Using up some holidays carried over from last year, I decided to get the bus to Flotterstone to go up Black hill GM/SS-167 in the Pentlands ,south of Edinburgh.
Cold and frosty when I left the house though the sky was clear.
The walk alongside the reservoir was pleasant and with no wind I soon had to shed a layer.
The swans and a heron were confined to patches of unfrozen water.
After leaving the road there is a track all the way to the summit , presumably to service all the grouse butt’s on the hill.
After about 90 minutes I arrived at the top and realising the weather was coming in from the South I set up my shelter and the antennas. The view to Fife still showed sunshine over the bridges.
I had arranged with some chasers to try some of the vhf/uhf challenge qso’s, and did that first. I ‘ve not had much luck just spotting for these qso’s, had to schedule them so far, but a chat with Jack GM4COX was helpful about operating vhf ssb.
I also did 2m FM and spoke to a few regular chasers and the some more regulars on 40m and 15m.
After a couple of dozen QSO’s my toes were too cold and it was time to pack up, by this time snow was falling.
The flask and picnic was very welcome today and I was able to get an earlier bus home than planned.
Andy
MM7MOX
