Bermaguee Nature Reserve VKFF-2525

After activating Biamanga National Park at Baragoot Beach packed up and drove back to the Tathra-Bermagui Rd. Drove back towards Bermagui, then turned off onto Head of Cuttagee Rd. Sign for Bermaguee Nature Reserve VKFF-2525 on the right.

As far as I know there are no camps or rest areas in this reserve, so just looked out for a suitable operating spot in the scrub off the road. Spotted a tree stump in the bush suitable for squid pole support, set up. Fairly open forest so not hard to get the dipole legs out.

Operating spot, from Google Maps

Shack on the table

Got on 40m. Found another park station on 7.144, worked him, VK5BRU Michael in VKFF-1056 Marino Conservation Park

Able to spot myself easily on 7.165. Worked VK3PF, VK2GSV, VK2IO, VK2EXA, VK2MOE.

A SOTA and park contact with VK2HRX COmpton on VK2/CT-032 Mount Banks, also in Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041

VK3CEO, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2PKT, VK3UCD, VK1AD, VK3UAO.

Tried 20m, a contact with VK3BCD/4.

Packed up and headed back to Bermagui for lunch.

Biamanga National Park VKFF-0031

After stopping overnight at Narooma drove down to Bermagui to activate some WWFF parks South of the town. The first one I activated was Biamanga National Park VKFF-0031. Noticed a section of the park around Baragoot Beach, thought it would be nice to operate from. Drove South of Bermagui on the Tathra-Bermagui Rd, turning off onto Baragoot Beach access track. A short track that led to the car park for the beach. Sign for the beach. Reference to Biamanga National Park on the sign.

Looking North on the beach

Looking South on the beach.

Returned to the car park. As a weekday and winter sure there would not be other visitors, so set up in the car park, using a bollard for squid pole support. Just enough room to raise the squid pole through a gap in the trees and lay the dipole legs out.

Operating spot. Map from Google Maps

Radio on the table. A little windy today but was sheltered here.

Got on 40m. Fairly quiet morning, callers spaced out. Worked

VK5BJE, VK3PF, VK2IO, VK3CWF, VK3VIN, VK5PAS, VK7ZA, VK2LAX, VK2LDW, VK3SQ.

Tried 20m when 40m went quiet. Worked

VK1RF/4, VK4FO

Still a few more parks to do, packed up and headed for nearby Bermaguee Nature Reserve.

 

Eurobodalla National Park VKFF-0164

With some cold weather predicted in Canberra over the next few days, decided to take a break from the cold and head down to Narooma on the NSW South Coast, activating some of the WWFF parks nearby.

The first park to activate was Eurobodalla National Park VKFF-0164. The park is in several areas on the South Coast, stretching from Moruya Heads in the North to Mystery Bay in the South. I decided to access the park to the North of Potato Point, a short drive East of Bodalla. Drove along Blackfellows Point Rd. After crossing Potato Creek a sign for the park on the left.

Drove North looking for a nice open area for activating from. On the point to the North of Piccaninny Beach found a dirt track lookout with a nice grassy open area. Set up here. Squid pole supported by my table.

Operating spot. Map from Google Maps

One of the local kangaroos keeping the grass short.

Shack on the table. Quite pleasant with no wind today, a lot warmer than Canberra around 16c or so.

Got on 40m, FT857D set to 40w. Band quite good, plenty of callers.

VK3PF, VK2VH/VK4AAC, VK3SQ, VK2EXA, VK3VIN, VK5AYL, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2HHA, VK2BKO, VK3SG, VK3SMW, VK3UAO, VK2IO, VK2XIC, VK2ALU, VK5PAS

A park to park with VK2OKR Richard in VKFF-1778 Blue Gum Hills Regional Park

VK2AUS, VK3CWF, VK3UH, VK3MCK, VK4KTW, VK2XGB.

After 40m callers stopped switched the linked dipole to 20m. Worked

VK5NHG, VK3APJ, IK1GPG.

I have worked IK1GPG Massimo before, a regular caller from Europe.

As still a bit of a drive to Narooma packed up. Had activated this park before and made up over 44 total contacts for a WWFF point.

Melrose Nature Reserve VKFF-3183

With a nice sunny day decided to take advantage of it and do a park activation. Returned to Melrose Nature Reserve, VKFF-3183, as was 5 contacts short of the 44 needed for WWFF.

Instead of activating near the ACT Paintball Park like last time, drove on South past the Johnson Drive roundabout on the Monaro Hwy, until reaching a sign for the park on the left. Parked near the sign. Able to park well off the road.

An older version of the park sign was nearby, and a locked gate into the reserve. I found it easier to just hop over the fence near the sign. Passed my gear over the fence.

Wandered down hill into the reserve, to get away from the traffic noise on the Monaro Hwy. Nothing suitable for squid pole support, so just strapped it to my table. Dipole legs out to nearby tree branches.

Looking back the other way.

Checked the SWR, okay, if a little high resonant spot. Still low across the 40m band.

Radio and battery pack on the table. Able to run a bit of power, 40w from the FT-857.

Got on 40m. 7.144 was busy so moved up to 7.154 and spotted, got a stream of callers.

VK4TJ, VK2EG, VK3APJ, VK2IO, VK1CT, VK3CWF, VK2EXA, VK3NDG, VK3PF, VK3AWA, VK2HHA, VK3VIN, VK3AMO

Park to park contacts with VK2VAR Colin and VK2BYF Bob in VKFF-0043 Booderee National Park.

VK3SQ

Another Park to park with VK3ZK Nik in VKFF-0978 Tocumwal Regional Park

VK1ARQ, VK3LF.

Tried 20m, worked NE3KO, using an SDR in Portland Oregon. Running 500w I could hear him well but a struggle with him hearing my 40w.

VK3APJ, VK7JGD.

A couple of EU contacts, DL2ND Uwe and OH1XT Jari. Both regular hunters for me. 

Returned to 40m to get another park contact with VK1AO Alan in VKFF-1410 Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park.

Packed up to avoid peak hour traffic around 3pm, headed home.

1225 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Latest award for me for hunting 1225 VKFF parks. Certainly helped by a lot of new VK3 parks activated recently.

1200 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

 Latest award for hunting 1200 VKFF Parks.

2 Brunei Contacts Award

Another award from the Europen Ros Club, for working 2 stations in Brunei.