It rained most of the day here but the forecast for late afternoon was better so I drove to my nearest SOTA summit G/DC-003 and was QRV by about 16:15 UTC. My plan was just to chase summit to summits so I didn’t post any spots myself and just monitored SotaWatch and tuned to the frequencies I could see being posted by NA activators.
I tried SSB first but quickly realised this was going to be a struggle as I couldn’t hear anyone after responding to the SSB spots I could see. So it was out with the Morse key and soon completed a QSO on 10m with WB2FUV on W2/GC-020.
10m was working very well in the sense I could hear several activators over in NA but sadly no one over there except WB2FUV could hear me. There were a lot of chasers and it needed patience to sit and wait for a gap to jump in and frustrating not to get a reply but I spent an enjoyable 45 minutes trying. During this period I looked at the other higher bands but none were as good as 10m.
Last light was around 17:30 and though I was happy to operate in the dark I was less confident about packing up in the dark and not leaving something expensive behind in the thick vegetation. 
So I went QRT as the Sun began to set and it was dark when I drove away from the car park.
This study of my feet I took soon after the QSO with WB2FUV, you can see their summit W2/GC-020 scribbled in my “Rite in the Rain” notebook. You can also glimpse a bit of the BaMaTech TP-III key strapped to my leg, which is the way I’ve started using it recently. I’ve found this a comfortable and convenient way to use the key.
So what lessons were learned today? I think the main one was the need for an optimum antenna. I don’t have anything resonant for 10m so I used my BandSpringer end-fed random wire with the AH-705 ATU. This is quite long so I’m not sure it is ideal for the higher bands. I have the bits to make a 1/4 wavelength GP vertical and recently also purchased the parts to make a linked dipole with the intention of making one for 10m, 12m and 15m but these are uncompleted projects at the moment.
Letting my mind wander would a 10m delta loop be better? Perhaps even erecting a reflector on a seperate mast to give some focus of the signal across the Atlantic?
I will try and work something out before the next Trans-Atlantic QSO Party.
Many thanks to all activators, it was an enjoyable afternoon.