Molonglo River Reserve VKFF-3184

With a nice sunny Sunday decided to do a park activation. Went to one of the newly added parks in the ACT, Molonglo River Reserve VKFF-3184.

The park is large, covering the Molonglo river from downstream of Scrivener Dam down to the junction of the Murrumbidgee river, around 13 Km. I headed for a walk in the park close to home, the Woodland track. Drove to Southcott Vw in Coombes, parked and headed off on the walk. Sign about the park flora and fauna.

The track descends at first and crosses a small creek. Feet got a bit wet near here, have had a lot of rain lately...

After climbing the hill reached the Molonglo cottage ruins. Sign about the cottage. Not much left of it now. Coombes suburb can be seen behind.

Just to the East of the cottage was a lookout area with a fence. Set up the station here as the fence provided a good squid pole and antenna support.

Looking back the other way to the West

Looking across to the station. Shack on the tarp.

Operating spot. Map from Openstreetmaps

Looking down to the Molonglo River. Black Mountain tower can be seen in the distance on the right.

Tested the 40m dipole, good SWR on 7.129 Mhz.

Spotted myself on ParknPeaks and got called first by VK2EXA. Then another park activator, VK4SYD/2 in VKFF-1916 Cudgen Nature Reserve

Worked VK3SQ and VK2IO, both strong signals.

Called by another park activator, VK2OMK Richard and VK2YAK/VK4YAK Gavin in VKFF-0522 Watagans National Park

Then VK3NDG/m, VK3NFS, VK1AD, VK1NAM. VK1AD Andrew advised me VK1DA Andrew was on 7.090 on a SOTA summit, so QSYed to work him. Quite strong, on VK2/RI-016 Mount Burngoogee

Then VK3FAR, VK2PKT, VK3YV, VK3APJ, VK3KR, VK2YN/p, VK3GJG.

A contact with VK2ASD Phil maritime mobile on Sydney Harbour, very strong.

Worked VK3NDG/p now on a SOTA summit VK3/VT-030 Mt Lookout

After contacts dried up on 40m, changed the links to 20m. Worked

VK5HAA, VK4WTN, VK4MVL, ZL3MR.

My spot must have gotten onto the DX cluster, then got the EU stations calling...

IK4IDF, DL2ND, F1BLL, OH1XT

Most fairly low, except OH1XT who was peaking 58. I was not too strong, did up my power to 40w to help out.

Another park to park with VK4MUD John in VKFF-0199 Girringun National Park

After 20 seemed to close to EU gave it away and headed home after 30 contacts. Will need to return to get the 44, as close to home easy enough to revisit.