Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-2653

With a warm sunny Sunday afternoon in Canberra decided to make the most of the nice weather and activate another WWFF park, Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-2653. Last activation there was in winter and was cold, so would be a good change. Only made 22 contacts so needed to return to make up the 44 contacts for WWFF.

From my home in Belconnen the easiest way to reach it is via Gungahlin, Mulligans Flat Rd then continue on Sutton Rd to Gundaroo. Turn left at the end of town into Rosemel St that becomes Marked Tree Road. Last time I operated on the Western side of the park, this time found a gate on the Eastern end of the park for access. Locked but able to access the park on foot okay. Sign for the park.

Set up the shack near the sign, using the park fence for support

Looking back the other way

Park operating spot location. Map from Google maps

Tested the 40m dipole, SWR okay, a little bit high I think due to nearby branches. Seems to be resonant at the top end of the band. Still quite good SWR across the band.

Shack on the table. using my new Galaxy Tab 8 inch tablet again for logging.

Got on 40m. The band was wide open with strong signals. Started with a Park to park with VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1881 Agnes Banks Nature Reserve

Also VK3AWA/p Daryl in VKFF-0758 Holey Plains State Park

Spotted myself on 7.130, and got a pileup... heaps of stations calling

VK3FIMD,VK1AD,VK3PI,VK5FANA,VK2VW,VK2HFI,VK3BBB,VK2CCP,VK3SRC,VK2MET,

VK2YK/5,VK5GA,VK5PET,VK3NFS,VK4HMI,VK4SMA,VK5HAA,VK2GAZ,VK3SQ,

VK4KC,VK4MAD,VK4DOG,VK4HNS,VK3ZPF

Another park to park with VK3PF/p Peter and VK3NRB/p Ross in VKFF-2045 Bengworden Nature Conservation Reserve

Went on to work several more park hunters

ZL4NVW,VK3MPR,VK2VH,VK4AAC/2,VK3CU,VK4FDJL,VK4NH,VK4DXA,ZL4TY/VK4

VK2MZ,VK4WTN,VK4IDK,VK5IS

Another park to park with VK2IO/p Gerard in a new park VKFF-0558 Yellomundee Regional Park

Then more hunters

VK2HRX,VK2HH,VK3ANL,VK2PKT,VK2GMC,VK5LA,VK3MCK,VK7ME

Tried going to 20m, but no answers, despite hearing some strong US stations coming in. Suspect running amplifiers... Saw a spot for VK3PF/p Peter and VK3NRB/p Ross in another park on 40m, so returned to work them in VKFF-2425 Providence Ponds Flora and Fauna Reserve.

Sun starting to set, and still had a 45 minute drive home, so packed up. More than enough contacts to qualify. Did a brief walk along the road along the boundary of the park

 

WWFF Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-2653

Recently another 284 parks were added to the NSW WWFF list, catching up on parks that were not added before due to limitations on how many can be added at a time. I had a look on a map at these new parks and noticed several close by to Canberra, including one not too far away to the North, Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve, VKFF-2653.

This is just to the East of the small village of Gundaroo. After lunch my partner and I drove there via Gungahlin, Gundaroo Drive, Captains Flat Road, then Sutton Road. About a 37 Km, 40 minute drive from home. Once reaching Gundaroo took Rosemel St on the right, this becomes Marked Tree Rd. The park is on the right after a few km, a locked gate with the park sign behind.

Just through the gate on the right the remnants of an old stock yard, probably used for holding sheep. Passed all the gear over the gate and set up using one of the stock yard posts for squid pole support.

Operating location on a map, taken from Protected Planet website.

looking back the other way

Radio shack on the table.

Good mobile coverage here. Saw a spot for VK5PAS/p in VKFF-0878 Eurilla Conservation Park so got on 40m and worked him, he was a strong S9. I spotted myself on 7.130 on ParksnPeaks and worked several park hunters

VK4FDJL
VK5KLV
VK5PL
VK3GGG/VK3PMG
VK4RF/VK4HA

Another Park to park with VK3PF/p Peter in VKFF-2034 Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve

I started getting heavy QRM from Europe from a contest, so moved down to 7.080, on the way working VK5FMAZ/p Maria also in VKFF-0878 Eurilla Conservation Park

Some more contacts

VK4TJ - VK4/AC8WN - VK4/VE6XT
VK2HF/4
VK4HNS

After no more calls on 40 m added the 80 m wire extensions on to the dipole ends.Worked Paul VK5PAS/p and Maria VK5FMAZ/p again in VKFF-0878 Eurilla Conservation Park, a good S7 on 80m.

Worked VK2IO Gerard and VK2NP Cliff in nearby Sydney, they could not hear me on 40 m as NVIS was not working.Went on to work

VK4TJ - VK4/AC8WN - VK4/VE6XT
VK3FMKE
VK3SQ

As the winter sun was setting it was getting quite cold. Overnight the temperature had fallen to -5 c and with thick fog in the morning the temperature had only struggled up to a maximum around 7 c.

Packed up and headed for the warmth of the wood fire in the nearby Gundaroo pub 😃