, before returning home.
Thursday 21st May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Just a single contact on the handheld. Still, it counts as an activation!
Saturday 23rd May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I was up early and fancied a bit of early SOTA. I succumbed to my 30m addiction and forgot about my 12m-10m agenda. 18 QSOs, all EU, on 30m FT8 on The Cloud and then 1 QSO on 2m FM on Gun. I was back home after two activations at the early hour of 0930 BST. I decided to go and do one of my “from the front door” / "Lockdown" walks, and get some photos for the section of my website I am building for them. This was an approximately 14km route through two contrasting sections of Danes Moss and several farms on the south and west of Macclesfield. Being ten minutes walk from rural Cheshire countryside has proved to be a godsend during lockdown. After getting back home, we had a chicken biryani and onion pakora from our corner shop. A young couple have recently taken it over and the lady occasionally offers meals cooked to order, made “Apna” - homestyle. After tea, I dedicated the evening to antenna building. I used my favourite antenna wire - the green extra-strong military spec stuff from SOTAbeams. I went for 4 radials and RG58 feeder. I set it up in the front garden and soon worked an LA station on 10m CW with 5 watts from the 817. I then chatted with a Richard G3CWI across town on both bands SSB. So the antenna worked, and was good for use on the two bands.
Sunday 24th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Over to Gun after The Cloud G/SP-015, and three QSOs on 2m FM, including S2S to Caer Caradoc G/WB-006 x2. Spotted a car and a dipole on the road up to a Gun. This turned out to be net control for the South Manchester ARC 80m net.
Monday 25th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Exactly one hour after working him over on The Cloud G/SP-015, Barry 2E0PXW was once again my one and only QSO in a SOTA activation!
Tuesday 26th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Exactly two minutes after working him here on Gun, Barry 2E0PXW was working for a SOTA contact, The UTC day had ticked over at 0000z (1am local BST), so a new SOTA activation could commence. Dave G7SKR in Warrington also called in at this late hour. An activation of The Cloud G/SP-015, would take place much later, on the Tuesday evening.
Wednesday 27th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I just took the handheld up Gun. Four QSOs on 2m FM.
Thursday 28th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Gig: Liam Read & Tom Read Venue: NHS Clap, our street! During the morning, before activating The Cloud G/SP-015, I'd learned of the sad recent passing of local renowned folk musician Arthur Wakefield. That took me back 31 years to gigging in folk clubs with Arthur, appearing on BBC Radio Stoke with him and recoring his 1989 album "For All The Good People".
On Gun, I made just one QSO, but it was a 20 minute long ragchew! It felt quite unusual to conduct an "activation" in this manner, but the chat with Ian G0XBU in Goostrey was most enjoyable! After returning home, thoughts turned to the final Thursday night NHS Clap on the street at 8pm. Liam and I had been entertaining our neighbours after the clap every week with a few songs. This became popular with the residents of our street!
Friday 29th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I was pretty late getting out on the Friday night. Just about as late as it is possible to be while still squeezing two summit activations in! 2m FM handheld operation on both summits!
Saturday 30th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another post-Cloud handheld raid, and just two QSOs.
Sunday 31st May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I nipped over to Gun, but now with only the intention of a quickfire handheld activation. That was because Marianne had summoned me for a barbecue and messaged a shopping list to me!
Three QSOs were made on 2m FM, but I was now keen to head home for the barbecue. It was a lovely warm afternoon; perfect to enjoy on our new decking in the garden, with a barbecue and a few beers.
This would have been Joe Longthorne's 65th birthday. He sadly passed away back in August 2019, but we took the opportunity to remember all the great times to Joe and raise a glass to his memory.
It was also the release date of his new - and sadly final album, recorded in the weeks and months prior to his death.
Tuesday 2nd June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 As I parked up for Gun, I spotted a tiny magmount antenna on a vehicle already there. I wondered who that could be? As I walked up towards the summit, I could see what was clearly an antenna just to the left of the trig point. It turned out it was Ray M1REK. He was operating on 2m, but kindly allowed me to make a few 2m FM contacts on my handheld while I was there. This resulted in a checklog of ten QSOs for the 2m FM activity contest. Sadly it couldn't be anything more than a checklog, due to the restrictions on entries from portable stations, currently in place.
