Yesterday after finishing work, I headed home and packed the 4WD and headed down to the Fleurieu Peninsula for the second 2015/2016 Friday afternoon/evening event for the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award.  Very hot weather, Christmas, and New Year had prevented activations during the past 2-3 weeks on Fridays.

My intended destination was the Mount Billy Conservation Park, VKFF-0912, which is situated about 75 km south of Adelaide, and about 12 km north of the seaside tourist town of Victor Harbor.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Mount Billy Conservation Park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

I have activated Mount Billy once before, back in December 2013, but in recent times the park has been added to the list of qualifying parks for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  A check on WWFF Log Search showed that the park had not been activated before for WWFF, so this was going to be a unique VKFF activation for me, and a brand new park activation for the program.

For more information on my previous activation, please have a look at my previous post…….

https://vk5pas.org/2013/12/29/mount-billy-conservation-park/

I travelled out of Mount Barker, through the little town of Echunga and on to Meadows.  I then drove west along Brookman Road until reaching Willunga Hill and then travelled south towards Victor Harbor.

Along the way I spoke with Peter VK5PET who was activating the Bullock Hill Conservation Park (5/5 both ways).

I stopped briefly to have a look at Cut Hill Wall, to the north of Victor Harbor.  The stone wall was built in 1868 by Jabez Grimble, under contract to the Central Roads Board.  The road was reconstructed in 1961 by the Highways and Local Government Department.

There is a very interesting page detailing the life of Jabez Grimble which can be found on the Encounter Bay Family History Group, at…..

http://encounterbayfhg.org.au/grimble/

I then turned right onto Hindmarsh Tiers Road and travelled west towards the park.  I made another brief stop to have a look at the old Hindmarsh Valley school which was established in 1867.  It is a magnificent old stone building.

It wasn’t long before I reached the park on my left, on the western side of Hindmarsh Tiers Road.  The park is well signposted and there are three gates allowing access to the park (not vehicular access though).  I headed for gate number one which is at the northern end of the park.

Above:- Gate 1 entrance to the park.  With my squid pole visible amongst the scrub.

Mount Billy Conservation Park is about 199 hectares in size and represents some of the best preserved mallee and forest, not only on the Fleurieu Peninsula, but also in the entire Mount Lofty Ranges.  Mount Billy summit is located in the southern section of the park, along with the Hindmarsh Valley Reservoir.  Sadly, Mount Billy does not qualify for the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program.

The park is, as you would suspect, home to a large amount of native wildlife and native birds.  This includes Western Grey kangaroos, the Southern Brown Bandicoot and the endangered Bassian Thrush.

Above:- the Bassian Thrush and the Southern Brown Bandicoot.  Images courtesy of wikipedia.

The scrub within the park is very thick and consists of Pink Gum, Blue Gum, Cup Gum, Woodland Sheaok, Banksias, flowering orchids, and ferns.

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I set up just inside gate number one.  Hats off to DEWNR, who have allowed provision for access by foot to this park.

I set up the deck chair and fold up table under some shade, as it was quite a warm evening.  This was just off one of the tracks which runs through the park.  I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts and te 20m/40m linked dipole on top of the 7 m squid pole for this activation.

Above:- Map showing my operating spot in the northern section of the park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

I was set up and ready to go by 6.00 p.m. South Australian local time (0730 UTC).  I headed for my nominated operating frequency of 7.144 and it wasn’t long before I had my first QSO in the log.  And it was a park to park contact, with Les VK5KLV who was activating The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park, north of Port Augusta in the north of South Australia.  Les had a particularly strong 5/9 signal.  This was followed by John VK5BJE in the Adelaide Hills, Mick VK3PMG in western Victoria, and Peter VK3PF, all of whom had strong 5/9 signals.  The 40m band was in great shape.

As this was a unique park I had quite a few callers lining up to get Mount Billy in the log.  The band was in top condition, with some static crashes, but generally very quiet.  I experienced just a small amount of QRM from some low down European stations.

