Stony Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1997

With nice weather on Saturday afternoon decided to activate a WWFF park. Returned to finish off Stony Creek Nature Reserve, VKFF-1997. Last time logged 22 contacts so needed to complete the 44 needed for WWFF.

Access was per last time, head to Queanbeyan, then the Kings Hwy, then Captains Flat Rd. A few Km along the road the park is on the left. Parked near the gate. Pleased to see the fence was repaired. Last time I was here the left fence post was on the ground, and illegal trail bikes were entering the park, which I saw. Now its harder for them to enter.

Set up the squid pole on the park sign. While setting up a large flock of yellow tailed black cockatoos were flying around the nearby trees, noisy large parrots. Too far away to photograph.

Looking the other way. 

Tested the dipole, quite low SWR at the top end of 40m. Fairly flat across the whole band anyway.

Shack on the table. Now using a new Galaxy Tab A 8 inch tablet for park logging. Its a bit heavy for SOTA but good for parks, has a large battery that lasts for hours.

Got on 40. Started by making a couple of park to parks, both good strong signals.

VK3CRG Craig and 2nd op Debbie in VKFF-0055 Brisbane Ranges National Park

VK3YV Tony in VKFF-0758 Holey Plains State Park

Spotted myself on 7.155 and worked a heap of park hunters.

VK2IO, VK7ME, VK4KC, VK4MAD, VK4DOG, VK5FANA, VK5PAS, VK5HAA, VK3PF, VK5MAZ, VK2MET, VK3BBB, VK2CCP, VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4, VK4CZ, VK4SMA, VK2FADV, VK7FAMP, VK4WTN, VK2VH, VK4AAC/2

Another park to park with VK2YK/5, Adam in VKFF-1707 Encounter Marine Park

VK3APS, VK3FD, VK4COM, VK4BZ/3

I did briefly try 20m, but no reply to my calls. Could barely hear VK3YV and VK2YK/5 in their parks.

Copied VK0PD Paul in Antarctica quite well, but he was having a good chat with someone, left him to it.

Park more than qualified. Packed up and headed home. 

Stony Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1997

With a nice warm Sunday decided to activate another WWFF park, this time picking one never before activated, VKFF-1997 Stony Creek Nature Reserve. Drove to Queanbeyan, then onto the Kings Highway, turning off onto the Captains Flat Rd. Followed this for 5 Km before turning off on the left into the park.

As can be seen the park boundary is run down... The fence was falling to bits, and one of the fence posts was on the ground. I found out why later when I saw someone illegally riding a motor bike through the park...they would have got through the fence easily.

Near the gate a faded sign showing some of the parks Flora and Fauna.

Set up the squid pole on the park sign, dipole legs tied to a couple of nearby tree branches.

Operating location in the park. Map from Protected Planet.

FT857d radio on the table. Started on 40 m running 40 W.

Got on 40 m and worked the activators already on. Park to park contacts with VK5PAS/p Paul and VK5FMAZ/p Maria in VKFF-0868 Bakara Conservation Park, with good signals.

Found VK3ZPF/p Peter on SOTA summit VK3/VN-011, also VKFF-0755 Cathedral Range State Park. A good 57 signal even though he was only using 5 w.

Worked some of the usual park hunters

VK3PF, VK2LEE, VK2XXM, VK3ARH, VK3BBB, VK7JON, VK3ZMD and VK2PKT.

Saw some spot on ParksnPeaks, activators moved to 20 m, so followed them up there.

Worked again VK5PAS/p in VKFF-0868 Bakara Conservation Park, and VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-0755 Cathedral Range State Park, both good signals on 20 m.'

A surprising call from VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1167 Dharawal National Park in Sydney, only around 300 Km away... Weak but readable, some back scatter I guess.

Some more park hunters called, all quite strong.

VK7JON, VK2USH, VK2LEE, VK4OV, VK4HNS.

Made a very weak contact with VK2JNG/p Gerard in VKFF-1971 Mundoonen Nature Reserve near Yass. Not that far away, but too far for ground wave, so probably more back scatter. He was very low down but could copy with no radio noise in the park.

Saw a spot on 40 m for VK4SMA/p Mark, so went back there to work him in  VKFF-0309 Maryland National Park.

And a spot on 20 m for VK4FW/p Bill, so another band link change there to work him in VKFF-1470 Baywulla Creek Conservation Park.

As getting warm and lunch time parked up after 22 contacts. Was going to activate nearby Wanna Wanna Nature Reserve next, but could not find the access road, one to return to after looking at the maps...

Instead headed off to another park in the afternoon, VKFF-1375, Tallaganda State Recreation Area.