Although the second of three intended summits on Thursday 8th August 2013 was Sharp Haw G/NP-029, I managed to drive right past the turning for it. I realised this as I saw the memorial cross and obelisk on the hill to my right, identifying it as Cracoe Fell G/NP-032. Oh well, I thought, might as well change the order.  But without the appropriate research, detailed maps or competent navigator, I couldn't find the parking spot anywhere. Later, Jimmy confirmed I was on the right road, but I couldn't find anything that I recognised from our activation a few years previously.

       

Instead, I returned to Sharp Haw G/NP-029, this time making the turning onto Bog Lane. There is parking for several cars at a sharp corner of this road, and from there an access road and then a good grassy path leads all the way to the pointy distinctive summit. Before setting off, I had half my flask of lentil & bacon soup, saving the rest for later.  Despite recalling this as an easy with even with two very young children years ago, I was finding this hard work today. It was probably a combination of my fatigue from the previous day's exertions, and my increasing lack of spirit and motivation today! I edited my Cracoe Fell G/NP-032 alert to Easington Fell G/SP-012 for the next summit.

       

In QSO with Mick M0MDA from the summit, this was met with disappointment, as this was a summit still needed on 24MHz for him. I was in fact now deciding not to do a third summit at all. I really had run out of time, energy and motivation!  24MHz had all but died for the day, so I was grateful to at least get any contacts on that band for the SOTA 12m Challenge multiplier. But the activation required use of 2m FM in order to get qualified, and get me off home. After descent, I polished off the rest of my flask of soup, then got driving.

As I approached Macclesfield, I had a quick QSO with Jimmy M0HGY - who initially managed a syllable before going suddenly off air. It turned out he had connected the FT-897 to a SLAB which had been trickle charging from the power supply, instead of to said power supply. One syllable at 50 watts later - and the death of an in-line glass fuse. Oh well, that's why we put them there I guess! Anyway, Jimmy spotted his mistake and reconnected to the PSU so we could chat. Finally, I called in at Richard G3CWI's to buy a new Mini Palm Paddle, as mine was old, bashed, mutli-repaired and increasingly intermittent. I also picked up a Palm Cube while I was at it - so a new toy to play with from the hills now!