Lind National Park VKFF-0287

After activating Bondi Gulf NP drove down the Monaro Hwy to Cann River, then headed West on the Princes Hwy to my next park, Lind National Park VKFF-0287. This is close to the the highway. Sign for the park near Lind Park Rd.

Followed Lind Park Rd to the start of Euchre Valley Nature Drive

Euchre Valley Nature Drive was closed off...

As no traffic to worry about, set up the station on the road.

Operating spot. Map from Google Maps

Shack on the table. The blue bottle is insect repellent, the mosquitoes were bad here :(

Started on 80m, only one contact, VK3PF Peter a fairly strong 58 even in the middle of the day.

Went to 40m. Band conditions were even worse here than the morning park, could hardly hear anyone... Made some more contacts, slowly...

VK6MB/5 park to park in VKFF-0788 Scott Creek Conservation Park

VK4TJ
VK2LUV
VK4CZ
VK5CZ

After 6 contacts gave it away as obvious the bands in very poor shape, and still some distance to drive. Packed up and continued West on the Princes Hwy. Note this park is one of the 45 Victorian National  parks for the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA), which only needs a contact from the park to qualify it.

Bondi Gulf Nature Reserve VKFF-2535

With a Labour Day holiday long weekend decided to head down to Victoria and do a few new parks. Friday afternoon drove down to Cooma. Saturday morning headed South of Cooma on the Monaro Hwy through Nimmitabel, then Bombala, and then turned off onto Gulf Rd on the right to Bondi Gulf Nature Reserve.

Eastern Boundary track on the left looked a bit rough so headed further along Gulf Rd on the right, until coming to Northern Boundary track junction.

Set up in the scrub behind the sign. The road is outside the park so needed to be in the scrub.

Operating spot in the park, map from Protected Planet

Shack on the table.

Got on 40m. Could not hear many on, conditions seemed very poor. Could hear the Riverland radio net on, most of the stations low signals or not audible. As had mobile coverage spotted myself on the park call frequency 7.144 Mhz and started calling. Worked the following on 40m

VK2ZVG
VK2VW
VK4HNS
VK7FRJG

As not getting any more callers QSYed to 80m, managed a couple more contacts

VK3PF
VK3SQ

Both quite strong. No more callers on 80m so went back to 40m to try and get to 10 contacts.

VK5HSX
VK5PAS/m
VK4TJ
VK4HNS

Made it to 10 contacts to count for VKFF. As conditions not good and still some distance to travel, packed up and headed South on the Monaro Hwy into Victoria and to Cann River.

National Wattle Day 2019 Award

For my activation of Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve VKFF-0855 on 1st September, received an award for activating on National Wattle Day. Here is the award from the awards manager Paul VK5PAS

VKFF Hunter Honour Roll 825 Award

Looking on the WWFF Logsearch web page found that I had enough confirmed contacts from activators for the VKFF Activator Honour Roll 825 parks. Here is the award.

VKFF Murray River Parks Award 41 parks

After some contacts recently with Mike VK6MB/3 who had activated several parks along the Murray River, able to apply for the Murray River Parks Award, for 41 parks. Here is the award.

Mundoonen Nature Reserve VKFF-1971

After lunch in Yass headed to my next park, Mundoonen Nature Reserve. Drove East along Yass Valley Way, continuing straight ahead through the Barton Hwy roundabout and at the end of the road turning right onto the Hume Hwy. After climbing up the Mt Mundoonen hill turned off left into Sheldricks Lane. Able to park here off the old Hume Hwy. Sign for the park here.

The Highway Trail goes up to SOTA summit Mt Mundoonen, however the summit is not in the park. So entered the park just behind the sign, where there was a boundary fence. Set up close to the fence

Looking back the other way

Location in the park. Map from Protected Planet website

Shack on the table. The hill made it a bit awkward...

Got on 40 m. Unfortunately not quiet, had about an S3 of noise from the nearby power lines. At least good mobile coverage so able to spot myself on parksnpeaks. Worked the following

VK2VW
VK7QP
VK4SYD
ZL1TM
VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4
VK2FSAV
VK5WU

Callers seemed to dry up, so went to 80 m. A few more contacts.

VK3SQ
VK4AAC/2 VK2VH

As getting late in the day and had at least qualified the park for VKFF, packed up and headed home.

Bango Nature Reserve VKFF-1884

With a nice warm sunny Sunday decided to go for a drive and activate a couple of new parks for me, Bango Nature Reserve and Mundoonen Nature Reserve, both close to Yass.

Drove to Yass, then from the main street, Laidlow St, turned off onto Orion St, at the end of the street turned off onto Cooks Hill Rd. Followed this for several Km North, then turned off to the NE onto Blakney Creek Rd S, until coming to Bango Park on the right. Sign for the park.

The park is accessed through some gaps on the side of an old gate.

Near the park sign a star picket made an ideal support for the squid pole. Set up the table next to it. Dipole legs out to a nearby tree and down to the park fence.

Looking back the other way

Operating spot in the park. Map from Protected Planet website.

Shack on the table

Got on 40 m. Went to spot myself, found no mobile coverage... I had a chat to a local farmer later who came up to see what I was doing, he told me phone coverage drops once you come down from Cooks Hill Rd. So with no coverage called on 7.140 Mhz. There is usually a WIA broadcast on Sunday on 7.146 Mhz so wanted to avoid this.

Managed to get heard and called by Linda VK7QP who kindly spotted me, so off with a queue of park hunters calling me. Worked

VK5AR/m
VK5HS
VK2VW

A weak park to park with John VK5FLEA/p in VKFF-0778 Cleland Conservation Park and also SOTA summit VK5/SE-005 Mt Lofty. He was quite weak but got stronger with time.

VK4CZ
VK5NJ
VK4RF VK4HA
VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4
VK3JP VK3CA
VK3FSPN
VK5FANA

A non SOTA contact with VK1XP/m on Mt Ainslie, in the car so not valid, still a good copy from the mobile to this park.

VK3XXY
VK5IS
VK4SMA
VK5PL
VK3PF
VK7EE
ZL1TM

Was good to work a few VK3s, short NVIS skip has been poor lately on 40 m.
With no spotting did not try other bands. Around noon packed up and headed back to Yass for lunch.