Progress was good up the M6 from Stoke-on-Trent after work on Thursday 31st March 2011, so I figured I could - just about - shoe-horn in an activation of Longridge Fell G/SP-014 ahead of my talk to the Preston ARS. I had done such a stunt previously, ahead of my SOTA talk to the Marches ARS, working many of the members from Hope Mountain GW/NW-062. Unfortunately, this time there was no guarantee that I would actually squeeze the activation in, so no advance notice was sent. I just hoped that some of the Preston members would be monitoring S20.

   

I didn't have an OS map with me, but the route from the parking spot to the summit is very straightforward and simple follows a wall to the top. Getting to the parking spot was a greater concern, because I did not have the JimNav with me, so it was just me, my memory, and my road atlas.  Fortunately these served me well, and after exiting the M6 at J31A, I paused to consider the driving route only twice en route to the parking spot. I kitted up, taking the 2m SOTA Beam and WASP mast kit. The ascent was an enjoyable walk of about 20 minutes to a nice summit not visited for a few years.

       

I bedded down by the trig point, using it to shelter from the westerly wind. It was difficult to keep the beam pointing west because of this. I worked eight stations on 2m FM, including just one Preston member that I would meet later.  I had carefully calculated my "stage times" for the evening, and managed to find my way to the Lonsdale Club in Preston by 7.45pm. The talk was well received, and I was delighted to be presented with a good bottle of Speyside single malt as a thank you from the club, a well-appreciated gesture!

The drive back down the M6 saw me home at 11pm, so not the mega-late-night I had feared. Another enjoyable activation (aren't they all?) and evening spreading the word of Summits on the Air. Next stop Norbreck!  Thanks to all the chasers that called.