Wednesday 3rd June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I decided that the best course of action would be to get back home promptly, knowing that I would be "out and about" on the hills for the next three days. After working M0MVK on the 2m FM handheld, there was no further response to several QRZ? calls. So home I went.
Thursday 4th June 2020 - Hail Storm Hill G/SP-009, Freeholds Top G/SP-011, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, which was my third activation of the day on the 12m and 10m HF bands, I afforded myself a handheld-only "easy" activation on Gun. Just one chaser worked - Steven 2W0JYN on 2m FM.
Sunday 7th June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 A last mission to grab some more unique QSO partner points in the SOTA Challenge. The contacts did not come quickly during a 2.5 hour session on Gun, but a respectable number were logged, the undoubted highlight of which was Chile - CE - on 12m FT8.
Saturday 13th June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Following the bulging logbooks of the 12m-10m-6m Challenge flavour week, a few days off from activating, before a much more serene reappearance on the hills, featuring just two VHF QSOs each on Cloud & Gun. Or so it seemed. During my activation, a spectacular lightning storm was taking place within a cloud formation seemingly over Holmes Chapel. I caught a bit of footage of that.
Monday 15th June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 When I did eventually venture out again at teatime for a 2nd activation of the calendar day, I only bothered with the handheld. Five QSOs made on 2m FM.
Sunday 21st June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 This particlar handheld "after-The-Cloud" activation was quite amusing. Six "contacts" were made - but this involved just two licensed amateurs - and one QTH! Chris M0VWT and Adie M0PAI were taking advantage of the outdoor food and drinks service available at The Winking Man pub on the Leek to Buxton road. They took a break from their pints and Sunday lunches to work me on their own handhelds!
Monday 22nd June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Time was marching on and I was late for my tea. Nonetheless, I couldn't resist nipping over to Gun after I'd finished on The Cloud G/SP-015. Just one QSO was recorded.
Wednesday 24th June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I darted across to Gun. I walked all the way up to the summit trig and called on 70cm FM. Just one station responded - my good friend Steven 2W0JYN in Rhos, near Wrexham.
Friday 26th June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, the usual quick walk up Gun with the VHF handheld.
Saturday 27th June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, the usual quick walk up Gun with the VHF handheld. Any thoughts of indulging in any more exotic form of radio were banished by the appalling weather!
Sunday 28th June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, the usual quick walk up Gun with the VHF handheld.
Monday 29th June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, the usual quick walk up Gun with the VHF handheld. Great to catch Tom M0TKG operating the Stockport RS special anniversary call over on Shining Tor G/SP-004.
Tuesday 30th June 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, the usual quick walk up Gun with the VHF handheld. Three stations worked on 2m FM, plus a couple on 70cm FM as I warmed up for the next "Flavour" week in the SOTA 2020 Challenge, commencing the following day.
Wednesday 1st July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, unusually, I actually set up a proper portable station and antenna on Gun. I was keen to try for expected potential S2S contacts, and also to do a little operating on 70cm SSB. This was all achieved - Viki M6BWA/P and Rod M0JLA/P were worked from their summit Worcestershire Beacon G/WB-009, and six QSOs were made on SSB.
Thursday 2nd July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I reverted to my usual M.O. of just taking the handheld up Gun. Nonetheless, I was pleased to work on 70cm C4FM mode as well as 70cm analogue FM. Rod M0JLA and Viki M6BWA were out again for the flavour, and I worked them S2S from View Edge G/WB-018.
Saturday 4th July 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I'd done a long activation earlier on Shining Tor G/SP-004 for the 70cm SOTA activity day. It was still an unpleasantly wet day, so on this second outing, I just took the VHF/UHF handheld up both summits.
Sunday 5th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I went over to Gun and bumped into Richard G3CWI - not literally - 1m+ was maintained. He was on a “cycle” ride and, at the last moment elected not to activate on his handheld. At the time, I assumed it was an act of consideration as I wanted to activate on 70cm at the same time. On reflection, I think it might have been because he used motorised transport (e-bike) to complete the final ascent and would have been outwith the SOTA General Rules - that he wrote.
Richard and I talked each other into a pint and agreed to meet at the Harrington Arms, Bosley. It was the first post lockdown pub visit for both of us, and proved to be a pleasant experience. Good systems and arrangements had been put in place by the pub, and the Bosley Dale Ale was very good too. Table service, contactless card payment, no drunken people with their arm round your neck shouting loudly into your ear, and having the toilets to yourself. I’m liking this new normal - wouldn’t want to go back to the bad old days!
Monday 6th July 2020 - The Wrekin G/WB-010, Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Finally, after The Cloud G/SP-015, I went over to Gun G/SP-013 for the 4th activation of the day. I was now extremely tired after the very early start and all the walking, so reverted to handheld-only. Four QSOs were made on 70cm FM, pleasingly including one new callsign for the Challenge. I slept well that night!
Tuesday 7th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After the contest activation on The Cloud G/SP-015, I drove over to Gun G/SP-013 afterwards for a quick handheld activation, and made 3 QSOs on 70cm FM from the summit.
Wednesday 8th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 An unusual incidence of making more QSOs from Gun than just made on The Cloud. Just a quick walk with the 2m handheld.
Thursday 9th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 For a change, I headed to Gun for a UK activity contest evening. I set up the SOTABEAMS SB6 (Moxon) antenna close to the trig point and conducted a rather unremarkable activation. 64 QSOs were made, 1 on 2m FM and the rest on 6m SSB.
Friday 10th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, a quick march to the trig point with the handheld. One QSO made.
Saturday 11th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004 After working all the EU S2S action over on The Cloud G/SP-015, I nipped over to Gun for the extra walk. But did get an extra S2S thanks to Simon! That night I headed out for another overnight camp activation on Shining Tor G/SP-004.
Tuesday 14th July 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 Not wishing to repeat my unsuccessful switch of contest site to Gun from the previous Thursday, I made sure I did Gun for my early morning activation, thus leaving The Cloud G/SP-015 for that night's 70cm contesting! I was now looking ahead to the August Challenge "flavour" of 17m, so dug out my old groundplane. I found that it still worked - but was in need of a full refurb / rebuild!
Wednesday 15th July 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 VHF this morning wasn’t as healthy. I struggled to make a single 2m FM QSO on Gun G/SP-013, and then just two on The Cloud G/SP-015! Maybe UHF is the way forward…
Thursday 16th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 A late night VHF handheld outing on the Thursday evening saw me visit my two regular summits and make three contacts - all provided by one station - Barry 2E0PXW!
Friday 17th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another quick 2m handheld raid before returning home.
Saturday 18th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004 3 QSOs, all 2m FM Things were quieter on Gun - but that was fine, as I wanted to get back and sort tea out for the lads and me (Marianne was at work). I collected a big curry take-away from the Weston Balti Raj - our first from there since before lockdown - and I have to say it was delicious! I headed back out for my camp on Shining Tor G/SP-004 around 10.20pm.
Sunday 19th July 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 Next up was Gun G/SP-013, and this time I could finally test out the 17m GP built the previous day, and my new power distribution arrangements which should also allow me to keep my iPhone and Windows tablet charged. The tablet had its charge exhausted on Shining Tor in the early hours of the morning, so was put on charge in the car for the drive over, and then on charge from the battery at the start of the activation. It only has a single android-type socket for both power and data, so I started on CW while some more charge was accumulated.