About 20 contacts into the activation, I had a few more park to park contacts.  This time it was with Theo VK5MTM and Gary VK5FGRY who were activating the Morialta Conservation Park, VKFF-0783.  Theo and Gary were exceptionally strong…5/9 plus plus.

I worked a total of 44 stations on 40m.  Just the right number to qualify the park for the global WWFF program.  I then headed over to 20m after removing the links in the dipole.  I commenced calling CQ on 14.244 and this was soon answered by Owen ZL2GLG who was portable in Otago.  Owen had a strong 5/8 signal, but unfortunately our QSO was rapidly brought to a halt by ZL9A who started operating split, with the calling frequency on 14.245.

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I moved down the band to 14.220 and started calling CQ again and this was answered by Chris VK3PAT who was a sold 5/9.  This was followed by Glenn VK2WGW, and then Rob VK3EY.  Next up was Rick VK4RF who advised me that Danny OT4V was activating a park on 14.310.  I headed up there, hoping to get a park to park with Danny.  Sadly, his signal was very very low down and we were unable to make contact.  So I headed back to 14.220 and called CQ again.

My CQ call was answered by David ZL1GQ and then Sergey RA3PCI (5/5 both ways).  Sadly, Sergey was my only European contact.  I was then called by Peter K3BV (VK3FN) who was operating remote from New York.  An interesting contact.  And following my QSO with Peter, I was called by my friend Bill W1OW in Massachusetts (5/7 sent and 4/4 received).

It was just after 8.00 p.m. local time and had cooled down to just 13 degrees C.   I headed back to 40m and booked in to the 7130 DX Net.  I worked a total of 8 stations on the Net from VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, VK7, New Zealand, and French Polynesia.  This included a contact with Craig VK6VCK maritime mobile, who was on his boat, about 3 km off shore, off the coast of Rockingham.

I then checked out of the Net and put out a few CQ calls on 7.144 and worked into VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5.  I started experiencing a bit of QRM from just above me from a number of Japanese stations who were working a T88 in Palau.  So I moved up the band to 7.155 and called CQ again.  I worked 8 stations before a very strong JA3 came up on the frequency and started talking to another JA who was portable in the Philippines.  The Japanese station was 5/9 plus and was wiping everything out, so I took the opportunity of going QRT.

I had a total of 80 contacts in the log.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5KLV/p (The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park)
2. VK5BJE
3. VK3PMG
4. VK3PF
5. VK3TKK
6. VK4RF
7. VK4HA
8. VK5ZGY
9. VK2IO
10. VK3MRH
11. VK3FQSO
12. VK5GJ
13. VK3YAR
14. VK3GL
15. VK3MCK
16. VK3HRA
17. VK2MOR
18. VK2YK
19. VK1NS
20. VK5MTM/p (Morialta Conservation Park)
21. VK5FGRY/p (Morialta Conservation Park)
22. VK3VZX
23. VK2VW
24. VK2WGW
25. VK5HS
26. VK5FMID
27. VK3AWG
28. VK3FIRM
29. VK3BBB
30. VK3FSPG
31. VK2ETA/m
32. VK4FAAS
33. VK5FANA
34. VK2UH
35. VK5GY/m
36. VK4FSTX
37. VK5JK
38. VK4AAC/5
39. VK3PAT
40. VK3ANL
41. VK8GM
42. VK5PL
43. VK2EJW
44. VK7ROY
45. VK3OB
46. VK6VCK/mm
47. FO5JV
48. ZL2ML
49. VK5ND
50. VK2IAN
51. VK4FFAB
52. VK3RU
53. VK5NFT
54. VK5AYD
55. VK2QR
56. VK5WG
57. VK1HW
58. VK3YSP
59. VK4KUS
60. VK2FROD
61. VK3CNW
62. VK4MNM
63. VK3CRG
64. VK4FATS
65. VK2SR
66. VK2IZZ/p
67. KJ6AKQ/VK3
68. VK3HN

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. ZL2GLG
2. VK3PAT
3. VK2WGW
4. VK3EY
5. VK4RF
6. VK4HA
7. ZL1GQ
8. RA3PCI
9. K3BV
10. VK3FN
11. W1OW

Yesterday I celebrated my 51st birthday.

