Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May 2005 - After departing the car park for Penycloddiau GW/NW-054, and a short break to empty our flask of Baxter's Haggis Broth into our grateful bellies, we drove straight to Winsford along the A55, A51 and A54, arriving at the rally at 3.20pm - some 20 minutes after it closed! I was taken aback that it finished so early, and one of the wags still packing away muttered something about I shouldn't be spending so much time up mountains!

Without delay, we got back in the car and took the B-road towards Nantwich and picked up the A534 towards Wrexham. We continued a few miles until we passed the Bickerton Poacher pub. Throughout, we were keeping a check on the rainfall and skies; we were more than happy to postpone this one for a longer circuit ona nice day, but then again, Jimmy was keen for his first ever four-summit day (it was my fourth). We parked at the top of the lane by the track to Raw Head Farm, as Jimmy was convinced that this was the quickest route to the summit out of those we had previously used. He was right (as usual), and we set off, in trainers and the now dry waterproofs, around the pleasant and hardly ascending wooded path. After 15 minutes, we had reached my 2002 operating position, a piece of rock about 200 yards from the trig point. I commenced operation from here, while Jimmy went to reacquaint himself with the trig point and cave.

Five stations were quickly worked, and reports were exchanged with Ian G7ADF with the batteries in rapid decline. We returned to the car in ten minutes flat and took the drive home to Macclesfield in time for hot ham, cheese & onion flatbreads with homemade potato salad, a can of lager and the final session of the World Snooker Final.

What a great Bank Holiday weekend - eight summit activations, and family walks in the Delamere Forest and Chester on the Sunday. Delamere Forest, I found to be very boring, albeit peaceful, relaxing and aesthetic. Chester however, was great, with a wander along the balconies of the main shopping streets, street entertainers and musicians galore and an excellent circular walk around the city's Roman wall. At one point, we descended from the wall into a courtyard, with a bar, with a four-piece live jazz band with vocalist Annie Long. Apparently, every Sunday 2-5pm, and recommended.

Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM with 0.5 watts: