As this was the LD Weekend event, I decided to focus on 2m FM and 60m SSB hoping to work visiting activators. Gummers How G/LD-050 was in the clouds despite a strong wind at the summit. Eschewing my usual Diamond RH770 2m ½-wave telescopic I put up a J-pole on a 6m mast so the dog and I could crouch on the leeside of some low rocks. Got 7 contacts including Dan MW7DTE/P on Glasgwm GW/NW-015 and Mark M0NOM/P on nearby Lambrigg Fell G/LD-046.
All my gear was dripping wet by now [I was shaking the FT1D HT between contacts to rid the water running down the coax feeder]. My HF kit not being waterproof, it was time to erect the tarp using the low ridge as a ‘back wall’. Putting up my 60/40/30/20 linked dipole singlehanded in a strong wind proved the usual ‘challenge’.
I called for quite a while on 60m before anyone answered. Finally, and fortunately Nick G4OOE/P and Dave G3TQQ/P doing a joint activation on **Normanby Top G/TW-005 gave me two S2S’s reconfirming that 5W’s of SSB is perfectly adequate if you have a decent antenna.
**EDIT UPDATE: G/TW-004 Bishop Wilton Wold
Meanwhile the cows were circling and getting closer. One wandered under the lower part of the inverted V and its horns were close to the wire. I had visions of it getting entangled [but not quantum mechanically] and dragging the antenna, mast, guy ropes, my rig, etc across the hilltop. The steaks were high now.
Realizing I probably needed to get the antenna down, I seized the moo-ment and quickly worked Steve MW0SAW in Pontypridd on 60m CW and went QRT.
When I stood up, I was udderly surprised to see another cow approaching the tarp with intend. It seemed interested in my dog. I couldn’t take the risk that Bella would rush at the cow or vice versa. So, having a real beef with this one, I shooed the cow away and packed up ASAP notwithstanding that everything was wet.
Sod’s Law prevailed: when I was finally packed up the cows were nowhere in sight. To add insult to injury, by then the clouds had lifted and on the walk down the sun came out. Well, no point crying over spilt milk.
Sorry if I butchered any of these jokes.