Hi all,
After the disaster of two weeks ago when attempting to activate Dent with what turned out to be a damaged antenna, it was nice to venture out at the last moment on a glorious sunny afternoon to play radio.
What an afternoon it turned out to be, with the very first QSO being Barry 2W0IML/P on GW/NW-050 using just the hand-held and rubber duck after hearing him on the calling channel when just 20ft from the summit cairn.
This turned out to be just one of the seventeen S2S QSO’s of the afternoon. The summit was rapidly qualified immediatley upon setting up the antenna by three more S2S’s in succession without even having to call CQ after others had heard my call to Barry saying I would be QRV in 10 minutes.
The first of these was Ron 2E0RWB/P in High Raise G/LD-019, followed very quickly by Neil 2M0NCM/P on GM/SS-283 and Colin G4UXH/P on a WOTA summit.
This was followed by a further three S2S QSO’s with Derek 2E0MIX/P, Rob G4RQJ/P and G8YDC/P.
The best S2S of the day came from Gordon on G/SP-017, despite the whole of the Lake District Fells being well and truly in the way of the path to this summit for 2m FM!
The afternoon was nicely rounded off with a final flurry of seven S2S QSO’s including one with Geoff G4WHA/P who had just managed to complete the 116 Outlying Wainwright Fells as a chaser as part of his activation on Orrest Head, making this a unique double for WOTA, having earleir in the year completed the 214 Wainwrights as a chaser.
I would have said that this was one of the most perfect days that I have had to enjoy an afternoons radio with so many good QSO’s and S2S contacts and friendly banter with passing walkers. However, sadly this was marred by a very rude and aggressive man that decided he didn’t like me playing radio from the fell tops.
After having a very enjoyable time, including chatting with many curious coast to coast walkers etc, it seems that this “local” took a total exception to me being there, even though I had set up well away from the summit cairn in order to limit any inconvenience to other fell users, not detract from the views towards the main Lakeland Fells and to keep the activation low key. Without even so much as a friendly, “hello, can I ask what you are doing” he launched into a complete rant.
Thankfully I am not the sort of person that is easily phased or intimidated by such behaviour, having worked in the construction/engineering industry for 30 years. I also had my two dogs with me, so he kept his distance after my Springer/Collie Cross decided he didn’t like the tone of voice being used.
Other nearby walkers seemed equally stunned at this ourburst and looked on in disbelief.
I have held my licence now for over year and also been on many activations with my partner prior to this within the Lakes, and thankfully have NEVER encountered this type of behaviour before, not even on very busy popular summits.
The land owner has no issues with activators being on this fell and never had any problems activating from here in the past so hopefully this is just a one-off.
Many thanks to everyone worked on Sunday
73
Liz.