Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve VKFF-0841

The weather on Saturday afternoon looked to be good, so headed out to do another WWFF pack activation, VKFF-0841. I had previously activated this park in November 2015 and made 33 contacts, so needed to return to get the 44.

The park had been closed while roadworks on the widening of Horse Park Drive was in progress, so interested to see the changes made. Drove along the updated Horse Park Drive until coming up to the park. Noticed the old car park and entrance gone now. The only entry I could find was a gate in the high kangaroo proof fence, so parked near this. There was a sign on the gate warning of closure of the reserve for kangaroo culling, however it was open from 9 am Friday to 3 pm Sunday, so able to enter at this time. Once through the gate walked a short distance to a second gate and entry into the park.

As Horse Park Drive quite busy and noisy wandered into the park a fair distance, until spotting a suitable operating spot, a large log with a nearby dead tree for squid pole support.

Location within the park. Map from Protected Planet

Looking back towards Horse Park Drive. Had the full 80-40-20 m linked dipole out.

Shack on the log. Using new 7.5 Ah LifePO4 battery. FT-857D set to 40w output.

Got on 40 m. Worked VK5PAS/p Paul first on 7.144 with a good 59 signal in VKFF-1052 Lowan Conservation Park. Followed this with VK2YK/p Adam in VKFF-1349 Medowie State Conservation Area, also quite strong. After spotting myself on ParksnPeaks worked the park hunter pileup...

VK4RF, VK4HA
VK5BJE
VK5IS
VK4CZ
VK2VW
VK4SMA
VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4
VK5FANA
VK4FDJL
VK4TJ, VK4/AC8WN, VK4/VE6XT
VK4FARR
ZL1TM
VK2HMV
VK5MRE

Another park to park with VK2IO/5 Gerard in VKFF-1755 Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park.

Saw a spot for VK7XDM David on 7.090 on a SOTA peak, VK7/SC-058, so worked him. He was on Lowes Hill on Bruny Island.

Another park to park with VK3PF/p Peter in VKFF-2200 Sweetwater Creek Nature Conservation Reserve.

Briefly tried 20 m, could just hear Paul VK5PAS too weak to work, in fact 20 m did not sound great so did not try it.

Later I saw a spot for Paul, on 80 m. After changing the links could hear and work him easily with a 57 signal. Tried spotting and calling and got a few more park hunters

VK2NP
VK3SQ

both good signals. Geoff VK3SQ was S9+! Worked another park to park, VK2IO/5 Gerard in VKFF-1052 Lowan Conservation Park.

As getting late in the day, enough contacts, and cooling down packed up. My new LifePO4 7.5 aH battery did well, dropping from 13.2v at the start down to 12.8v after activating. About a half hour on charge at home and it was recharged, ready for the next activation.

Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve VKFF-0841

After activating Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve in the morning, had lunch in Forde and headed along Horse Park Drive to the Western entrance to Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve. This park is large and joins Mulligans Flat, so possible to do a long walk through both parks.

There is a car park and a slot in the fence to pass through to access the park. This proved a bit of a challenge getting my camping table and chair through... Note the really high fence, keeps kangaroos in and predators out.

Not far from the gate on the right was a log which provided support for the squid pole. Mt Majura is just over the hill on the right.

Looking back the other way. The track going into the reserve behind.

Set up the shack in the shade of the trees. Horse Park drive visible. It was busy all the time, but not too noisy to be distracting.

Got on 40 m. Plenty of other park activations on, some I had worked earlier, others like myself in new parks. Another 17 more parks from VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5.

After a while I got a "Low"warning sign on the TS-480 indicating the car battery was going flat, first time I have seen this as it usually runs off the power supply at home. Probably from running high power earlier. Not getting much power out, so swapped over to my FT-817 and LifePO4 battery. A bit harder to get through on QRP as conditions varied, but continued okay.

Got a bit warm so gave it away after 32 contacts, headed home.