St Boniface Down, G/SE-008 - 240m ASL - SZ 568 785 - OS Explorer OL29 - 1 SOTA point               

Saturday 14th May 2022 - St Boniface Down G/SE-008, Brighstone Down G/SE-012 & gig with Twisted Anthems @ Norton Grange Coastal Resort, IOW

Despite not having my car with me on the Isle of Wight, I did have my rucksack, radio, antenna - and an ambitious plan!  As per usual, my bandmates planned a lie-in, a late breakfast and a day of “chilling”.  Not my style. I set my alarm for 7am, but was wide awake by 5.45am BST.

I made an instant coffee in the Warners chalet I was staying in, then made my way to the bus stop just outside the holiday park.  I was on the Southern Vectis bus from outside the holiday park near Yarmouth before 7am.  Changed at Newport, and took the bus down to Bonchurch …. where I forgot to alight. I did get off as soon as I’d realised my mistake, and in a fine stroke of good fortune, another bus was coming the other way. I’d bought a £10 day rover ticket, so that worked.

From Bonchurch car park, I climbed the east ridge of St Boniface Down in glorious sunshine. The sea views were magnificent.

A Friday morning net was in progress on 145.525MHz FM, so I gatecrashed that for an easy qualification on the handheld.  I had the 817 and Alexloop with me for HF, but I had to seize the chance to get ahead of schedule and open the possibility of getting both IOW summits done.

Back down the hill, and caught the bus west along the south coast. I alighted south of Brighstone village and commenced my walk towards Brighstone Down G/SE-012.