SOTA Mount Majura VK1/AC-034 VKFF-0851

With a fine sunny Sunday morning decided to do a SOTA activation of Mount Majura. As per other activations parked off Antill St in Hackett and took the walking track near the horse paddocks.

Walked for a few minutes to a junction with a track at the base of the mountain, then took the track climbing up the mountain.

Midway up the climb a view to the snow covered Brindabella mountains.

Got to the summit. Very active with other walkers, plus windy. Decided to not operate there, instead dropping down out of the wind to a burnt tree stump for squid pole support, between the trig and the Mount Majura Canberra airport radar station. The radar did not seem to interfere at all.

Shack on the tarp, out of the wind. Away from most of the crowd, still got a few walkers/dog walkers going past. A few came to chat and see what I was up to.

Got on 2 m FM 146.500 Mhz first. Worked VK1MA, VK1RX, VK2VEX at Yass. VK1CC/mobile, VK1MIC, VK2KBB.

Went to 40 m when I saw a spot for VK2FPAD/p Paul on VK2/SC-046 Byangee Mountain. He was very weak, and had problems copying me. The NVIS skip not good today. Byangee Mountain was about 100 Km away near the coast. Pleased to work him as know the mountain well from bush walking, and a first time activation.

Spotted myself, worked on 40 m

VK4TJ, ZL1TM, VK3AFW, VK7QP, VK5FMAZ, VK5AYL, VK5PAS, VK1MA, VK4KC

Briefly tried 20 m with no luck.

Returned to 2 m FM, for a park to park with VK1CT Chris in Mulanggari Grasslands Nature Reserve VKFF-0856, very strong. Also worked VK1DB, VK1MF, VK2COW and VK1LAJ.

The wind had really picked up in the afternoon, packed up and headed down for lunch in nearby Dickson.

Worked All Indonesia Call Area Award

Despite Indonesia being close by to Australia found it difficult to find YB5 and YB6 call areas on air, finally worked YB5QB and YB6HAI. FT8DMC Award, Worked All Indonesia Call Area Award on 17 m 

And the ERC Award

Worked 500 Oceanian Stations Award

The latest FT8DMC award to qualify for, Worked 500 Oceanian Stations Award. Mainly VK, ZL and YB stations with a few Pacific Islands as well. Nice award.

5 South Korea stations on 17 m Award

 Latest FT8DMC award for working 5 South Korea stations on 17 m FT8

Bomaderry Creek Regional Park VKFF-1779

Rain was predicted for Nowra on Friday, getting up Friday morning found it had already started, so needed to find away to activate and keep dry. Remembered seeing some covered picnic tables in Bomaderry Creek Regional Park, so headed there. The picnic area is off Narang Rd in Bomaderry. Saw the sign for the park

Parked and walked down to the picnic area. Due to the rain no-one there...

Set up the squid pole on my table, mainly as a support as I had forgotten to pack a ground spike.. Dipole legs out to a couple of trees

Looking back the other way

Shack in the dry under the roof of the picnic table. Tested the 40 m links, looked good, rain not affecting SWR too much. Resonant on 7.165 Mhz

 Spotted myself on 7.144 Mhz. Worked 

VK3PF, VK2PEZ, VK3SG, VK4CZ, VK5PAS, 

A park to park when called by VK7LTD Tony in VKFF-2928 Rosny Hill Nature Recreation Area

then VK2VH, VK4AAC/2, VK5HS, VK3PI, VK4TJ, VK3UH, VK3ZK, VK3KTT

Tried 80 m, 3 contacts

VK2IO Gerard as usual on this band

VK2PEZ Andrew really strong in nearby Bomaderry

VK3SQ Geoff

Tried 20 m, only 1 contact, VK2PEZ Andrew again, the band sounded dead.

Returned to 40 m to work

VK4KC, VK4FARR, VK3ARH, VK4FDJL, VK3YV, VK3ANL

Calls seemed to have stopped. As fairly cold and wet packed up. 25 contacts plus 20 from a previous time here so made the 44 for WWFF.

A last look at the park, sign for some of the rare flora here

Packed up and headed into Nowra for lunch. The rain continued, quite heavy at times. Left for Canberra on the Saturday morning, rain did not let up so no more activations.

Comerong Island Nature Reserve VKFF-2572

Comerong Island is a small island between the Shoalhaven and Crookhaven Rivers, on the coast East of Nowra. To reach it, you need to catch a car ferry across Berrys Canal. Took the Comerong Island Rd and waited for the ferry. It was returning a truck from the island when I arrived

Drove on. The fee is $10 return, EFTPOS only. Need to stay in the car while crossing.

As you can see the crossing is not too wide and only took a few minutes. The ferry is guided by 2 cables. Once on the other side drove onto Comerong Island. It is a rough V shape island. Drove up one side of the V, mostly farmland, then over to the other side, which is Comerong Island Nature Reserve. Sign for the park

The track into the reserve is narrow and sandy, may be a bit rough for a normal 2WD car. My Xtrail AWD had no problems.

At the end of the track reached the end of the island and a car park with a breakwater. Set up here in the car park.

Looking the other way

Location on the island. Map from Protected Planet

Shack on the table.

Got on 40 m. Worked

VK3PF, VK3KAI

VK4KC

VK5JS

VK4CZ

VK4TJ, VK4/AC8WN, VK4/VE6XT, VK4SSN

VK3ZK

VK4FARR

Tried 80 m. Worked

VK2IO

VK3SQ

Returned to 40 m to work

VK3ARH, VK3HRA

VK4BXX, VK4VXX, VK4/NN3Z

VK3BBB

VK2PEZ

VK2XF/mobile in the New England area near Grafton

VK2VH, VK4AAC/2

After no more called packed up as keen to explore the rest of the island, having never been there before.

A notice board about the island. Interesting to find man made due to deepening of Berrys Canal.

Drove back along the park track, an example of the road

Turned off onto a side road to the beach. Looking South

Looking North

Drove along to another car park at the Northern end of the park and did a walk through the rain forest

Fan Palms

A beach at the Northern end of the island. Looking North to Shoalhaven Heads

Looking South

Heading back on the ferry.

Seven Mile Beach National Park VKFF-0447

After lunch in Nowra drove to Seven Mile Beach National Park. The park is located between Shoalhaven Heads and Gerroa. Turned off Gerroa Rd to the picnic area on Beach Rd. Sign for the park

Took a look at the beach. Looking North

Looking South

Returned to the picnic area. Due to the cold not that popular... plenty of tables to choose from. Some had a flush end, no overhang, meaning could strap a squid pole with ease, picked one of these which was also in the sun as it was a cold day...

Looking the other direction

Shack on the table. You can see how nicely suited the table is for a squid pole...

Got on 40m. Worked

VK4FARR

VK3ZPF

VK3KIY

VK3ZK

VK2FMJC

VK3UH

Tried 80m. Worked

VK2IO

VK1DA, VK2UH

VK3PF, VK3KAI, VK3GV

VK2STG/m near Bega

VK3SQ

Tapitallee Nature Reserve VKFF-2734

Tapitallee Nature Reserve VKFF-2734 is a short drive West of Bomaderry. Headed along Illaroo Rd, turning off left into Koloona Dr. Sign for the park

Continued along Koloona Dr until spotting the remnants of an old stock gate on the right, just before a private road on the left. Parked here and set up the station, using the table to support the squid pole

Operating spot. Map from Protected Planet

Shack on the table. Quite pleasant in the sun, and the wind had dropped too.

Ran the FT-857D at around 30 w. Started on 40 m. Worked

VK5PAS

VK3ZPF

VK4KC

VK3ARH, VK3ARH

VK4TJ, VK4/AC8WN, VK4/VE6XT, VK4SSN

VK4XD

VK5FMAZ

VK3KTT, VK3MEG

VK4DH

VK4FARR

Tried 80 m, worked

VK2IO

VK3PF

VK1DA

Saw a ParksnPeaks spot for VK4JAZ/p Grant setting up on SOTA summit VK4/SE-059 Tamborine Mountain, so returned to 40 m to work him. He was a good 57 signal. Also in VKFF-0475 Tamborine National Park

Packed up and returned to Nowra for lunch.

Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve VKFF-1903

After activating Browns Mountain for SOTA headed for nearby Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve. The summit is outside the park. After returning to the car headed along Leebold Hill Rd which is in the park. Sign for the park at Red Rocks Trig car park

The Red Rocks Trig car park was very small, not suitable for activating from. Headed back along Leebold Hill Rd to a track coming off to a clearing. Set up there using a small sapling for squid pole support. The wind was very strong now, it danced about but stayed up.

Operating spot. Map from Protected Planet

Shack on the table. Cold and windy, was to be a short activation

Got on 40 m. Worked

VK3PF

VK4KC

VK2VH, VK4AAC/2

VK2FMJC

VK7AN

VK4TJ

VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4

VK4FDJL

ZL3MR

Tried 80 m. Worked

VK2IO

VK3PF

Had had enough of the wind. After a cuppa headed to Red Rocks Trig car park and did the walk to the trig. A short 500 m walk

View at the trig. 

View into Kangaroo Valley

View the other way