Day: December 30, 2013

Warby-Ovens National Park, 30th December 2013

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Warby Ranges Ryans Lookout JCD picture

Warby Ranges Ryans Lookout JCD picture

After travelling from Wangaratta to Beechworth I then checked the map and travelled about 14 kilometres out to the Warby-Ovens National Park. The location I chose was Ryan’s Lookout. I was on the air on 40 metres at 0601 and my first contact was with VK3SOG, Fred; then followed VK5EE/p QRP, Tom in Calectasia Conservation Park, in the South East of South Australia not far from Mount Gambier. As the band was very busy with established nets and lots of SOTA and Park activities by QRP portable stations it was not possible to find a clear frequency. So I became a portable chaser and used that wonderful facility available to us as amateurs: frequency agility! With five changes of frequency between 7080 and 7110 I had the following contacts: VK3MRG/p, QRP, Marshall on VK3 VE 007; VK5PAS, Paul; VK5GRW/p, Greg at Mount Buller (not in the Park sadly); VK5FMID, Brian; VK3AMB, Bernard; VK5FTRL, Tom; and those peripatetic folk, VK3YSP and VK3FOWL, Joe and Julie at Gunbower National Park; VK3HRA, Allen on VK3 VE  007; VK5TKK, Tim at Mount Gambier; VK3ANL, Nick and finally, VK3HCF, Col at Penola Conservation Park. Thanks to all those amateurs who gave me a call today, especially those 15 who helped make my visit to Warby-Ovens National Park so enjoyable.

Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria, 30th December 2013, VKFF – 620

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After celebrating Christmas in Sydney with our family, we are, in the words sung by Willie Nelson, ‘On the road again’. Today after travelling from Gundagai, I was a able to visit the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park.

The place I chose to activate from was Woolshed Flat, only a short distance into the Park not far from Beechworth.

I was on the air at 01:38 UTC and my first contact was with Joe and Julie, VK3FOWL, on 7090 who were portable at Terrick Terrick National Park. Joe said he was operating from the location I chose at the day visit area. How great to start with a Park to Park contact and give me another Park as a chaser. The followed contacts with VK5PAS, Paul; and then on 7095, with VK3FMPB, John; VK3SOG, Fred; VK3ANL, Nick; VK3TKK, Peter; VK5NIG/p, Nigel in Belair National Park, South Australia; VK2BNN/p, Brett, on VK2 CT 014; VK3BL/p7, Bob at St Helens in Tasmania; VK3JY/p, QRP, Steve at Lake Eildon National Park; VK3BH, Phil at Bendigo; VK3ANP, David; VK3CM (VK5BM) Brenton; VK3PRF, Peter at Bairnsdale; VK3NCR, Craig; VK5LY, Larry; VK3YSP, Joe for a second contact and finally, again, VK3FMPB,John. I then shifted to 7100 and had a contact with VK5STU/p, Stu at Belair National Park. I then moved to 20 metres and had a tough, but successful contact with ZL2KE, Steve, near Wellington. I gave Steve 5 and 2 and he gave me 2 and 3. However, it was a legitimate contact: he copied my call sign and signal report. The followed VK4ZD, Bill and VK5EE/p, Tom in Furner Conservation Park. Deleting duplicate contacts I enjoyed qso’s with 21 stations.

Woolshed Falls: people enjoying the waterhole

Woolshed Falls: people enjoying the waterhole