Friday 12th October 2018 - View Edge G/WB-018

Gig: Joe Longthorne

Venue: Weoley Castle WMC

It was a mid-morning departure from EYP Towers.  I had initially aspired to activate both Callow Hill G/WB-015 and View Edge G/WB-018 en route to the gig, but Storm Callum soon realigned my thinking.  As the car drove down through Market Drayton and Church Stretton with the wipers on top setting and being buffeted by the crosswind, I reckoned my trusty SOTA Pole would quickly become an ex-SOTA Pole if deployed on an exposed summit.  And I would get very wet. 

As I drove into Craven Arms, I glanced upwards to the folly on Callow Hill, high on my left - and decided against it.  I knew that if operating in the quarry area of View Edge, I might have a chance of getting a sheltered spot in amongst the steep grassy banks, rock faces and trees.  And that is exactly what I did.  The rain conveniently eased off as I parked up, and I had a short walk into the quarry to find a reasonable spot.  This was quite easy with the multitude of depressions from which to choose, and I was able to erect the 20m groundplane without any difficulty.

Eight QSOs were made on 20m CW, including two into the USA.  After packing away I called on the 2m handheld and got an immediate reply from a surprised Matt G8XYJ/M, who remarked “Blimey, you’re brave!”.  Matt did warn me that my likely route across to Birmingham, the A4117 over the flanks of Titterstone Clee Hill G/WB-004, was closed, forcing him to turn back on his own journey.  Thankfully, it was reopened by the time I got there, otherwise I would have been late for soundcheck.  I did pass a very battered up white van - total write off.  I couldn’t tell whether the collision had been with another vehicle, or a fallen tree. 

I set off home from that night’s gig even thinking about a late night jaunt up The Cloud G/SP-015 on the way.  The combination of tiredness, and the M6 being closed between J14 and J15, put paid to that!