The activation that nearly did’nt happen!
As I was helping out doing 4x4 recovery on the VSCC's Interactive Events Calendar Cadwell Park event, I decided I may as well activate Normanby Top - G/TW-005 as I was in the area.
On the approach to the summit the NATS tower/radar soom loomed into view so I knew I was in the right area. Following the satnav I found Acre House farm and as I was turning around the farmer appear.
He wandered over to me to see why I was stopped outside his farm and after I explained why I was here that I wanted to go over to the trihg point, which he was happy with, we had a brief chat about the Landy and how well it sounded.
He directed me to the 2nd field along with the double wooden gates and I could park up there.
After a few more words, we departed and I parked up. He had warned me about the long grass and it may be wet.
I got my boots and gaiters on and the ruck sack on my back and had a quick stroll along the edge of his field and found the long grass with a sort of marked path around the edge. The grass was wet and I did get damp legs, but no bother they soon dried with the sun and gentle breeze.
At the trig point (which was almost hiding in the long grass) I got setup
On setting up I then noticed I had left the battery to radio power connector at home. After a quick ponder, I was able to rest the + and - plugs of the battery into the Anderson connector.
We have power!
I setup the 2m and HF antennas and spotted on 2m
Calling CQ I mananged 1 x 2m contact and he gave me a 2&3 signal report. Not the best, but its a start.
After calling CQ for another 10mins or so, I gave up and moved to 40m.
Spotting on 40m gave me the required number and then some to qualify the summit.
Switched to 20m and again more contacts
I think a total of 30 contacts over all including Esther/Ian (GI0AZB and GI0AZA)
I had been watching the black cloud appear and decided it was time to call it a day and head off before the rain appeared.
Just as I got packed up, the rain did appear.
The walk back to the car was a wet one. Every thing from the waist down was soaked. Feet soaked, depsite waterproof boots which are 18m old…A new pair required.
Back at the landy, I got dry and changed into some dry clothes ready for the drive to my over night stop.
The NATS tower/Radar and Land Rover
The last recovery I did at Cadwell was for a 1930’s Fraser Nash.
For those who want some video footage > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fejh0rgYa3g
Cheers
John
M0VAZ
Ian and Esther