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The Wrekin 2019

 

Sunday 10th March 2019 - The Wrekin G/WB-010

Gig: Simon Faulkner Band

Venue: Rowton Castle, Halfway House, nr Shrewsbury

I was pleased to get a callback as a dep with the Simon Faulkner Band.  When I looked at where the venue was on the map, it was tempting to head out early and bag the “Welshpool 3” of Long Mountain-Beacon Ring GW/MW-026, Moel y Golfa GW/MW-027 and Y Golfa GW/NW-061 (but sadly not Upper Park GW/MW-032…).  However, I decided to be sensible, set off at lunchtime and do a straightforward single activation of The Wrekin G/WB-010. 

The Wrekin        Tom M1EYP

It was very windy as I reached the busy parking spot, so I abandoned any thoughts of playing with my 30m groundplane antenna, and just went for a pack-free walk with my handheld, up to the summit.  I was disciplined enough to stick to the main winding track, avoiding the temptation to head directly up the hillside to the back of the “Cafe In The Woods”.  This would cut the corner, and is an established route on the ground, but is steep, and would have been very slippery. 

The Wrekin        Tom M1EYP

I didn’t exactly feel full of energy, so it was a bit of a slog, but rewarded with the excellent views on the final approach to the trig point.  Just using the Yaesu FT70D handheld, I made 14 QSOs, fairly quickly, all 2m FM.  Care was needed on the descent, as much of the path was muddy, even on the main track. 

Rowton Castle        Ready to rock & roll!

The wedding gig was supposed to be 7.30 to 9.45pm, but like most weddding gigs, things were running very late. I was still driving away and on my way home before midnight though, which is still early for most wedding gigs!  Nice gig with a very good five-piece band too, and some unfamiliar (to me) tunes, so some sight-reading necessary!  I submitted to tiredness just after Nantwich and pulled into a layby for a snooze.  That’s why I always carry a couple of pillows in my car!

Time

Call

Band

Mode

16:01z

2E0MDJ

144MHz

FM

16:02z

G8XYJ

144MHz

FM

16:05z

MW3ZCB/M

144MHz

FM

16:05z

MW1MAJ/M

144MHz

FM

16:06z

G0LGS

144MHz

FM

16:06z

2W0JYN

144MHz

FM

16:14z

G0OHY

144MHz

FM

16:15z

M0NTC

144MHz

FM

16:16z

M3XUT

144MHz

FM

16:17z

2E0LPA

144MHz

FM

16:18z

2E0TKI

144MHz

FM

16:19z

M6OWP

144MHz

FM

16:19z

M0WPS

144MHz

FM

16:20z

M0EOT

144MHz

FM