Whilst staying at the G8PHM alternative address, Sowerby Bridge, in Calderdale, I was delighted to receive an invitation from Martin, M0GQB, on behalf of the Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society. This was for a /P day on August Bank Holiday, at a farm located high above the beautiful village of Hebden Bridge.
Whilst this was unexpected, I, happily, noted that I had with me, an FT817, some feeder, and a fishing-rod 40m vertical, plus the usual all-weather clothing that normally resides in the Prefers Hot Meals Landrover. The 817’s batteries were a little low, so on to the charger for the night, in order to squeeze some coulombs in for the day out.
A bit of work in the PHM kitchen produced a picnic lunch and some milk for tea or coffee, so after putting the postcode into TomTom, grabbing the directions from Martin, ‘Prefers Hot Meals’ was ready to roll.
After a false start, having forgotten my HADARS name badge, I was heading up the valley for Blackshaw Head, in fantastic sunshine, with blue skies, and the renowned peaceful quietness of the Defender 110 cab, for company.
Avoiding roadworks and traffic queues in Hebden Bridge, TomTom took the PHM Landrover over a marvellous track in the hills over Hebden, whilst low ratio gears gave plenty of time to admire the view, and I mentally thanked the chaps at diamond antenna for the easy lowering mechanism in their mobile antenna as trees closed like a Tolkeinian forest.
Getting to the farm around lunchtime, several members already had stations up and running, whilst a garden tractor was clearing a small field of long grass for more portable activities for the second group. I met our host, Eric M0JCK, and was shown a suitable parking spot.
Eric, whilst a keen radio amateur, is also the farmer in his spare time, and very happy to see additional temporary antennas popping up around the farm.
The day was a near perfect exemplar of how to run a socially distanced portable day on multiple bands and modes.
Dean 2E0WSG (M6XUT) was operating nearest to me, using a light dipole, on 20m and 40m SSB. Dean was flying his high definition camera drone to Stoodley Pike when I arrived, check the HADARS facebook page, he may put some pictures up.
Hardy 2E0HTW (M6BOO) was operating on the other side of the drive, using another lightweight dipole, also operating 20m and 40m SSB, trying to avoid Dean on the bands!
Stuart G6NTI was working 4m, using a medium weight mast and dipole, from his 4x4.
John M0JPA offered encouragement to everyone, but had to leave early as his car had been booked by his XYL for the afternoon, fortunately, Colin 2E0HQJ arrived later and continued John’s good work in offering encouragement to all!
Paul G0TVB, and friend Frank, were operating in a different group so that we met social distancing requirements, in the newly cleared field area 5MHz/ 60m using a low dipole.
Martin M0GQB was operating data modes on 18Mhz using a delta loop, securing what may have been the longest QSO of the day, a ZS station in RSA, also in the second group.
I operated some 2m FM from my Landrover using its re-erected roof antenna, and SSB on HF using my 10m high fishing rod antenna, and I spent a good deal of time, enjoying the rare opportunity to personally catch up with those HADARS members present.
