An early morning trip to Birmingham airport gave me the opportunity to visit a few G/WB summits on the way home.
Worcestershire Beacon worked out well, qualified on 2m FM, and three CW contacts on 24MHz. The weather was kind, with just a little low cloud and a stiff breeze.
High Vinnalls was a different story, the murk in the car park turning to drizzle as I walked up, and steady rain setting in during the activation. The bothy bag provided cover, and I found how much more comfortable it is with the addition of a nice wooden bench to sit on. More room, and better ventilation.
Having qualified on 2m, I intended to try 6m as Matt G8XYJ mentioned good conditions.
However, as I unplugged the 2m coax from the FT817, I enjoyed a fairly hefty belt of static. Leaving the 817 out of the equation, I found that the experiment was repeatable! Time to leave, rather than start connecting up larger antennae.
Arriving back at the car park, fairly well soaked by now, I found that “Roses Popup traditional tea room” had arrived on site.
Ordering a pot of earl Grey and a slice of Victoria sponge, I shared a table with a group of half drowned cyclists. The table cloths and bone china seeming entirely appropriate for a soaking wet summer day in an English deciduous forrest!
I passed up on any more summits today, home now surrounded by drying kit :o)
Nice day, though, thanks to all stations who called me.
Adrian
G4AZS