Everything worked perfectly. My iPhone was recharging, as was the tablet. Even more thrilling was my new 17m antenna being resonant in the centre of the band, allowing me to operate efficiently on CW, data and SSB. It perhaps shouldn’t be quite so thrilling, as the antenna is a very simple design, easy to make, and the mathematics for cutting the element and radials is pretty basic stuff. Nonetheless, I can’t help but be chuffed to pieces each time I build one and it works! Gun G/SP-013 - 20 QSOs 17m CW: 9 QSOs - 2 S2S 17m SSB: 3 QSOs - 2 S2S 17m FT8: 6 QSOs 2m FM: 2 QSOs S2S: HB/SG-042, HB/LU-027, OE/OO-275, FL/VO-034 The previous evening, Barry 2E0PXW expressed an interest in joining me on The Cloud G/SP-015. By the end of my Gun activation, he was already parked up on Red Lane, with Justin M7JRB. I met them there after driving over.
Monday 20th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 The day was almost over before I managed to haul myself out of the shack chair and out into the car. It was too late to consider anything other than a pair of 2m FM handheld activations.
Tuesday 21st July 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 However, with the time rapidly approaching "tomorrow", I decided I may as well stick around to record a third activation in the outing!
Wednesday 22nd July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After my meteor scatter debut activation on The Cloud, a quick jaunt up Gun with the handheld.
Thursday 23rd July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another rapid Cloud-Gun double activation with the 2m FM handheld!
Friday 24th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Just one QSO from the VHF handheld after the Cloud activation - but it was a S2S!
Saturday 25th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I then popped over to Gun G/SP-013 with the handheld, for a “Four-and-run”, including S2S with Liam MW7LCX/P on Penycloddiau GW/NW-054.
Sunday 26th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After coming over from The Cloud, a 2m handheld activation in which I was pleasantly surprised with a couple of summit-to-summit contacts.
Monday 27th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After the 80m FT4 contest activation on The Cloud, another quick handheld raid on Gun!
Tuesday 28th July 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 For some inexplicable reason, after my mammoth walk over Shutlingsloe and Shining Tor G/SP-004 earlier on, I was compelled to go out again in the evening to activate The Cloud G/SP-015 and Gun G/SP-013!
Wednesday 29th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 As was becoming typical, my post-Cloud handheld activation of Gun netted a S2S contact - this time from Arenig Fawr GW/NW-011 in Snowdonia.
SOTA road trip, Day 8 - Saturday 8th August 2020 Having not made it home from my road trip on the Friday night due to needing to sleep in my car, I decided to round things off on the Saturday morning by activating my two local SOTA summits as I completed my homeward journey. Gun G/SP-013 first, and then The Cloud G/SP-015.
Tuesday 11th August 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004 The plan was to overnight on Shining Tor G/SP-004 that night for the 70cm contests and then a late night and early morning attempt to make meteor scatter QSOs in the midst of the Perseids meteor shower. I had some spare time in the morning of that day so nipped out to activate my usual two local summits with the VHF handheld.
Wednesday 12th August 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 After driving over from Shining Tor G/SP-004, I wandered up to Gun summit with the handheld. Just two QSOs were made - both halves of the licensed couple Steven and Steph from Rhos near Wrexham. I then went to The Cloud G/SP-015 before heading home.
Thursday 13th August 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 This was the night of our rearranged wedding anniversary. Our original booking at Fischers @ Baslow Hall had been reschedued as a result of a bad leak in out kitchen on the day of our anniversary in July. Before setting out for the occasion, I nipped out in the morning for a couple of smash-and-grab activations of my local summits.
Saturday 22nd August 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I'd gone through most of the day on the Saturday without getting out for an activation. I eventually hauled myself out of the house just after 10pm and drove down to The Cloud - and then Gun.
Wednesday 26th August 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I nipped over to Gun, wandered up with the handheld, and worked two SOTA chasers - Karen and Steven.
Friday 28th August 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 After The Cloud G/SP-015, I transferred over to Gun G/SP-013 and waded up to the summit. A huge bank of heavy rain advanced towards me from the north, but then, miraculously, veered right and passed to the west of the hill! Just two QSOs on 2m FM with the handheld on this one.
Saturday 29th August 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Another one where I got to the parking spot and decided just to go quickly and and down with the hand-portable. Then it was a drive up to Blackpool North Pier, where the Joe Longthorne Museum was officially opening. Here's some photos from that event:
Monday 31st August 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Just a quick handheld activation, but great to get Helen and Simon summit-to-summit from Bouslworth Hill-Lad Law G/SP-008.
