Staying in Marianne’s hometown of Larne for the first few days. Wx better than expected weather inspired an afternoon raid of the most local SOTA to Larne. A very damp boggy trudge up the summit.
Solo outing and another boggy approach. On the descent, I found that I could have stayed on the gravel track for much longer, and waited for a grassy path up much less damp terrain!
Nice one Tom. I kept seeing the FT8 spots from you on 20m from Big Collin this morning and just took a look at 14074 during the latter part of your activity to see if I could see you - yes surprisingly, I could. You were -16 - and I worked you 2nd or 3rd call. The weather looks like it was better over the Irish Sea than it was here at the time you were on, very dull and starting to drizzle. I hope you work the DX over the weekend.
5am get-up for a solo early activation of the famous mountain where St Patrick tended his sheep. As far as I am concerned the ascent is a scramble. I’m sure the climbing fraternity would grade that scramble as a “walk”…
Very scenic cliff-top path approach. Stunning views of the north Donegal coastline.
EI/M1EYP/P
15 contacts made on 20m CW and a couple of summit-to-summits on 20m SSB.
EI/M0HGY/P
1 QSO on 2m FM then 8 on 20m SSB (including 2 S2S).
Binnian EI/IN-087
Next, a short drive east to Ballyliffin. This walk also climbed high above a very nearby coastline and afforded great views. It was very damp underfoot in most places though!
EI/M1EYP/P
17 contacts on 20m CW, culminating in a S2S into Switzerland. Then one SSB added with a second S2S.
EI/M0HGY/P
8 contacts on 20m SSB including S2S into Germany.
Coolcross Hill EI/IN-073
An even shorter drive for the next one. A very short and straightforward 100m ascent from a water tower - 25 minutes up and 15 minutes back down. Yet more fantastic coastline views.
Wide awake at 4.50am so had another drive up to the summit visited 24 hours earlier.
Several gremlins! Satnav couldn’t find access road as I’d naively set the location on the high parking spot - which isn’t on a mapped road! So an hour lost there.
Antenna had broken and needed an in-the-field fix - more time lost. And more delays faffing with the Palm Paddle / Code Cube which was stubbornly stuck on around 50wpm (and ultimately giving up).
Unfortunately condx were not with us today Tom, unlike on other days, so I missed getting the unique. The area looks great on your photos on those coastal hills in Donegal.
Yes, that was pretty cool, and a pleasant surprise after yesterday’s “doom and gloom” on here about band conditions, SFI etc. Great to hear your call Ian.
Fantastic early morning summit bag with Jimmy EI/M0HGY/P. Set off with a full moon still in the dawn skies above Lough Foyle. An enjoyable ascent up a winding stony track before a heathery final ascent to the summit. Stunning views under clear blue sky and bright sunshine, punctuated by a short sharp hail shower! The North Atlantic Ocean prominent in three directions from our summit again.
Tom EI/M1EYP/P - 55 contacts:
20m CW: 30 QSOs (including summit-to-summits into Spain & Switzerland, and a DX contact to Australia - Ian VK5CZ).
20m SSB: 12 QSOs (including summit-to-summits into Germany & Spain).
20m FT4: 13 QSOs
Treated myself to an 11 inch Lenovo notebook recently, to replace the Windows 10 tablet I was using for FT8 operating, but which now has a shattered screen. Very pleased with it, just the job, perfect size (not too big or too small), and reasonably priced too. Windows 10 tablet with shattered screen and Microsoft Bluetooth keyboard for sale…
With checkout of our accommodation in Moville, Co. Donegal at 10am, and check-in for the ferry in Belfast a mere 11 hours later, we had some time to kill.
A pleasant drive across the Sperrins, with a lunch stop at Ireland’s highest pub - The Ponderosa. Then into Belfast for a mooch around, a bit of shopping (new sunglasses and walking boots), and a visit to the famous Crown pub.
Plenty of time left to fill, so a family walk up to the summit of Divis from the lower NT car park. The NT has done an excellent job with this site; the Summit Trail path is excellent.
