Jarramlee Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-3180

Sunday afternoon was nice and sunny, so decided to head out and activate a park, before more rain later in the week. Returned to Jarramlee Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-3180. Last activation I made 18 contacts, so needed another 24 to qualify for WWFF.

As per last activation parked off Hugh Mackay Cres in Dunlop and walked past a locked boom gate along the road to the park. On the way I stuck a bit of an obstacle, more on that later...

Sign for the park

I headed to the trees on the left, going a bit further away this time from the power lines as they generated some noise last spot. Set up the squid pole on a stump.

Looking to the South

Looking to the North

Checked the SWR, not too bad

Shack on the tarp

Got on 40m. Started with a park to park with VK3ASC Rory in VKFF-2113 Ironbark Road Nature Conservation Reserve.

Spotted on 7.100 and worked many hunters.

VK5LA, VK2HHA, VK3APJ, VK3ZPF, VK5BJE, VK3BBB/VK2CCP, VK4HNS, VK3PF, VK3MTT, VK2LH/VK4AAC, VK3NFS, VK4NH/VK4DXA, ZL3RIK, VK3AMO, VK2YN, VK2TKR/2, VK1BUB, VK3VIN, VK4TJ, VK2PET/m, VK2LIL/m, VK7AN, VK7ALB, VK5PAS, VK2BYN.

After went quiet moved to 20m. Worked VK1AD/p Andrew on SOTA summit VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo, not far away. He was working EU stations. Spotted on 20m, then the DX kicked in...

ZL1TM, KG5CIK, IZ2IHO, OH1MM, IK3IDF, OH5EP, OH4ON, DL2ND, SM1ALH, EA5GVV.

I was weak to most of them but managed to make contacts okay. As had 44 contacts qualified the park on this single activation, so packed up and headed home.

This is the obstacle I struck heading there and back. The creek crossing was flooded...

A car could have driven through, but I was on foot... I ended up taking my shoes and socks off and walking across barefoot. It wasn't too bad, at the deepest point a bit above my ankles. The water was cold though.

Made it back to the car okay and headed home. The park is only around a 10 minute drive from home.

Jarramlee Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-3180

Five new WWFF parks were added recently to VK1. With a nice sunny Saturday decided to activate one of the close by ones, Jarramlee Grassland Nature Reserve, VKFF-3180

The park is located at the back of the Canberra suburb of Macgregor, on the North Western edge of the Australian Capital Territoty. Drove to Macgregor and parked in the suburb on Hugh-McKay Cres. Running off this a road leading to a locked gate.

Walked past the gate and along the road. This is part of the Bicentenial Trail, a horse riding track. The road runs to Jarramlee farm, about a Km away. Road to the farm

Reached the NSW/ACT border, and the entrance to Jarramlee property, a cattle farm. Sign for the farm, private property.

The Bicentenial trail heads right here on the border. To the left a gate and entrance to Jarramlee Grassland Nature Reserve. 

Headed into the reserve, and to a collection of fallen dead trees on the left. Found one suitable for squid pole support and an operating seat.

Operating spot. Map from Openstreetmap.org

Looking back the other way, towards the NSW border.

Shack on the fallen tree. Note the nearby power lines, they generated about an S6 of noise...

Got on 40m. Started with a park to park contact with VK2HBG/p Gerald in VKFF-1924 Dharawal Nature Reserve. A good strong S9 signal.

Spotted myself on 7.144, a bit tricky as the park is not yet listed in VK-Port-a-log. I just picked an existing VK1 park and added the park number in the comment field. 

A bit of a pileup followed. Worked VK3SQ, VK2BYF, VK2IO. 

Another Park to park with VK3OAK/p Malcolm in  VKFF-2233 Winter Swamp Nature Conservation Reserve

VK3PF, VK2CDB, VK2VH, VK4AAC, VK2EXA, VK2PKT, VK4KC, VK4MAD, VK4DOG, VK4HNS, VK3VIN, VK2MET, VK2MZ, VK3UH, VK5PAS/mobile VK2, VK4NH, VK4DXA, VK2XIC, VK4HMI, VK2MOE.

After contacts dried up on 40m went to 20m. One call from VK4CJM, then no one else.

Packed up and headed home for lunch.