Cuumbeun Nature Reserve VKFF-1920

Saturday afternoon in Canberra was fine and sunny with no wind, so decided to do another WWFF park activation. Chose a park I needed to complete for 44 contacts, Cuumbeun Nature Reserve VKFF-1920.

Headed out to the park, stopping briefly in Queanbeyan for fuel as it was 4 c per litre cheaper than in Canberra... Drove out on the Kings Hwy, then turned off onto the Captains Flat Road. The park is on either side of the road for several Km. Stopped in front of a locked gate with the park sign just behind it

Note the power lines to the right of the sign. I initially set up the antenna near the sign, and found S9 of power line noise over most of 40 m :( So packed up and moved further into the park, away from the power lines. Followed "Shed" trail until finding a suitable sapling for squid pole support, set up just off the trail.

Operating spot, map from Protected Planet website.

Shack on the table.

Got on 40 m. The band seemed very quiet, apart from a few EU signals coming in. I could just hear VK3PF/p Peter in a park on 7.144 too weak to work, so headed up the band and spotted myself on 7.150 Mhz. This did have some weak EU stations on later but the callers were well over them.

Surprisingly was open, mainly to VK4 and Northern VK2, VK5, ZL. So no short NVIS skip. Some good signals. Worked the following

VK4FDJL
VK4TJ, VK4/AC8WN, VK4/VE6XT
VK2FSAV
VK4RF, VK4HA
VK4SMA
VK5DW
VK2VW
VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4
ZL1TM
VK4FARR
VK6BSA/5
ZL2IFB
VK5TN
VK3ARH
VK5FMWW
VK3VLY/p

VK6MB/3 for a P2P contact in VKFF-0968 Hepburn Regional Park

VK4CZ
VK3BSQ

As poor close in on 40 m went to 80 m to give close by park hunters a contact. On 80 m worked

VK2NP

VK3PF/p for a P2P in VKFF-0749 Shallow Inlet Coastal & Marine Park.

No further contacts on 80 m. As the sun was setting and started getting cold, packed up and headed home.

WWFF Activation Cuumbeun Nature Reserve VKFF-1920

On Sunday afternoon had a contact with VK4AAC/1, Rob, in VKFF-0991, Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve. As had spoken to him many times in different parks decided to drop in and say hello in person, and while in the area activate a new park, Cuumbeun Nature Reserve, VKFF-1920.

Caught up with Rob and his partner Doris in the Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve, and had a good chat. He had an impressive station, a 40 m doublet on a squid pole, with the ends up high, and twin lead feed attached to the front of his 4WD. He is retired and spends his time wandering the countryside in a caravan, activating parks for WWFF in different areas. Something I'll probably eventually do when I eventually retire...

After chatting to Rob and Doris headed off to activate Cuumbeun Nature Reserve. Having travelled the Captains Flat Road before I knew where I could activate it from, not far along the Captains Flat Rd from the Kings Highway was an entrance gate to the park.

Sign for the park near the gate.

Set up in the bush, not far from the sign. Used a small gum tree sapling for squid pole support.

Operating spot in the park. Map from Protected Planet.

Shack on the table. It was a warm day, got a little bit of shade from the trees.

Got on 40 m. My first contact was of course a park to park with Rob, VK4AAC/1 in VKFF-0991 Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve. As he was only a few Km away he was 59+...

Then worked several park hunters, keen to get this 1st activation of this park.

VK1LAJ Aaron
VK2VW Brett
VK3UH Ken
VK3ZZS/7 Tom
VK3GGG/VK3PMG Mick
VK3DAC Fred
VK3NLK Nik
VK5PAS/M Paul
VK3BBB Brian
VK4FDJL Deryk
VK4VXX/3 Greg
VK7FGRA Greg
VK2USH Steve

Another park to park with VK5HSX/3 Stef in VKFF-0973 Mount Alexander Regional Park

A few more park hunter contacts

VK5ZLT Alan
VK3VAR Howard
ZL2ALK Lamont with a very good signal from New Zealand
VK4SMA Mark

Saw a spot for VK6MB/p Mike in VKFF-0650 Midgergoroo National Park on 20 m, so changed the links and QSYed to 20. Managed a weak 52 contact with him, we were both in electrically quiet parks so no problems even though signals were weak.

Tried a few calls myself on 20 m, but no luck.

Packed up and headed home for dinner.