Tom Read - click to email meBDXC ISWL WAB SOTA RSGB IOTA - see my radio page for more detailsLiam & Jimmy

Long Knoll 2010

 

Day 7 - Saturday 31st July 2010 (part 2)

From Beacon Batch G/SC-003, I was now directed by Jimmy in a generally south-eastwards direction and through the village of Maiden Bradley. As we drove, we listened in to 105.6 Midwest Radio, which seemed to be in parallel with 97.4 and I assumed was a new identity for the old Vale FM from Shaftesbury. Another station heard was 87.7 New Wine FM from Shepton Mallet, but it wasn't really my cup of tea.

Craig & Jimmy ahead of the final ridge walk up to the summit    Tom M1EYP

Up the hill on the other side of the village, and we looked out for the start of the path up through Rag Wood. This was quite overgrown to begin with and clearly not used for anything other than pedestrian access, so I took the opportunity to reverse my car into the start of the track by the side of the road.

Jimmy M3EYP at the summit    30m dipole    Tom M1EYP QRV on 30m CW

This hill is a real gem. After the initial gentle ascent up the partly overgrown path, there was a steep grassy pull. Liam, to my astonishment, really got motoring on this section, so much so that I shot a video of him doing it, otherwise the XYL would never have believed me! I even phoned her up to tell her what was in progress before my eyes!

After the ridge levelled out, Liam shot off ahead, overtaking Jimmy and Craig, as I racked my brains to think what he had for breakfast that morning! After a slight dip in the ridge, there was a small ascent up to the summit and trig point, and we began to get set up as usual, Jimmy on 2m FM and me on 30m CW.

Jimmy M3EYP QRV on 2m FM    Liam - surprise, surprise...    Jimmy M3EYP & SOTA Beam

Jimmy managed six on 2m FM, including S2S with Eleri MW3NYR/P on Great Rhos GW/MW-002, and 'DX' contact with Nick M1DDD/P near Buxton! Over on 30m CW, I managed ten QSOs, but with one agonising 'getaway'. Norby HB0/LX1NO/P was a superb signal from Ochsenkopf HB0/LI-005, but no way could I break his pile-up. I worked a few more on my own QRG, then went back to check Norby's frequency. Result! He had finished working down his pile-up and was calling CQ with no-one responding. I sent my call and 'SOTA' a few times, but Norby obviously couldn't hear me. A pity, as he was a solid 599 with me.

We packed up and set off back down the ridge in glorious sunshine. Craig found a set of car keys on a small brick structure just before dropping steeply off the end of the ridge, but we reasoned that all we could do was leave them there as there was no clues or contact information attached.  It was getting on for 5pm by the time we were back in the car, but the unanimous decision was to press on to Win Green G/SC-008.

MW3NYR/P on Great Rhos MW-002

2m

FM

J

DJ5AV

30m

CW

T

DL6KVA

30m

CW

T

G3NYY/P

2m

FM

J

DL7VKD

30m

CW

T

DF5WA

30m

CW

T

LA8BCA

30m

CW

T

G4ENZ

2m

FM

J

DL3JPN

30m

CW

T

M1DDD/P

2m

FM

J

G4SXR

2m

FM

J

G0ISO

2m

FM

J

SM5APS

30m

CW

T

S51ZG

30m

CW

T

OE7PHI

30m

CW

T

SK5PZ

30m

CW

T