Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1979

After activating Corramy Regional Park in the morning headed beck towards Ulladulla, turning off to Lake Conjola and my next park, Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1979. Lake Conjola and the park were burnt in the the January 2020 fires.

Sign for the park. It was lucky not to have burnt...

Continued to the beach car park and parked. Last time I operated here from a wooden platform above the beach. This was replaced after the fire. View to the North from the lookout

View to the South

Returned to the car park. Had noticed a track there heading South into the park, so followed it

After a short distance found a straight section of the track where I could string out my dipole, so set up on the track. 

Looking back the other way

Checked the SWR. A little high and detuned from a nearby tree, but okay.

Radio on the table

Got on 40 m. Seemed crowded as some DX coming in. Got on 7.155, although later a strong VK7 came up on 7.150 making some QRM. Worked

VK2VW, VK5PAS, VK4KC, VK7QP, VK4CZ, VK4SMA.

Tried 80 m. Found VK3PF Peter on SOTA summit VK3/VG-157 on 3.610, so worked him.

Returned to 40 m, where a spot from Gerard VK2IO told me he did not hear me on 80 m. So returned to 80 m and worked him with a good signal. No more callers on 80 m though.

Back on 40 m worked

VK7AN, ZL1TM, VK5FMAZ

As getting late in the day packed up with 11 contacts and headed back to Ulladulla for the evening.

 

WWFF Activation Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1979

For the Australia Day long weekend 26-28th January headed down to the NSW South Coast to Mollymook for a few days with my partner, to swim and enjoy the warm weather.

After going for a swim at Narawallee Beach in the morning, had lunch at Mollymook shops, then set off to try activating a new WWFF park, VKFF-1979 Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve. This has not been activated previously.

I initially tried to access the park via Narrawallee Creek Road off Lake Conjola Entrance Road, but came to a locked gate... So back tracked to Lake Conjola Entrance Road, drove to Lake Conjola village, took Thorne Street to the South, then turned off onto Conjola Beach Trail. This was a dirt track but okay for 2WDs. Passed Pattimores Lagoon and finally entered the park.

Got to Conjola Beach Carpark. Unfortunately very small with only a few picnic tables in the bush, really unsuitable for operating a radio from, and no room for antennas.

Wandered up the hill to the beach. There was a lookout platform above the beach which would have to do for an operating spot. 

Set up the squid pole on the railing of the lookout platform

One dipole leg had just enough room to run down to a nearby fence. The other leg was challenging...

Ended up throwing the wire over some bushes, then bush bashing to the end and tying it to a branch.

Operating spot, map from Protected Planet website

Radio on the lookout platform deck, hiding from the sun behind a grass bush...

Set the power to 40 W and got on 40m on 7.144 Mhz. Found my phone battery had died so unable to spot myself, so got my first contact, Geoff VK3SQ to spot me.

Went on to work the following park hunters

VK4TJ John

VK5FMPW Michael

VK3PF Peter

VK3GGG/VK3PMG Mick

VK4SYD Rob

VK4GSF George

VK3MRG Marshall

VK4CPS Paul

VK3OHM Marc

I got another call from John VK4TJ, he also worked me with his US and Canadian calls to help my call count, thanks John.

Note mainly long distance contacts on 40 m, close by NVIS not working... Tried 20 m also but no luck. As had over 10 contacts for VKFF gave it away and headed back to Mollymook for dinner.