Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985

Anzac day in Canberra was warm and sunny, decided to head out to activate a park, Gigerline Nature Reserve, VKFF-0985. Drove South to the small village of Tharwa, South on Naas Road, turned off to the left onto Smiths Road. There is a sign for Angle Crossing. After a few Km saw a road on the left leading to a locked gate and a sign for Gigerline Nature Reserve.

After passing my gear over the gate headed into the bush to the left of the gate. Found an old fallen tree for squid pole support. Set up the shack nearby.

Looking back the other way.

Location in Openstreetmap

Got on 40m on 7.144. Able to spot myself easily. Worked several hunters, several giving AX prefix calls as can be used on Anzac Day.

VK2HAK/AX2HAK

VK1AO/VK2MET/AX1AO/AX2MET in VKFF-1332 Karuah State Conservation Area

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3DL, VK3SG/AX3SG, VK3ACZ, AX5QA, VK3CEO

AX3PF/AX3KAI in VKFF-4745 Carrajung H34 Bushland Reserve

VK2EIS, 

AX3YV/VK3YV in VKFF-6192 Yarragon Bushland Reserve

VK2LQ/VK2PCT, VK3EB, VK2YL, VK3ZPF, VK3JW, VK3PJF, AX2LEE/VK2LEE, VK2VW/VK2HFI

VK3OAK/VK3GUM in VKFF-3836 Puckapunyal SS.R. Natural Features Reserve

VK3SG/VK3SFG, VK3SQ/VK2BD/VK3JT, VK3BAP, VK2GQR, VK3EJ, VK3BCM, AX3WSG, VK3APJ

VK7IAN in VKFF-1674 Weyba Creek Conservation Park

Hunters dried up on 40m. Switched to 30m. Signals nice and strong here.

VK3SQ/VK2BD/VK3JT, VK3CJN/AX3CJN/AX3QHU, VK5HS/AX5HS, VK2EXA, VK3EJ, VK3ACZ, VK3ADX, VK2YW/AX2YW, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, 

VK3OAK in VKFF-3836 Puckapunyal SS.R. Natural Features Reserve

VK3ANL/AX3ANL.

As more than qualified the park packed up and headed to nearby Tharwa general store for an ice cream.

 

Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985

With a sunny Sunday afternoon decided to activate another park, and one not too far from home. Decided to return to Gigerline Nature Reserve, VKFF-0985, as when I activated it in 2016 only made 37 contacts, so would be easy enough to complete the 44 needed for a WWFF point.

Last time I activated it was from Tharwa Sandwash picnic area. I found the bands noisy there from close by power lines, so this time set off for a different spot, Angle Crossing, at the Southern end of the park. Drove down Naas Rd, turning off onto Smiths Rd, then Angle Crossing Rd. A sign for the park before the road descends down to the crossing.

Heading East to the crossing saw a road on the left, probably for access to a power transmission line tower. The gate had a sign about no unauthorized vehicles, but nothing about walkers. Parked in front of the gate, which was not locked and walked along the road a bit, setting up the squid pole on the fence.

Operating spot on a map, from Protected Planet. Well inside the park here.

Shack on the table. Note the very dry ground, the ACT and NSW are in a drought at the moment.

Got on 40 m. Started with a park to park with VK5LOL/p Leslie in VKFF-0817 The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park. She was also in an Alara (YL) contest so gave her a contest number as well.

Spotted myself on ParksnPeaks and worked the following hunters.

VK5HS
VK5LA
VK4RF, VK4HA
VK7QP
VK4CZ
VK4SMA
VK4FDJL
VK2HMV
VK5FLEA
ZL1TM

Note they were all long distance, NVIS short skip missing on 40 m, yet again... So changed to 80 m to get the close by hunters. Worked the following:

VK3PAT
VK3PF
VK3SQ
VK2YK
VK7QP
VK2LEE

All fairly strong signals, 80 m works well in the afternoon despite people thinking its only a night time band...

Saw a spot on 40 m for VK4AAC/3 Rob in VKFF-2402 Mount Warrenheip Flora Reserve so went back there. As NVIS skip not really working he was weak, 41 report and he had me 31. But made it.

Packed up and headed home.

Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985

For the VKFF Activation Weekend thought I would activate the last few remaining parks in the ACT yet to be activated by anyone, Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985 and Old Naas Travelling Stock Reserve VKFF-0992. The 2 parks are close to each other and ideal for a days trip.

