G4CIB/P & G6UGW/P Severnside
Tuesday 2nd April 2013

After a poor spell of weather leading up to the Easter weekend, the forecast was promising and for once the forecast was correct. Setting off from Gloucester, we wanted to get to the furthest point of the day, Severn Beach, quickly, so we headed southbound on the M5. We were soon there, but the amount of housing development which has taken place over the past few years made it difficult to find a suitable location adjacent to the estuary to operate from. Our next stop was more fruitful - Passage Road, Aust, which leads to the site of the old Aust Ferry, which is wide, relatively traffic free and gives good views across to the Severn Bridge.

Parking up, we were soon in QSO on 2 metres FM with M6BJL, Mike, in Banwell, near Weston Super Mare. We were then called by John, GW4TQD in Chepstow - I hadn’t spoken to John for years so it was great to renew an old acquaintance. Les, G0ULH then called us, and was joined by Tom, G3XMM. Unfortunately our location was screened to the North East so the path to Gloucester was not ideal and establishing contact with Tom was difficult. All too soon, it was time to move on, so we took to the side roads, working our way up the estuary via Littleton upon Severn, Whale Wharf, Cowhill and Oldbury and Sharpness. Malcolm, G6UGW knows this area like the back of his hand - he used to drive the Circle Line bus in this area so his navigating skills were first class! Indeed I had never heard of Whale Wharf never mind visiting it before, but the name is derived from an event which took place on January 5th 1885, when a whale became stranded in the river - go to www.thornburyroots.co.uk/the_whale.htm for more information.

We decided to round the day off at Saul Junction where we enjoyed not only a welcome cup of tea but a qso with Paul, 2E0FLP in Bishop's Cleeve.

So, to summarise, not much amateur radio, but a pleasant day out to round off the Easter weekend break.