Budjan Galindji Nature Reserve VKFF-3931

Sunday afternoon was nice and sunny, 15c and no wind, so decided to activate a park. Went to one of the newly added parks,  Budjan Galindji Nature Reserve VKFF-3931

The reserve is located in the Canberra suburb of Franklin, in fact there was a sign for the park off Christina Stead St naming it as Franklin Grasslands. Google Maps has the reserve named North Mitchell Grasslands. There was also another sign referring to the new name Budjan Galindji.

At the bend in Christina Stead St there was a small woodlands area in the park. Set up in the trees, using an old stump for squid pole support.

Location, satellite map from Google Maps

Shack on the table, FT857D set to 40w.

Not that far away from a block of apartments, plus Flemington Rd with the Canberra light rail nearby meant I had about an S7 of noise on 40m. At least the band was good with signals mostly over S9. I struggled with some of the weaker ones, may have missed a few callers.

First worked VK3PF Peter in park VKFF-3747 Lang Lang River, Topiram SS.R. Natural Features Reserve

VK1AO/VK2MET, VK3DWL, VK2IO, VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK1MA, VK1AD, VK2VH/VK4AAC, VK2HHA, VK3BBB/VK2CCP, VK2EXA, VK3CWF. VK2CDB, VK3SG, VK3MTT, VK4HMI, VK5FANA, VK4SMA, VK5PAS, VK4XAC, VK2DHN, VK4KLA, VK2LAX, VK3APJ, VK1NK, VK3MCA, VK3GJG, VK2PBC, VK2PKT, VK1ARQ, VK2WQ, VK1KAZ, VK2TRL, VK1CHW

Switched to 20m, thankfully the noise was gone on this band. 

VK5PAS,

Worked a park, VK5MN Michael in VKFF-0910 Montacute Conservation Park

VK4CZ, KG6CIK, VK5HAA, IW2NXI, OH1MM, AJ6RP.

Interesting to hear 20m open to both USA and Europe at once.

A total of 48 in the log so qualified the park. As the sun was setting packed up and headed home. 

SOTA Mount McDonald VK1/AC-048

The weather on Sunday was nice and sunny, without the strong cold winds that have been blowing lately. Decided to go activate a SOTA summit and get out in the sun. I enjoy Mt McDonald, an easy walk up, plus it would be too warm to do later in the year as no shade. Parked at the car park off Brindabella Rd and started the walk up. Track to the left of the sign.

The walking track joins the Mt McDonald road. I did a brief detour to the lookout over the Cotter dam.

Continued on up the road. View to the South over the Cotter and Bullen Range

Reached the summit. Usual trig and old fire tower remnant structure.

Track log of walk. Taken from Alltrails App. It's a couple of Km walk to the summit

First got up the 2m ladder line Jpole. Matched in well, resonant at 146.11 Mhz

2m antenna on the trig

Got on 2m FM, 146.500 Mhz. Ran 40w from the FT857D. Worked several local stations.

VK1MA, VK1AD, VK1BAR, VK1DVO, VK1ARQ, VK1CHW, VK1MIC

Set up the 40m dipole.

Worked a park first, VK4HRE Bob in VKFF-1526 David Fleay Conservation Park

Then some of the usual chasers.

VK1MA, VK2IO, 

VK3PF Peter in VKFF-3878 Tarago River, Neerim South SS.R. Natural Features Reserve

VK1AO/VK2MET, VK1ARQ, VK2WP, VK2GMC

Packed up and headed home for lunch.

1250 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

New award for me for working 1250 VKFF references.

SIOTA Coila silo VK-CLI2

I've often driven past the Coila silo on the Princes Hwy South of Moruya, and since had some time decided to stop and activate it.

As silos go it's not that big, about 7m high, but unusual as constructed from bricks instead of the usual concrete. Some googling shows it is quite old, dating back to the 1920s. Located in Neil Davis Reserve.

Photo of the silo

Around the back a doorway. Looking up there was an old ladder on the side, I would not risk climbing it though. Roof has long gone.

Around the back of the silo

For an operating spot, there was a picket stake in the ground on the other side of Coila Creek Rd. Used this for squid pole support.

Shack on the table. A bit noisy with traffic from the nearby Princes Hwy.

Got on 40m. A little bit of local QRM, but not too bad. First worked a park on 7.144, VK7ZPE Peter in VKFF-3381 North Scottsdale Regional Reserve

After spotting on 7.160 got a steady stream of callers.

VK2VH, VK2MES, VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK1AO, VK2IO, VK2DHN, VK3ZSC, VK3CA

Packed up and continued my drive down to Narooma.

Worked Italian Provinces Award

Another award from the FT8DMC club. Worked 50 Italian Provinces. As a matter of interest there are 107 provinces so still more to work.

 

Silvestris Flora Reserve VKFF-3095

After stopping overnight at Narooma headed for a nearby WWFF park, Silvestris Flora Reserve, VKFF-3095.

Just North of Narooma turned left off the Princes Hwy onto unsealed Kiangra Rd. This later changes to Box Cutting Rd. At the end of the road turned left onto Wogonga Scenic Drive. Followed this for a while, then after crossing Billa Bilba Creek bridge took F-Ridge Rd on the right. This road was quite narrow, overgrown in places with tufts of grass in the middle of the track. Not really 4WD but some clearance needed. Followed this along a ridge until reaching a sign for Wattle Grove Rd on the right.

Wattle Drove Rd is on one edge of the park. I had a look down Wattle Grove Rd, it looked even worse than F-Ridge Rd! Did not drive down it.

There was really only one open area to operate in the park, just behind the sign. The only other activator of this park, Gerard VK2IO had set up here too. Used a sapling tree for squid pole support.

Location of this operating spot. Map from NSW Topographic maps. I used Gaia GPS website.

Shack on the table. Ran the FT-857D at 40w.

Located on a high hill in the forest, able to spot myself easily. Got on 7.144. Worked

VK3PF, VK2IO, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2CDB, VK2EXA on date rollover.

VK2EXA again in the new day. VK3VIN, VK3PF, VK2JDL, VK5NHG, VK7ZA, VK5PAS, VK2LAX.

I saw spots for VK2BYF Bob and VK2VAR Colin activating a beach for BOTA, Beaches on the Air on 7.150. Worked them both with strong signals.

For interest tried going to 30m. I found that I can use this band by unlinking just one side of the 20m/40m dipole. Worked

VK3PF, VK7WN, VK3ZLP, VK2IO, VK1AO/VK2MET.

Packed up and headed home to Canberra.

Bermagui Flora Reserve VKFF-3043

After having lunch at Bermagui drove off to activate another WWFF park nearby, Bermagui Flora Reserve VKFF-3043. Followed Murrah St onto Nutleys Creek Road to the South. Just after leaving the town a sign for the park. Note the NSW parks service labels Bermagui Flora Reserve and 3 other parks nearby as Murrah Flora Reserves.

Drove along Nutleys Creek Rd, until reaching a sign for Bermaguee Nature Reserve, had left the park. Turned around and looked for a suitable spot to operate. Pulled off the road into what looked like a mountain bike track. Set up on the side of the track, using the table for squid pole support.

Operating spot. Map from Mapbox, which is based on OpenStreetMap. Note the area is labeled by the old reserve name Bermagui State Forest.

Shack on the table. Ran the FT857D at 40w.

Got on 40m. Lots of strong stations calling, band conditions good.

VK2IO, VK3SQ, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2EXA, VK3DWL, VK2HL, VK5TN, VK3JFD, VK3ZLP, VK2JDS, VK7AN.

Went to 20m. Worked

KG5CIK, Steve a regular hunter

DL2ND, Uwe another regular.

ZL3MR, VK1RF/4

Getting late in the day and still had a drive back to Narooma before sunset. Packed up and headed back to Narooma for the evening.