Gigerline Nature Reserve is located South of the rural town of Tharwa which is South of Canberra. It protects the Murrumbidgee River Corridor flora and Fauna as it enters the the Eastern edge of the ACT at Angle Crossing.It is one of the nature parks along the river as it flows through the ACT.

I decided to activate at Tharwa Sandwash, a picnic area on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.

Drove through Tharwa, heading South and turned off onto Smiths Road on the left. Followed this down to a crossing over the Gudgenby River, where you enter the park.

Crossed the bridge. Looking back you can see Mount Tennent, SOTA summit VK1/AC-025. The scar on the side is from a rock fall some years ago.

There was a side road off Smiths Road leading to Tharwa Sandwash.

The side road follows the Murrumbidgee river for a while, dropping down to the river and ending at a picnic/swimming area.

Looking upstream from the picnic area

Looking downstream.

A few tables at the picnic area, this one had a good view of the river but trees above made it unsuitable for the squid pole.

Another table nearby had space above, plus some shade from a nearby tree. Decided to set up here. The table wasn't good for strapping the squid pole to, so used my own camping table instead.

My operating location, map from Protected Planet website.

Radio set up on the picnic table. A bit of shade, but did get warm later as the sun got overhead.

Got on 40m. To my disappointment the band was noisy, there was some electrical interference from nearby power lines. Put on the noise blanker on the TS-480 which removed most of it, however adjacent frequency interference increased. Splatter or noise... Decided to just put up with it as keen to get on air.

Started by working all the parks currently on air. First were Joe VK3YSP/p and Julie VK3FOWL/p in VKFF-0957 Yaringa Marine National Park. Then Marija VK5FMAZ/p in VKFF-1082 Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park.

Found a clear spot and called CQ parks. Contacts with VK2QA Jim, VK1AD/VK1NAM Andrew, VK3PF Peter, VK3SQ Geoff and VK3PMG/VK3GGG Mick, VK2VW, Brett.

Another park to park contact with Rob, VK2QR/p in VKFF-1392 Wereboldera State Conservation Area. This is just outside Tumut and on the other side of the Brindabella Ranges to me, Rob had a good strong signal.

Another park to park, Tony VK3XV/p in VKFF-0772 Paddys Ranges State Park. A couple more hunters, VK2NTJ Jerry and VK2AFY Chris. Another park to park with VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-0750 Arthurs Seat State Park.

Briefly chased a SOTA station, Andrew VK1MBE/2 on VK2/SC-042 Wandera Mountain on the South Coast NSW near Moruya, a summit I have done.

Another park to park with VK5PL/p David in  VKFF-1159 Wiljani Conservation Park.

Switched to 20m to work VK5PAS/p Paul in VKFF-1082 Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park. He had a strong signal and 20m was less noisy then 40m. A surprising contact with VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-0750 Arthurs Seat State Park. This would be only about 600 Km away so short sporadic e skip was in on 20m. Some more contacts on 20m with VK4RF/VK4HA Rick, and VK4HNS/p Neil in VKFF-0300 Main Range National Park.

My next park to park was a real surprise for 20m, VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1271 Bargo State Conservation Area. This is South of Sydney and only a few hundred Km away!? Also Adam VK2YK/4 a lot further away in VKFF-1504 Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park near Townsville.

Some more hunters on 20m, VK3SFG Sergio, VK2KYO Ken and VK3XV/p Tony again, this time on 20m, still in VKFF-0772.

Since sporadic e was in decided to try 15m. Didn't have an antenna for this band, but found the TS480s inbuilt antenna tuner would let me load up the 40m dipole okay on it. Worked VK4FFAB/p Rob in VKFF-0734 Lockyer (Recovery) National Park, also VK3ARH Allen and VK3UH Ken, all strong signals.

Ended up working VK5FMAZ/p Marija and VK5PAS/p Paul again in VKFF-1082, just to get them on 15m for a change.

While at the park I had a visit from the local park ranger, based at Namadgi Visitors Centre nearby. Wanted to know what I was doing. Gave him my email address and later on sent him an email with details on both WWFF parks awards and SOTA. He will pass this on to the other rangers so they are aware of it.

Packed up after lunch and headed off to my next park, VKFF-0992 Old Naas TSR for the afternoon.