Me & Jimmy & Liam made a last minute decision to do a local one-pointer this morning. After packing all the gear, installing three sets of boots and gaiters, and filling the flask with hot chicken soup, we set off out of Macc, via North Rode and to the parking spot on Cloud Side (about 15/20 minutes drive in total). That left us with a 7/8 minute walk to do to reach the summit. I was feeling in peak fitness condition after my performances for the staff footy team the previous two Fridays, but when Liam (asthmatic) raced up to the top of the stairway on the Cloud ascent, leaving me puffing and panting halfway up, I found it necessary to reconsider my ego.

At the top, it was misty, but not too cold, and no wind. The only annoyance with the conditions was the soil underfoot that readily churned up with every step and did whatever it could to attach itself to our bags, equipment, clothes and seat-mats.

Anyway, I had good fun making 20 contacts (a SOTA record for me to date) from the summit, including 11 SSB and 9 FM, all on 2m using the FT817 (0.5 watts on FM, 2.5 watts on SSB) and the SOTA Beam. 3 summit-to-summits with Keith G0OXV on SP-007, Dave MW0DFA on NW-043 and Mark MW0DEV on NW-007. I had also worked Dave on NW-042 on the drive in. I just missed the 8 points from Alan for LD-013, but nonetheless, he still had the audacity to work me for the 1 point from SP-015.

Best DX was G4CCC from Reading on 2m SSB, and yes, I did get the Birmingham Three. Pity I missed Roger, Clive, Martin, Alan and Colin during the day.  Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m: