Our activations on the Channel Islands brought my total up to 1498 and as I was passing Ruardean Hill on Saturday that was added yet again. The total includes 592 uniques - reaching 600 will require another visit to Scotland but there are a lot out there to potentially be re-done as number 1500.
So, sometime this week I am hoping to find a combination of weather and opportunity to do activation number 1500. There are several candidates and I will post alerts when I have a clearer idea. I would have liked a striking hill of some sort but I know there will be no opportunity before we do some local insignificant hill. All the possibles are unassuming and low scoring - nothing even in the class of Waun Rydd, GW/SW-004, on which I celebrated my first MG or Windelstraw Law, GM/SS-087, for my 500th Unique.
Weather permitting it might be a long activation on 40m and 20m as usual these days - but if the walk is short I might take the linked dipole and add 60m and/or 80m. I might even reach my 18000th activation QSO 
A summit to summit would be good, too. So please look out for the Alert on Tuesday and/or Friday.
73,
Rod
Hope the we weather is kind to you Rod. If possible I’ll try for a s2s.
Just realised… if it’s not tomorrow (Tuesday) then I’ll miss you. Friday is our travel home day.
Big milestone 1500 activations!
Yes, it is - and the number per annum is decreasing so the next milestone will be unreachable 
Sorry I did not even try to get you yesterday - much too late by the time I noticed the spot.
73,
Rod
I’ll keep a lookout for an alert and spot; hopefully I’ll be near a radio to make contact with you for this memorable milestone.
Good luck Rod!
This is what happens when you are immune to the Uniques Disease. 
Well done Rod on carrying out so many activations. Each one required setting up and taking down the station. … a lot of labour indeed. To say nothing of the miles travelled. Hopefully catch you on your 1500th.
73, Gerald
I’ll believe the late Michael Jackson said (not that I like the song)
“Keep on, with the force, don’t stop
Don’t stop 'til you get enough
Keep on, with the force, don’t stop
Don’t stop 'til you get enough
Keep on, with the force, don’t stop
Don’t stop 'til you get enough
Keep on, with the force, don’t stop
Don’t stop 'til you get enough”
(repeat ad infinitum)
Everything is very wet at present but looks like clearing by mid-day so we will give Graig Syfyrddin, GW/SW-020, a go today. Most likely 40m & 20m only.
MW6BWA/P on 2m FM and 70cm FM as usual.
73,
Rod
Many, Many, Congratulations Rod on reaching 1500 Activations. Thank You for allowing me into Your Log on this Great Day. My Best Wishes to You and of course also to Viki. 73 de Paul M0CQE.
Congratulations Rod. Sorry I was not around to get you in my log on yet another of your SOTA milestones👍
73 Allan
Well done Rod !
Nice to get both Viki and you on 70cm today
Cheers
Rick
Well done Rod on your 1500th today. Unfortunately I had local QRM and wasn’t able to get decent copy, so I didn’t call. The same for others. Chasing is becoming increasingly hard. Such is life. 
Congratulations on your 1,500 activations Rod.
Thanks for both QSOs on 40m & 60m on the day
Many thanks for the congratulatory messages, both here and on-air.
This was an activation that very nearly did not happen - we sat in the car watching the rain sweeping over and considering our options. Rain Today suggested that Abergavenny was dry and Hatterall Ridge appeared so we hoped that the rain was easing off and prepared to get a bit wet.
After an almost completely dry ascent we found the summit cold and windy and set up as usual except for using the waterproof log book - Insurance, perhaps.
I deployed the taller mast and the linked dipole - first time this year, I think - to enable 60m (and 80 but I forgot the coils) and no ATU.
As I was hoping for s2s with Gerald, MM0WML/P, I began on 40m and was please to get a stream of familiar calls signs and a few less familar. Thank you all.
60m was disappointing - no surprise, as Martyn, M1MAJ/P, seems to have had similar disappointment in Cornwall.
I was watching for a spot from Gerald having had a tip on 60m that he was about ready (thanks, Steve) and so was ready with the aerial links restored for 40m. Many thanks to Gerald for persisting - and other chasers for their forbearance - with a rather difficult contact.
20m began busy - again with familiar calls and the bonus of another 2s2. Thank you Henrik, DH7SH/P, for managing to pick me out from a busy pile-up.
An excellent day out in spite of a wobbly start - thanks all.
I hope to begin the next 1500 on Friday 
PS The spell checker seems to be on strike today - sorry.
Also apologies for not doing the log yet - I have a huge backlog of things to do for other people.
As I said above it was great to get you. I later discovered my lack of output… the mast had leaned over a bit while I was working and about 30% of the antenna ended up on the floor. It was very cold and windy at my end and I had my back to the set up.
Many congratulations on your 1500th activation! I’m glad you weren’t deterred by the rather depressing weather we seem to have at the moment.
Here’s to the next 1500! 
You were a good signal on 40m, Rod, and my local noise level seems to be improving as neighbours take up fibre connections.
I was really pleased to work you on your 1500th, great stuff!
I have only activated that summit once, earlier this year, and mud featured strongly at the start of the walk - largely because of tractor activity, I think. I’m glad you didn’t get too wet!
Looking forward to many more QSOs,
73, Adrian
Congratulations Rod on your 1500th 
activation and thanks for inviting me along as official photographer. We sat in the car and peered at the cloud on the wood above us but soon decided we’d got to get a move on or he’d miss the s2s offered by Gerald (the carrot which got us out despite the dismal forecast).
After the rather steep field and 3 stiles
we started the slippery path up through the trees (carrying enormous rucksacks as usual!). Then along the woodland track and through the high bracken to the fence corner and into the fields beside the woodland still in cloud.
Undaunted, Rod staggered on despite the cold wind which was now catching us and huddled down in his usual HF hollow (which wasn’t as effective as usual as the wind veered round!) He chose his position carefully
with his stick ready to defend him from attack.
He was really waiting for that call from Gerald, MM0WML and concentrated hard when trying to catch him
Got him - but only just (see Gerald’s comment on his mast at that time!)
He had now got the s2s and notched up his 1500th activation so it was time to relax (as the cloud was lifting) and enjoy the rather cosy spot he was occupying
and not worry about any attack from the local marauding wildlife (who were actually in the adjacent field)
My task as official photographer was only part-time so I was able to occupy my usual rather cold position (the mitts came out of the pocket!)
just beside the trig point (one of the drawbacks of VHF/UHF) and with a good view of the small array of hardware which presumably helps the farmer’s income. On our first visits the trig point was the only structure but they didn’t seem to be disturbing my activities.
I was very happy with the 8 2m contacts and 9 70cm (more contacts streamed in on 70cm when I was trying to close down but I am always delighted when 70cm ‘wins’!) Rather unusually I was getting into the Cotswolds this time rather than the West Midlands which normally provides the contacts from here. I had erected both the trusty dipole and the slim jim which I’d used on the Channel Isles to gain extra height. I got a couple of comments that my signal was stronger on the latter but not massively so I’m likely to be sticking to the trusty (bent) dipole.
After a rather cold and delayed lunch (tx very much Rod for helping take down my various masts) we retraced our steps and got out of the woodland to where there is a handy bench to admire the local SOTA summits (the locals will identify…) and plan further (slightly more challenging!) expeditions.
We then remembered this was the last hill we did the day before the first lockdown was announced when we had looked at the view and wondered when we would next be allowed into the area. We thought how lucky we had been when some others were not so fortunate.
73 Viki
Well done Rod (and Viki!), great work - SOTA legends in my book 
I’m definitely feeling very honoured!
Oh heck… sorry for the hassle!
Very well put.
Great photos Viki!