We were "Hoping on Hope" that Macclesfield Town could get three points, or at least a draw away at fellow strugglers Chester City on this particular afternoon.  We were going to the match, so it seemed appropriate to activate Hope Mountain GW/NW-062.  A fourth annual activation for me, a first for Jimmy (albeit 4th visit) and arguably our last as we have agreed to concentrate on Uniques. Marianne saw us off with a carrier bag containing breakfast cereal bars, bananas, cheese & pickle baps and helicopter flavour crisps.  I also brought a litre flask of Heinz Beef Broth soup. 

We followed the usual M56/A483 route to Llay, then picked our way around the maze of narrow lanes winding up the eastern flanks of Hope Mountain.  We were going to operate from near the transmitter car park, this being within the activation zone, and not necessitating disturbing the farmer for permission, but when we reached the access road, it was blocked by a padlocked gate.  Hence we drove around to the farm and into the yard behind the farmhouse.  The farmer came out, recognised us and was again incredibly friendly.  He recalled "A lady, doing the same thing as you, with a bottle of champagne".  No prizes for identifying that SOTA participant!

We made the quick and easy walk up to the trig point, where the wind was fierce to say the least.  We dropped down a few metres towards the transmitter car park, in lee of the wind to set up.  The guys for the SOTA Beam / WASP were used for the first time in ages, as we settled into the hillside to make the activation.  Most callers reported very wet conditions where they were, but it remained sunny and dry, 12 degrees C (lesss the windchill) with us. Jimmy MW3EYP/P opened up as usual, making his 4 contacts on 2m FM in 5 minutes.  I then took over and made 13 contacts in 16 minutes.  Towards the end of this, Phil G6AKK called in from Macclesfield, so Jimmy was to make a very rare 5th contact!  Phil was Jimmy's Foundation instructor at the Macclesfield Wireless Society, but had never worked him on a summit.  SOTA being the whole objective behind Jimmy's Foundation ambitions, it was appropriate that Jimmy take the microphone for one more contact.

We returned to the farmyard, had another chat with the farmer, and set off to Chester.  After all, the eagle-eyed amongst you will have noted the "Football expedition" attached to our SOTAwatch Alerts entries during the week.  This part of the day ended unhappily with a last-minute winner for Chester to increase the pressure at the wrong end of League 2.  However, the hour's drive back across Cheshire was rewarded with roast beef and all the trimmings when we got in, not to mention a very decent bottle of red wine.  I guess life's not all bad after all.

Many thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM with 2.5 watts: