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.