Clyde River National Park VKFF-0102

I'd driven down to Batemans Bay from Canberra on Friday night, spending the day there to escape Canberra winter for a while. The temperature in Canberra on Saturday was a maximum of 8 degrees, a nice sunny 17 degrees Celsius in Batemans Bay, a lot more pleasant :). I did need to return, so stopped for a quick activation of Clyde River National Park VKFF-0102 on the way home.

As per my last activation turned off the Kings Highway just to the North of Batemans Bay onto Rotary Drive, stopping at Holmes Lookout overlooking Batemans Bay

Set up the squid pole on one of the tables and tied the dipole legs to a couple of nearby trees.

Radio on the table. Used my FT-817 this time running 5 w.

Got on 40 m. This was the ILLW (International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend) so started by chasing a lighthouse station, VK3ATL/p activating Point Londsdale Lighthouse AU0028, with a good 59 signal.

Spotted myself on ParksnPeaks. Worked Hans VK5YX, Mike VK3GYH, Peter VK3PF, Geoff VK3SQ, Craig VK3WAR and Peter VK3TKK mobile in Melbourne.

No close by contacts such as VK1, NVIS propagation seemed to be missing, as has happened a lot lately :(

Contacts seemed to dry up after this, and still had a fair drive home, so packed up after 7 contacts. A nice spot though, plan to return to complete the 44 contacts needed for a WWFF point.

Clyde River National Park VKFF-0102

Heading down the NSW South Coast for the weekend, decided to activate Clyde River National Park, VKFF-102. This park has not been activated before. It is located to the NW of the town of Batemans Bay, around a bend in the Clyde River. There are also some smaller sections on some islands in the river and the West bank of the river.

From the Kings Highway midway between Nelligen and Batemans Bay, turned off onto Rotary Drive. Headed for Holmes Lookout, a lookout and picnic area at the highest point in the park.

Arrived at Holmes lookout. Good view of Batemans Bay, including the bridge and the Clyde River

Several picnic tables, although trees above some making them unsuitable for a squid pole. Used the table nearest the road for squid pole support and radio shack.

Shack on the picnic table. A comfy operating spot

Got on 40 m. Worked Andrew VK1NAM who spotted me on ParksnPeaks. A steady flow of hunters called me, including a SOTA contact with Marshall VK3MRG/P on VK3/VN-011.

Good signals from VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK5. A strong signal from one of the locals, VK2ONE Peter in Batemans Bay. Tried 20 m but no contacts. Packed up around 1 pm to continue on.

A total of 17 contacts. Enough for the 10 needed for the VKFF award point but short of the 44 contacts for WWFF. A nice easy park to activate, I'll return to finish another time.