Tom Read - click to email meBDXC ISWL WAB SOTA RSGB IOTA - see my radio page for more detailsLiam & Jimmy

Big Collin 2005

 

Liam & Tom MI1EYP/P on Big Collin GI/AH-008

We now had a very short drive back down the B94 to the parking and picnic area at J236973.  There is not a path to this summit, but it is a fairly straight-forward tramp over longish damp grass.  Big Collin GI/AH-008 has a minimal (1 foot deep) shelter on the summit, and affords a good view over the nearby Elliott's Hill Wind Farm, as well as the earlier summits of Agnew's Hill GI/AH-005 and Slemish GI/SH-007.  The summit was qualified inside 15 minutes, all Northern Irish stations on 2m FM.  As usual 70cm and 2m SSB were tried, but unsuccessfully.  George GI4SRQ was first up to preserve his 100% record of working my GI activations - by this stage 8 out of 8 including my 2003 activity - and the Northern Ireland Association Manager, Colin GI0RQK called in for the fifth and final contact.

Jimmy on Big Collin    SOTA Beam on Big Collin

We drove back to Larne following the simple descent, and again Big Jimmy welcomed our return with another hearty meal.  He is a retired sea captain (and hence a former proficient CW operator), and seemed to relish having a "crew" to cater for, as he had to do many times during his long career at sea.  Needless to say, Jimmy and Liam (and myself) slept very well that night!

Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM, the first two with 0.5 watts, and the rest with 2.5 watts:

GI4SRQ Armagh George
GI3PDN Templepatrick Ray
GI0SRL Ballyclare Alan
MI0MIO Maghera John
GI0RQK Ballyclare Colin