This was my first Sota activation and first experience of walking in the hills for many a year.
On arrival to the layby on the A635 the first indication that this was going to be a walk to remember was the rain. It was damp and miserable. I started the walk along the trail and the rain started to soften a little, enough to get a few photos that show some of the beautiful countryside.
With this being my first activation and first walk you can imagine my surprise when I arrived at the second ford to cross, the climb down was steep and perilous, my thoughts was what if I lost my footing as I carefully and slowly made my way down, if anyone had seen me I think they would have laughed at me with three points of contact at all times.
I finally made it down and back up the other-side out of breath wondering if I had actually made the right decision. Well I have come this far and got this wet so why not carry on, was the attitude to keep me walking.
I finally made it to the summit in a little over an hour. I was really pleased that I had carried on. Although the weather was not the best, I had achieved something and proved to myself that I could do it. Whilst having a much-needed coffee I reflected on what I could do better, this was buy boots, trouser and possibly some waterproof gloves. I certainly need to look at a waterproof notebook as my notebook was out of use due to the weather leaving me logging on a notepad on my iPhone, not a big deal, but on longer walks that might not be a resource that is available to me.
I set my homebrew slim-Jim antenna up and was amazed as to how hard it actually is to keep a mast supported to the trig point. I was using four bungee straps, 2 at the top and 2 at the bottom. If anyone has a better method please do let me know as any help is apricated.
I cautiously called out on the calling channel my callsign M6UUH/P and my Sota point. I got a return call from G7WKX/P Simon and we QSY’ed up to 145.575. Simon was great at settling me in for my first Sota activation and really helped to calm the nerves. He even spotted me just as I had done as well.
When I called QRZ my nerves shot up a bit, what was the muffled sound when people returned and only one call came through. I immediately realised that I was fast becoming UK mini DX as I would call it and found myself slap bang in the centre of my first ever pile up.
I need not of worried working through the stations one by one I managed to make 24 QSO’s in the course of an hour or so having a few rag chews whilst doing so.
The return walk was more eventful. There is a descent down a mud path with wood steps to stop the land sliding. The land might have not slid, but I certainly did twice. No serious injuries other than ego and having a muddy leg or two. I carried on and again in just under an hour found myself back at my car.
Has the weather or the falls put me off. No, it has encouraged me. I have purchased the necessary stuff now including boots and trousers as well as a roll away mat seat, can’t wait to use that.
I shall be heading out to Shining Tor hopefully this coming week, if not then on Sunday.
Thank you to all the chasers and to everyone that has encouraged me in this journey which will fill two boxes in the exercise and getting to play radio whilst seeing some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside. What’s not to love about Sota.