Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1918

Boxing Day my partner and I headed down to the South Coast for a few days holidays. While in Batemans Bay dropped into Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve to complete the 44 contacts needed for WWFF. As per last time parked in a car park off Myamba Parade and set off on the walking track to the park.

A short walk passed the sign for the park above the beach

Followed a walking track behind the sign to the same place I set up last time, using a wooden stake for squid pole support.

Shack on the tarp, also on beach towels. In case you are wondering, it was a hot day, in the 30c temperature, we went for a swim later :)

Got on 40 m. Lots of park hunters called. No park to parks, seemed to be the only one on.

VK4CZ
VK7XDM, VK3XDM/7
VK3ARH
VK2XXM
VK3ZPQ
VK2IO/M
VK3UH
VK5HS
VK4TJ, VK4/AC8WN, VK4/VE6XT
VK7PSJ
VK3SQ
VK3ALN/P

As had 15 contacts plus other activations had over 44 contacts so packed up and went for a swim :)

Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1918

After spending the night at Batemans Bay headed off to do another park, Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1918. I had activated this park before but needed more contacts to make up the 44 needed for WWFF. The park is in 2 sections on each side of Cullendulla Creek, this time went to the Western side of the creek, near Surfside Beach. Parked at the end of a side road off Myamba Parade. Note at the end of Myamba Parade is private property with no access to the park, so need to walk around it. Sign indicating 300 m to the park.

After 300 m reached a sign explaining a bit more about the park. This is on the park boundary.

 A little further along the beach a sign for the park.

Behind the sign Cullendulla Creek walking track. If you continue to the right you can do a nice walk on a raised platform among mangroves. To avoid the crowd went to the left along the track and set up the station just off the track. Used a wooden stake for squid pole support.

Shack on the tarp.

Got on 40 m. First contact was a park to park with Paul, VK5PAS activating VKFF-1030 Finnis Conservation Park. As per the day before at Broulee Island he was using a special event call VI5LWF, , "Lest We Forget"  It is one of a number of commemorative callsigns in Australia and Europe, to commemorate the centennary of the signing of the World War I armistice on 11th November 1918. Also worked Paul under his own call.

Found a clear spot and spotted myself. Park hunters were down in signals today with lots of QSB.

VK7QP
VK3ALN/P
VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4
VK2XXM

Another park to park with VK4SMA/p mark in VKFF-1671 Wararba Creek Conservation Park.Weak but we could hear each other as both in radio quiet parks.

Worked a few more park hunters

VK4HAT
VK3ANL
VK4TJ, VK4/AC8WN, VK4/VE6XT
VK2FSAV

Unfortunately my 4200 maH LifePO4 battery, which I had also used yesterday, decided it had had enough and I could no longer transmit. I had forgotten to take a charger to recharge it overnight. So packed up and drove back home. Need to return again to this park for the 44 contacts.

WWFF Activation Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1918

Having stopped overnight at Batemans Bay on a bit of a weekend break with my partner decided to do a first time activation of a nearby WWFF park, Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1918.

The park is to the North of Batemans Bay and consists of two sections, one on the Western side of Cullendulla Creek, mainly mangroves, and another section on the Eastern side and to the South called Square Head. From Batemans Bay drove North on the Princes Highway, turning off onto Cullendulla Drive. Turned off this onto Blairs Road into Long Beach housing estate. Turned off and parked at the car park for the start of the walking tracks into Square Head.

Set up the WWFF station in the car park. Operating spot shown, map from protectedplanet.net

Used one of the bollards in the car park for the squid pole support, table and chairs set up nearby for the radio.

Looking up the hill at the shack

Close up of the shack. My FT-857D running off a LifePO4 battery. Set the power to 30 W.

Got on 40 m. Disappointingly a lot of local electrical QRM, probably from the nearby houses on the edge of the reserve. Many had solar panel systems which can be quite noisy electrically.

I first worked Peter, VK3TKK/p in VKFF-0231 Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. He was about to go clear, so quickly called him, even though I had not even looked up the VKFF number of my park yet.

Made the mistake of spotting myself on 7.144 Mhz. It sounded quiet to me but was only 2 Khz below the VK2 WIA broadcast on 7.146 Mhz from Sydney. There was no short hop propagation there but they were affecting chasers, so moved to 7.140 Mhz. Must remember this for Sunday morning activations...

Went on the work VK2XXM Robert, VK3OHM Mark, VK6ZRW/7 Ray, VK3MRG/p Marshall and VK2VW Brett.

Got called again by Peter, VK3TKK/p, this time in another park, VKFF-0373 Murray-Sunset National Park. So another park to park contact.

Got called by Gerard VK2IO in Sydney, who advised I had come out of the noise to a good strong signal. So NVIS short hop was working again. Went on to work VK5BJE John, VK3BBB Brian, VK3FLCS Brett.

Spoke to VK2HEY/p Ross, in Sydney but using a remote station in Cowra. He was quite strong. VK7MPR Mark, VK2YW John in Wagga very strong, and VK2PKT Keith in Parkes, also strong.

Hunters seemed to dry up, so packed up for lunch after 16 contacts. Don't mind returning to this park for the remainder of the 44 contacts, very attractive with lots of Burrawang Palms and Spotted Gum Trees.

A photo from a walk I did earlier here.

View across to Batemans Bay from the Southern end of Square Head