Saturday 18th February 2012 - Day 4

       

After escaping the clutches of Chirk, Liam instructed me to drive to Llandegla, and delivered perfect directions for me to do so. Just north of the village, we visited the End of the Line Cafe at a salmon fishing lake up in the hills. After a sausage, cheese and black pudding bap, with a mug of tea, it was time for more driving.

Listening to the excellent Sounds of the Sixties show on BBC Radio 2, the presenter Brian Matthew mentioned a good friend of mine, BDXC member Mike Terry in Bournemouth. After a couple of photos in Bodfari, we approached the village of Cwm. The Saturday morning weather had been hideous with heavy rain and hail, cancelling all thoughts of activating Moel Gyw GW/NW-053 and Penycloddiau GW/NW-054. (Moel Famau GW/NW-044 and Foel Fenlli GW/NW-051 were being saved for a ten point winter bonus day out with Jimmy M3EYP).

       

But now the weather suddenly brightened up, and there was some time to spare. So I headed up to the very nearby Mynydd y Cwm GW/NW-076. Liam and I found a more direct route up to the summit off the main track than that which Jimmy led on the last visit, so it was a very short walk. We set up for our respective summit activities right by the memorial cairn on the summit. For the fourth day running, Liam had managed to clock up ten Playcoins towards his Nintendo 3DS campaign.

   

On 40m CW, I recorded 21 QSOs, with one more following on 2m FM with the handheld. We descended to the car, with Liam keeping up the excellent fast pace he had maintained throughout the four days. We drove up to Prestatyn and located the large marker stone for the end of the ODP. We had a snack lunch of steak and onion pie in the cafe part of the amusement arcade, before Liam had a quid's worth on one of the car racing driving games.

A look at the sea and the wind farm was in order, but I was keen to hit the road - Macclesfield Town were at home! I found it hard work finding a way down to the A55 from Prestatyn, but once on there, then the A494, M56 and M6, progress was rapid. Throughout the drive I chatted with Richard G3CWI/M on his way to Gun G/SP-013 (again! I just don't get these folks that have an obsession with a single summit) and Jimmy M3EYP. I picked up Jimmy in Macclesfield while depositing Liam, and made my way to the Moss Rose for the match with Aldershot. We were rubbish and lost 1-0. Bother.

In conclusion, many thanks to all the chasers that worked me on these activations. In particular, thank you to Roy G4SSH who was first in to work me and spot me on many of them!

Summary: (40m CW -- 2m FM)
-------------------------------------------
15 Feb - G/CE-002 ---- 6 -- 5
16 Feb - G/WB-021 --- 21 -- 1
16 Feb - GW/SW-041 -- 26 -- 0
16 Feb - G/WB-011 --- 15 -- 0
17 Feb - G/WB-018 --- 34 -- 0
17 Feb - GW/MW-026 -- 20 -- 0
17 Feb - GW/NW-061 -- 41 -- 0
18 Feb - GW/NW-076 -- 21 -- 1

Total: 40m CW - 184, 2m FM - 7 ..... 191 activator QSOs ... avg 23.875

Biggest thank you goes to my son Liam who was brilliant company throughout the four days. We had a ball.