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Dave Rogers Bass GuitaristAlways available (to play bass in a band)
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LUNDY 2008 GB4LI G4VID G4TTX G0NFL M0AQPAnother event of total madness unappreciated by most others and nothing at all to do with music
A smooth crossing, after about 7 expeditions to the island the second smooth crossing, this time together with 125 unexpected kids, 7-8 year olds on a school day trip! Very good weather for October, t-shirt much of the time. The first climb is the long hill to the shop/pub/cafe/etc called the Marisco Tavern, this time I left my entire luggage to the island crew but stopped of at the shop to pick up some supplies for the first few meals. There is only one shop, so with little competition the prices are usually more than double mainland prices. Some of the school party arrived at the Lighthouse with their teachers, the teachers looking a lot healthier than some had been on the boat, I suggested they climb the Lighthouse and we could see the kids really enjoying looking out of the windows at the top. 135 granite stairs to the top and I think some of the teachers enjoyed their repeated trips up and down!
All luggage off the boat is checked for Rats as they now claim that the island is rat free, difficult to believe, so we had cooked and half eaten our first meal when the equipment arrived. Unpacking and setting up equipment was completed before retiring to the pub for a rest and to ask for the key to the outer platform at the top of the Lighthouse so we could erect the aerials, they found it eventually. Two aerials were put up Friday morning for all the HF bands and GB4LI was on the air again. We have been running this station once every 2 or 3 years since 1984 so the activity was less than 500 contacts for the week, unlike 3000 plus the first time we were there. A wind down week for us on this trip.
Because the 2006 trip was Saturday – Friday and all the portable activity was during the week, we booked this from Thursday – Thursday so the other stations could be during the weekend.
Saturday we all set off for the North Light so we could run a station from there. Battery and radio in my back pack while the others took it easy! One using the aerial as a walking stick! A nice pleasant walk this year, about 3 miles over rocks and a climb down to the Lighthouse, stopping on the way to look at the wild ponies. The station was running well before the time slot so we stayed about 2 hours and worked a few stations on 80m. Vertical aerial about 30 feet and a counterpoise hanging down the cliff, mini manual a.t.u, 706 and a battery off an electric bike.
Sunday two of us set off for the South End, the cloud was low and we disappeared into the mist about 8:15am. By the time we arrived on the beach it was bright sun shine and we watched the top of the island, covered in cloud, gradually clear. Rat Island was first and we setup on the south side, usual contests were there so we gave a few points away before working a few other stations. We worked for about one and a half hours before moving the station to the pier light or shipping aid, although the end one where we set the station, does have a light on it.
We worked for about 45 minutes, among the fishermen and divers, before packing away for the climb to South Light.
No wind this time just sun, we set up on the helly pad again and worked a few stations for about two hours on 80 and 40m saving our energy for the long climb back to the Old Light. It may only be a mile but after the climb down from South Light, it's all up hill, very steep and with the full station on my back. We stopped off at the church and climbed the tower! with the island manager who was changing the worn flag for a new one, so we claimed the old one as a souvenir.
GB4LI and lots of walking for the rest of the week, in the pub each night. The boat trip back was another smooth (ish) crossing, about 2 hours and then the long drive home. Lundy 2006LUNDY 2006 GB4LI G4VID M0AQP G4TTX G0NFL Nothing to do with music, just madness The arrival was wet, windy, cloudy and very rough. Two hours on the Oldenburg but the climb up the hill refreshes the lungs. We stopped at the shop for supplies and arrived at the lighthouse up in the clouds. We put up 1 aerial from the rails at the top, set up the station and retired to the Marisco Tavern. We had very little time for the other attractions of the island this time, mainly due to the new W.A.B. lighthouse award but this was to be one of the best trips yet. There were only 12 visitors on the island, usually there are 50 to 70, so the staff were having their wind down week after the summer madness and before the winter madder lot started to arrive, so we were invited to join in. The clouds had gone Sunday so we headed to Rat Island at low tide, not so many takers as previous visits but it is nice to have the old 80 metre nets back and we used the new 60 metre band for the first time. Monday the clouds were back so North Light would have been difficult, by lunch time the clouds had been blown away so we set off for South Light, a shorter walk but a lot more climbing. 80 and 60 from the helly pad at South Light was windy but not too cold. Tuesday at least we could see without the clouds but we were struggling the 3 mile walk in the wind to North Light. The radio was good and we operated from the side of the old light tower. The new flashing lights are on the north side of the building. The wind had dropped for the walk back. Wednesday we waited for the tide to uncover the pier end so we could set up that station. While waiting we made use of the fishing rods and caught some dinner, another first for me. Only one day left to play a bit more radio from the old light so we tried the vertical from the top, there was no wind and tea shirts in November on top of the light was another first. Only 7 minutes in the helicopter Friday, but I did get the front seat this time. |
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