Tuesday 1st September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004 After The Cloud G/SP-015, there was no more charge left in the tablet to continue playing datamodes. So I just did the usual and nipped up to Gun summit with the handheld. Three stations were worked, after which I returned home. Later that day I would head out to Shining Tor G/SP-004 for an overnight backpacking camp and activation. In the meantime, I went out for a long circular walk around Whirley and Henbury with Marianne and Liam.
Wednesday 2nd September 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015 After Shining Tor G/SP-004, I fancied trying 15m for some more FT8 operation. As I drove over towards Gun, I found myself passing the Wincle Brewery. I couldn't resist nipping in for a cheeky pint of on-site brewed ale!
Just four QSOs were made, but the final one of those was Kenya, which was very satisfying. Finally it was across to The Cloud G/SP-015 before heading home.
Thursday 3rd September 2020 On this day I started a supply teaching assignment at a school in Glossop. The nearest summit to this new work location was Kinder Scout G/SP-001, which was too long a walk for integrating a daily activation into my commute, although I did intend to do so at least once during the half-term. The nearest summit that could be passed on a viable driving route between work and home was probably Shining Tor G/SP-004, but even that would be too time-consuming to become a regular daily thing. Even though it would increase the driving mileage more than the two mentioned, I decided that, somewhat uninterestingly, it would still be The Cloud G/SP-015 or Gun G/SP-013 if I was to do a SOTA activation on the way home from work. There was no feasibility whatsoever of doing one before work. On this first occasion, I opted for Gun, where I tried an FT8 activation on the 15m band. Seven contacts were made - all into Spain, except for one into Uruguay!
Saturday 5th September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Once the Saturday night television ritual had commenced - that's Marianne and Liam - nothing of interest to me other than Match of the Day - I headed back out, and this time to Gun G/SP-013. As usual, I took a guess at which band might be the most interesting. I opted for 20m, hoping for some transatlantic activity, but that proved not to be. Just fourteen QSOs were made, all from around Europe, and the rate was a little slow.
Sunday 6th September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 My previous evening's experience informed me that I should come down in frequency for another evening activation. I set up on Gun with 30m, and 24 contacts were made using FT8 and FT4.
Again, it was all EU non-DX - apart for one QSO - which was VP8ON in Port Standley, Falkland Islands - so that was very pleasing indeed.
Wednesday 9th September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I couldn't decide between Cloud and Gun for my on-the-way-home-from-work-in-Glossop SOTA activation - so ended up doing both of them - just with a 2m handheld.
Sunday 13th September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 A quick jaunt up to the trig with the handheld.
Tuesday 15th September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Despite a few calls, a self-spot and use of the GM (Group Monitor) feature, I failed to make any contacts on 2m C4FM. A single contact on 2m FM at least meant that a SOTA activation had taken place, and could be recorded as such!
Wednesday 16th September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Just a quick drive out for a couple of walks to get my steps in for the day, and to record a couple of activations. Karen 2E0XYL and Neil 2E0TDX worked on both summits, on 2m FM.
Thursday 17th September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Same as the previous day with almost the same result. Richard G3CWI and Kieran M6AIF worked from The Cloud, but it was Karen 2E0XYL and Neil 2E0TDX again fron Gun.
Sunday 20th September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 Jimmy and I took a drive up to Wincle Brewery for an on-site pint of ale and bag of pork scratchings. As we were round the corner from Gun, we then visited there, parking on the back road (cul-de-sac) and ascending to the summit from the opposite direction as the usual. Summit-to-summit QSOs were made with Phil GW4HQB/P and Gillian MW0OVW/P who were activating Allt-y-Main GW/NW-059. We also tried to get back to a strong CQ from Viki MM6BWA/P calling from a summit in Southern Scotland, but we didn't make it on just the handheld. I also intended activating The Cloud G/SP-015 at some point in the day, but not immediately. We returned home, and I went back out later for my second activation.
