WWFF Woodstock Nature Reserve VKFF-0988

With a warm sunny Sunday decided to reactivate a nearby WWFF park, VKFF-0988 Woodstock Nature Reserve. I had visited it a couple of times before but due to poor propagation still had not made the 44 contacts needed for a WWFF point, still needed another 12 contacts.

As per other activations drove to the car park off Stockdill Drive in Holt, at the start of the walk to Shephards Lookout. I took the park access gate to the right of the walking track.

After a short walk set up in the bush to the right of the track. Used a fallen tree for squid pole support.

Radio on the table. Used the IC-7300 for a bit more power, set to 20w. Note the radio touch screen in the full sun was hard to read, used my own shadow for a sunscreen...

Got on 40m. Started with a park to park with Bob VK5AFZ/p in VKFF-1767 Lawari Conservation Park, a newly added WWFF park. Found a spot and spotted myself, usual park hunters from VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK7.

Another couple of park to park contacts with Marc VK3OHM/p in VKFF-0741 Lower Goulburn National Park, and Mike VK3XL/p in VKFF-0747 Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park.

Worked Marija VK5FMAZ/p and Paul VK5PAS/p in VKFF-0788 Scott Creek Conservation Park.

Worked several more hunters in VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7. Another park to park with John VK5BJE/3 in VKFF-0264 Kinglake National Park.

Finished with another Park to park with special event station VK5WOW/p in VKFF-0788 Scott Creek Conservation Park, run by Paul VK5PAS. The pileup after this call was massive... I managed to get logged after Paul asked for QRP stations, I turned my power down to 5W and worked him...

After trying for another 12 contacts I had made 48, so actually qualified the park on this activation alone... headed home.

Woodstock Nature Reserve VKFF-0988

With a nice mild evening decided to do a WWFF park activation after work, headed out to a nearby park Woodstock Nature Reserve, VKFF-0988. I had activated this park once before but didn't get enough contacts for the 44 required, so time for a repeat visit.

As per last activation drove along Stockdill Drive and parked at the car park for the Shepherds Lookout walk.

There is a plaque on the rock wall showing a map of the park.

As I had my heavy TS-480 radio and a table and chair didn't walk to the lookout this time, and looked for a spot close by to operate from. Entered the park via a ranger access gate on the right of the car park.

After a short walk along the road found a grassy open area on the right to set up the dipole. As nothing suitable to strap the squid pole to I used my camping table for support. Worked quite well. Station set up in the grass, quite long after all the recent rain...

Unfortunately the recent rain also meant mosquitoes were out :( Had most skin covered so wasn't too bad. Close up of the station.

Started on 20m as there was a spot on the ParksnPeaks website for Fred VK4FE/p in VKFF-1650 Speewah Conservation Park, up near Cairns North Queensland.

Fred was a good 57 signal. Tried spotting and calling myself, only one contact, F1BLL Gerard. After calling for a while went to 40m to work the locals.

Found the band very noisy with static crashes. Found out later this was from a storm approaching from the North that reached Canberra later in the evening. Close by NVIS contacts also seemed to be missing. A weak copy with Adrian VK5FANA, then Bill  VK4FW with a strong signal. Went on to work Mick VK3PMG/VK3GGG, Steve VK3FSPG, Andrew VK7DW, Fred VK4FE/p again on 40 m, and Peter VK7FPRN.

Got sick of the static and returned to 20m. Found Hans VK6XN/p in VKFF-1431 Leschenaultia Conservation Park. He had a good signal, this was his first park activation and sounded like he was having fun. Tried another spot, got called by JA8RJE, Kio in Hokkaido, a good 57 signal.

Saw another spot for another activation, Phil VK6ADF/p in VKFF-1446 Jurian Bay Coastal Park. Had a bit of a chat about the joys of portable operating, and what the public think you are doing... Signal built up as the sun was setting.

After a final call ended up working Danny, ON4VT, a very active park activator and hunter in Belgium. Weak but workable. His eQSL card

Packed up and headed home for dinner. A total of 13 contacts, need to return again to this park for another 13 contacts to reach the 44 needed for WWFF.

Woodstock Nature Reserve VKFF-0988

Following the recent addition of 7 new WWFF award parks to the Australian Capital Territory decided to activate one of these on Sunday. I picked Woodstock Nature Reserve as its only about a 10 minute drive from home :) This is to a prominent point in the reserve, Shepherds Lookout.

Headed to Stockdill Drive in Holt and followed it down until reaching the car park to Shepherds Lookout

On the stone wall a map of the walk and the reserve. 250 m to the lookout.

Walked along the track. There is a junction so you can do a loop walk, can go either way. I went the shortest route to the right.

Reached Shepherds lookout. Great view to the North of the Murrumbidgee River.

A sign explaining some of the history of the area

A more detailed look of the view. A big bend in the river below.

Went looking for a comfortable operating spot for a park activation. Picked a large log near the lookout as a seat and radio shack and squid pole support.

Looking down hill at the shack. Good view to the West and Brindabella mountains

Shack on the log. Was in the sun but had a hat on.

Got on 40m. Apart from some strong VK7s the band seemed dead... Saw a SOTA spot for Adam VK3AGD/P on VK3/VC-029. Managed to work him, but he was a very weak signal.

Called CQ parks on the WWFF calling frequency and got Tony VK1VIC/P and Andrew VK1NAM/P on nearby Mt Majura VK1/AC-034 with a strong signal. This summit is also in a Canberra Nature Park Mt Majura Nature Reserve VKFF-851

Then worked my way through the regular parks chasers. VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7. The VK3s were very weak unless more than around 400-500 Km away such as Mick VK3PMG in Western Victoria. Nothing at all of close by VK2s in Sydney or VK3s in Melbourne, the skip zone seemed somewhere around the 400 Km range.

Got splashed by Adam VK2YK on 7.140 working Tony VK3VTH/P in a park near Wodonga. He was very, very weak...and he was running 100w. I tried a few calls with my puny 5w but unable to make it back.

Did manage to work Mark VK4MON in VKFF-187 Freshwater National Park with a weak but readable signal. Saw a SOTA spot for Peter VK3PF/P on VK3/VT-047, also in VKFF-942 Avon Wilderness Park. He was very weak, but at least we managed to work each other.

After a few hours with only 18 contacts gave it away struggling to hear weak signals and headed home for lunch. At least this is an easy park to return to and get the remaining contacts for the 44 required.

Track log of walk.