Hi Ed,
I was surprised how long conditions stayed up on 18MHz. The band was still okay when I went QRT at 16:45 and I reckon it had a few more contacts in it before it closed.
The battery pack at this end is 2 x 4AH LiPOs in series with 2 x 10AH of NiMH, with the LiPOs changed part way through. It looks like the NiMH cells were the reason for the eventual demise of the pack, though I had a spare 10AH of NiMH and there was a bit left in the first pair of LiPOs.
As for the timing next year, well it is all up for discussion. Maybe a there is a balance point in the calendar when the weather is better and conditions are reasonable. It is certainly worthwhile considering late October. Of course on the European side, there is the timing of the VK/ZL/JA <> EU to consider.
73, Gerald G4OIG