Onto the morning of Saturday 29th March 2008. We had
three days activating left in GI, but needed to bear in mind that the
last day required us to be in Belfast by around 8pm. That was a more
distant consideration though, for in our main objective - the Antrim
Hills - we had 7 down, 4 to go. Could we get those 4 done today so that
we could concentrate exclusively on the South East of the province for
the last two days? It would challenging with two of the remaining four
being pretty tough prospects.
We were in the mode of tackling the biggest challenges first. So our
first target was Mid Hill GI/AH-006. This was the nearest remaining SOTA
summit to Larne, looked a long walk-in from any approach, reported as "a
swamp" by previous activators and well-known to be the most hated and
despised summit ever for Colin GI0RQK, the Northern Ireland SOTA
Association Manager!
We took the coast road up to Glenarm, then cut inland on the country
lanes. Jimmy successfully navigated me to D173113, the start of the road
to the Quolie reservoirs. Most of this access track is a public road,
but we couldn't see any parking opportunities. We briefly continued onto
the last small private section, marked for the sole use of the water
board and the Mid-Antrim Angling Society, just to find a turning spot.
However, a landrover from the farm was soon up behind us, so I had the
perfect opportunity to seek out some quality local knowledge. The chap
said we were absolutely fine to park right up at the end of the track,
by the second Quolie reservoir, and that he would let us out later
should we find ourselves 'locked in' by the fisherman keyholders!
During the initial part of this walk, I couldn't understand GI0RQK's
problem with Mid Hill. A walk along the right-hand side of the reservoir
was followed by a delightful stroll, tracking the babbling brook
upstream towards its source at the summit. It was when the stream
petered out as a defined water course that it became difficult. We had
around a mile to cover trudging through trackless heather upon very
soggy ground. It was darned hard work! We could see our objective, the
summit, but it never seemed to get any closer.
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We did finally reach the summit just after 10am. We set up for 80m, and
opened, for a change, on 3.660MHz SSB. I don't think we even
live-spotted this one via SPOTlite, but immediately back came Colin
GI0RQK, who worked us both. Colin and I discussed meeting up later for a
joint activation of Knocklayd GI/AH-002. Now Colin was one of those that particularly
enthused and encouraged me with my learning of CW, by taking a keen
interest in my progress. After we exchanged reports, he said "How about
a wee CW contact now Tom?". So that was it - for now - on SSB, and over
to 3.557MHz we went. After working Colin for the second time, I then
worked George GI4SRQ, Phil G4OBK and Roy G4SSH. There were no further
callers, but that was my four and thus qualifying quota. I sent the "QSY
3.660 SSB", hoping that one of the CW stations just worked would pick it
up and spot it. I wasn't able to check on this process, with us not
seeing a computer terminal until more than 72 hours later, but I'm
certain it must have happened, for Phil G4OBK, Alistair GW0VMZ and Danny
EI6GS were all lined up instantly on 3.660MHz SSB for Jimmy.
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Simple, straightforward, a good old fashioned SOTA activation of 4
contacts each! A blast from the past - and quite a refreshing antidote
to last night's zoo on Trostan GI/AH-001. Plus it quite suited us. I had already figured
that with two really challenging summits, and at least one more
significant walk planned for the day, 90 minutes of activating per
summit as per the previous two days, could not squeeze into the
schedule. Which is probably why I chose not to live-spot this one. That
left me with a twinge of guilt, but countered by the fact that at least
four of those we worked could be considered as regular committed
chasers.
The descent was on marginally easier terrain than the ascent, due to my
decision to stick closely to the forest edge until we got down to the
stream, which we then followed down to the reservoir. Back in the car,
we found we hadn't been locked in by the anglers, and were able to head
North again without delay, en route to meet Colin GI0RQK on
Knocklayd GI/AH-002.
Many thanks to the following stations, all worked on 80m with 5 watts:
| GI0RQK |
Ballyclare |
Colin |
SSB |
J, T |
| GI0RQK |
Ballyclare |
Colin |
CW |
T |
| GI4SRQ |
Armagh |
George |
CW |
T |
| G4OBK |
Pickering |
Phil |
CW |
T |
| G4SSH |
Scarborough |
Roy |
CW |
T |
| G4OBK |
Pickering |
Phil |
SSB |
J |
| GW0VMZ |
Merthyr Tydfil |
Alistair |
SSB |
J |
| EI6GS |
Dungloe |
Danny |
SSB |
J |
|
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