An early tea was in order ahead of the contest activation on Tuesday 12th August 2014. We liked the look of the Usk & Railway Inn in Sennybridge, and went in around 4.15pm. "Are you doing food?" I asked. "Yes, if you don't mind waiting 45 minutes" was the reply. That was fine by us, so we did. However, when we did try to order some meals at 5pm, we got told to wait a further 45 minutes as a table for 15 had just come in and there was a mix-up in the bookings. I expressed that I was unimpressed and left.  Further down the road was a clubhouse for a caravan park that was serving drinks and food to non-residents. The ham, egg and chips went down very well, and we were then set to head out for Mynydd Eppynt GW/SW-018.

In the preceding days, Jimmy M0HGY had been in touch with the military office regarding firing times and access to the summit. This was denied regardless of firing times, with the stated reason being the presence of unexploded ordnance in the area. We pulled the car off road into the military road entrance at SN963466 and walked the short distance to the barrier at SN962466. At approximately 465m ASL, this spot was around 13m lower than the true summit, which lay around 300m to our south west. Hence we were comfortably inside the activation zone under SOTA rules, although it was disappointing nonetheless not to be able to access the actual summit.

That sense of disappointment eased somewhat after dark, when loud bangs could be heard from that area, together the horizon being lit up by a firey yellow and orange glow! Meanwhile, I set up the 70cm SOTAbeam, hoping to have at least some take-off for the UKAC. Jimmy and Edward set up the SOTAbeams MFD for 2m FM.  The two 21 year olds both got their required four QSOs on 2m FM, while I made a lowly yet sufficient 14 on 70cm SSB. Jimmy wandered over to my station and made three QSOs in the 432MHz event for a token entry, while Edward added a fifth QSO on 2m.

By 9.30pm it was clear that extracting much more from the 70cm contest was going to be taxing, so I packed up and adjusted my aspirations to the Royal Oak at Rhandirmwyn near our campsite, for a nightcap. A local cider and a Penderyn whisky provided such most agreeably. Another good night's sleep beckoned ahead of visit to Trichrug GW/SW-022 the next day.