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. 

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. 

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. 

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!