Monday 21st September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 I managed to haul myself out of the house for a daily double activation of Cloud and Gun, with the intention of doing this for all five working days of the week. As it turned out, this was the only day of the week that I did. An uncharacteristic four activation-free days would therefore follow!
Saturday 26th September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 A typical 2m handheld follow-up activation after something more substantial on The Cloud G/SP-015. Four SOTA chasers worked, so all good.
Monday 28th September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013 This was another of those outings where the prime motive was to top up the day's step count, and increase my SOTA activation count by two!
Tuesday 13th October 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
Having lost motivation in staying out for 3.5 hours on The Cloud G/SP-015 on not the best of evenings, I bailed out and went over to Gun for an extra activation. Just one contact was made - my friend Karen 2E0XYL on 2m FM.
Monday 2nd November 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
Although I was now officially clear of Covid-19 and released from isolation, I didn't feel up to going to work, so I decided to allow myself a week to build my strength and energy back up. This would mainly be achieved by spending time exercising - and operating radio - outdoors. 18 QSOs were added to my SOTA Challenge LF log, plus a couple on 2m FM including a S2S with Scafell Pike G/LD-001. I would head out that evening to also activate The Cloud G/SP-015.
Tuesday 3rd November 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
Keen to add more unique QSO partners on 80m for the Challenge, I headed out to Gun first thing in the morning. The reason I did it that way round was because I wanted to save The Cloud G/SP-015 for the 2m contest evening later. I had the drama of having to leave the Windows 10 tablet at home once established that the micro USB socket was kaput. That meant no FT8 and the terrifying prospect of having to conduct an entire activation using only legacy modes.
Anyway, it turned out really well in the end. It was a slow start, but the contacts did start to stack up, and once I was one of the target stations on the WAB net, it was great fun. A total of 39 contacts made. A new tablet was ordered and FT8 activations were expected to resume on bonfire night.
Monday 16th November 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
I was asked to take on a maths teaching assignment at Westwood College in Leek, Staffordshire. This is a school I did some work at a couple of years earlier and really liked it - plus it was handily situated for me to activate local summits to and/or from my way to work. Even better, essential work was my "valid excuse" to leave my home council area (Cheshire East) and enter into a neighbouring one (which was, on this date, in a different tier of Covid restrictions). Furthermore, the Government instructions were to minimise the number of journeys. And now I could integrate two periods of daily exercise into my work day, requiring no additional travel or journey to my existing commutes.
Walking up Gun with just a handheld so early in the morning could be a bit of a gamble, but fortunately there is a "Grumpy Old Man's" net from 7am on 145.550MHz (S22). In the absence of any other contacts - and usually there weren't any - I would call into this net and work some of the stations on frequency. On this occasion, just Robin G4VXW in Leigh was worked. Later on, I activated The Cloud G/SP-015 on the way home from work.
Tuesday 17th November 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
Same routine as the previous day, a wander up to the summit with the handheld, and worked a couple of stations on the S22 net. I then called Take-A-Break in Leek and ordered a sausage, bacon, cheese & mushroom double oatcake. This would also become part of my daily routine - the food was delicious!
Wednesday 18th November 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
I was running a little earlier than usual, so considered that I had time to deploy the 20m GP and do a short activation on HF. Four contacts made on FT8 mode. Another oatcake breakfast from Take-A-Break and another enjoyable day at work at Westwood.
Thursday 19th November 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
My morning commute to Leek via Gun! Two regular stations were worked on the morning net on 145.550MHz FM, followed by another one who answered my CQ SOTA call on S20.
Friday 20th November 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
I arrived at the parking spot for Gun a little earlier than usual, so had time to set up for HF. It wasn't exactly productive through, and just one station was worked on 20m CW.
Monday 23rd November 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
Back to the working week, and teaching at a school in Leek meant that I could activate Gun in the mornings on the way to work. I was running a little late on this first day of the week, and it was almost 8am before I'd made any contacts I was going to make. Still enough time to collect a tasty Staffordshire oatcake breakfast from Take-A-Break in Leek, and get to work in plenty of time.
Tuesday 24th November 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
The usual pre-work routine. A bit earlier today, and as usual, the only activity on 2m was on the Leigh net on 145.550MHz FM. Robin and Brian worked.
Wednesday 25th November 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
Robin and Rod this morning on the "Grumpy Old Man's Net" on 145.550MHz FM. Perhaps it's unfair to call it that as they were now being so welcome and friendly towards me every morning! Nice and early, and plenty of time to order, collect and enjoy my filled oatcake breakfast on my way to work in Leek.
Friday 27th November 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
Robin and Rod again! Almost a carbon copy of the previous morning's activation, with just the order reversed!
Monday 30th November 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
A day at work in Leek, and an activation of Gun en route to combine my daily exercise with my commute, thus minimising my journeys as requested by HM Government. Usual crowd on 145.550MHz FM.
Wednesday 2nd December 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
This morning, I did Gun G/SP-013 with my handheld, making just one QSO. That was fine though, as I’d forgotten to put my suit bag in the car and need to drive back to Macc to collect it in order to be professionally attired in the classroom! It did mean I had to forego my usual bacon cheese & mushroom double oatcake for my breakfast! I hoped for some 12m action from G/SP-015 later, around 1700.
Thursday 3rd December 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
A bit later to the summit than usual on my way to work in Leek, but at least I'd not forgotten my suit bag, so I didn't need to forego my filled Staffordshire oatcake breakfast! Three QSOs on 145.550MHz FM - thanks to Jason, Robin and Rod.
Friday 4th December 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
Phil G4OBK was seen and heard on 12m FT8 during the early morning pre-working day activation. I also heard JO01 and a Swedish station. The only station that worked me was M6UKZ in IO82. A spot message from DG1NPM came in - but that was 25 minutes after I’d gone QRT! The bacon cheese and mushroom double oatcake from Take-A-Break in Leek was delicious, and set me up for the day!
Monday 7th December 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
Usual summit on the way to work. Usual 2m frequency. Usual set of guys to call in to and work.
Tuesday 8th December 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
It was the magical 145.550MHz FM (S22) frequency again from Gun as I did my usual exercise stop on the way to wrok. But just one station - Rod M0RCC in Haydock - worked.
Wednesday 9th December 2020 - Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015
Two quick 2m FM QSOs on the way to work, via a quick walk up Gun. Thanks again Robin and Rod.
Friday 11th December 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
On this morning, I revisited a stunt of many years past - to activate both The Cloud G/SP-015 and Gun G/SP-013 on the way to work*.
[*Note - this was trivial if work was a gig somewhere in the North of England, but is more of a challenge to pull off if working a full day as a maths teacher!]
Anyway, the IO83 effect did not let me down. Both summits activated with a handheld and rubber duck on 2m FM:
G/SP-015: 3 QSOs, 0632-0637z G/SP-013: 5 QSOs, 0727-0732z
Monday 14th December 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
Me and my big mouth. I spoke too soon. On the way to work in the morning:
G/SP-015: 1 QSO G/SP-013: 2 QSOs
There was quite a big net on in the Midlands but either they couldn’t hear my 2m FM handheld or they weren’t leaving big enough gaps between overs for me to get in. Either way, the IO83 effect is no more. IO82 is where it’s at.
Wednesday 16th December 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
A slight improvement this morning. Still just the early-rising Peter 2E0LKC (my all-time top chaser) worked from The Cloud G/SP-015, but then a bumper crop of three QSOs on the Grumpy Old Man’s 7am net from Gun G/SP-013. Neither effort would qualify an activation of course, but that hadn’t been the object of the game on these hills for nearly a year…
Friday 25th December 2020 - Christmas Day - The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013
After The Cloud G/SP-015, I then took advantage of the now Christmas Day-only travel restriction easing to bob over the authority border to Gun G/SP-013. Just a single 2m FM QSO from this activation! Merry Christmas! ...and that took me to 528 activations so far in the year 2020. Despite enforced periods of inaction due to lockdown, back problems and getting ill with Covid!
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