Post by 2e0edx on Dec 28, 2006 1:37:27 GMT
97.3 in reply to 97.2
My second attempt at a castle activation, this time being at Kendal Castle. Arrived at Kendal at approximately 1150 hours and parked up in the car park below the castle next to a housing estate and football pitch, luckily the game had just finnished and all were packing up, possibility that Dave G1HAK would be joining me, so I waited. WX was okay, mild, slight breeze and no rain. From the car park I heard John G1VGF in Carleton nr Blackpool, calling Graham G7JZL on S20 so I went back to the call and worked him using the FT-8900 and tri-band mobile whip, just purchased, John giving me RST 52 and hearing him RST 55, not bad from Kendal both of us on the flat.
Bergan on and up the hill I went. Steep but not difficult with a well worn path and a seat half way up. At the top their is a gravel path which follows the moat all the way around the castle. I turned left on the path which eventually led to a metal warning beacon and the open entrance to the castle. Once inside the castle walls the enclosure is pretty large and open with three medieval towers that you can climb as metal stairs have been erected. The view from these towers and the castle are excellent. To the west and north in the valley below is the city of Kendal and onwards to the large mountain range of the northern Lake District. To the east and south east is the housing estate dwarfed by hills in the distance. This time I just took up the FT-290 Mk2 using the helical whip only, did'nt want to scare or annoy the locals with a mast and beam and a few visitors to the castle were starting to already appear. Set up on the inner eastern wall and shouted CQ, straight back to me was Bob G3VVT in north Kendal followed by Steve G1 INK/P and Mick 2E0HJD/P on Arnside Knott LD-058, followed by Ian G7EGQ/M on the A6 heading for Preston. Ian G7EGQ/M was the fifth and qualifying QSO. Shouted also on 6m & 70cms from the car park but no takers.
Many thanks to all worked and for assisting me in qualifying my first castle. An extremely enjoyable activation combining radio, history and lovely scenery. Needless to say the Jolly Rebel was flown or at least aired on the activation............
My second attempt at a castle activation, this time being at Kendal Castle. Arrived at Kendal at approximately 1150 hours and parked up in the car park below the castle next to a housing estate and football pitch, luckily the game had just finnished and all were packing up, possibility that Dave G1HAK would be joining me, so I waited. WX was okay, mild, slight breeze and no rain. From the car park I heard John G1VGF in Carleton nr Blackpool, calling Graham G7JZL on S20 so I went back to the call and worked him using the FT-8900 and tri-band mobile whip, just purchased, John giving me RST 52 and hearing him RST 55, not bad from Kendal both of us on the flat.
Bergan on and up the hill I went. Steep but not difficult with a well worn path and a seat half way up. At the top their is a gravel path which follows the moat all the way around the castle. I turned left on the path which eventually led to a metal warning beacon and the open entrance to the castle. Once inside the castle walls the enclosure is pretty large and open with three medieval towers that you can climb as metal stairs have been erected. The view from these towers and the castle are excellent. To the west and north in the valley below is the city of Kendal and onwards to the large mountain range of the northern Lake District. To the east and south east is the housing estate dwarfed by hills in the distance. This time I just took up the FT-290 Mk2 using the helical whip only, did'nt want to scare or annoy the locals with a mast and beam and a few visitors to the castle were starting to already appear. Set up on the inner eastern wall and shouted CQ, straight back to me was Bob G3VVT in north Kendal followed by Steve G1 INK/P and Mick 2E0HJD/P on Arnside Knott LD-058, followed by Ian G7EGQ/M on the A6 heading for Preston. Ian G7EGQ/M was the fifth and qualifying QSO. Shouted also on 6m & 70cms from the car park but no takers.
Many thanks to all worked and for assisting me in qualifying my first castle. An extremely enjoyable activation combining radio, history and lovely scenery. Needless to say the Jolly Rebel was flown or at least aired on the activation............