I received a number of birthday wishes via Facebook, which I thank everyone for.  They included this little card from my good mate Danny ON4VT (OT4V) in Belgium.  Thanks Danny.

This morning I headed out with Marija to activate Mount Lofty summit, VK5/ SE-005 for Summits on the Air (SOTA).  The summit is also located within the Cleland Conservation Park which qualifies for both the VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award (5CP-042), and the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program (VKFF-0778).

We had enjoyed a quiet night on New Years Eve this time around, so I was completely free of a hangover.  It was shaping up to be a fun morning, with many planned SOTA activations, which seems to be becoming a New Years Day trend here in Australia.

Above:- Map showing the location of the summit and park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Mount Lofty is just a short drive from our home.  We travelled west along the South Eastern Freeway and then north along Summit Road.  Along the way we passed Mount Lofty House, which was built in 1852-1858 by Arthur Hardy, a politician, lawyer, pastoralist and businessman.  It is now offers accomodation, dining, and hosts many weddings and conferences.  It overlooks the Piccadilly Valley, a market gardening centre in the Adelaide Hills.

Mount Lofty House with the TV towers in the background

View out to the east

Mount Barker in the distance. Looking east

Mount Lofty House

Summit Road takes you straight up to Mount Lofty summit.  There is a main carpark here for visitors to the Mount Lofty Visitor Centre, and the Summit Restaurant and Function Centre.  A small fee applies to park your car there.  But we parked the 4WD just as you drive in the main entrance.  There is a small car parking area on the eastern side.

We walked a few hundred metres along the Warre Track, until we reached my normal operating spot for Mount Lofty.  It was already a warm morning, with an expected top temperature of 35 deg C.  But it was amazing how many people who were out bushwalking in cycling along the tracks in the park.

Above:- Map of the Conservation Park, showing my operating spot at Mount Lofty.  Image courtesy of Property Location Browser.

Whilst setting up and during the activation, Marija and I had quite a few onlookers and a number of people who approached us to see what we were up to.  I always take the time to explain about the hobby and really enjoy engaging with people about this amazing hobby of amateur radio.

For this activation I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, 30 watts, and my 20m/40m linked dipole and my 15m dipole, both supported on a 7 metre telescopic squid pole.

Looking back along Warre Track

Carminow Castle

We were all set up and ready to go by around 2200 UTC (8.30 a.m. South Australian local time).  I headed for my nominated operating frequency of 7.144 and called CQ.  And I called CQ.  And I called CQ.  No takers!  Just as I was in the process of spotting myself on parksnpeaks, I was called by Guy VK3GUY with a nice 5/8-9 signal.  But Guy only gave me a 5/3 signal.  This wasn’t a good start to the activation.

Next up was Cliff VK2NP with a good 5/5 signal and he reciprocated with a 5/5 for me.  My third contact was with Amanda VK3FQSO who was very low down (5/1) and who gave me a 4/1 signal report.  I called CQ a number of times after my QSO with Amanda but sadly there were no takers.  I saw a spot on SOTAWatch for Compton VK2HRX on 7.100 so I had a listen there, but could not hear Compton.  It looked like the 40m band was not in great shape.

I then headed to 20m and spotted myself on SOTAWatch and called CQ on 14.310.  It wasn’t long before Rick VK4RF/VK4HA called in, with a mighty fine 5/9 signal.  Next, was Rob VK4AAC/5, just down in the valley from me at Hahndorf.  But unfortunately that was the extent of callers on 20m.  It went very quiet, very quickly.

The SOTA goat had bleated on my iphone and showed a spot for Justin VK7TW on 40m.  So thats where I headed back to, and made contact with Justin who was on Collins Bonnett, VK7/ SC-002.  Justin my first Summit to Summit contact for the day (5/2 sent and 5/1 received).

I then headed back to 7.144 and called CQ again, and this was answered by Marcus VK2SK, followed by Steve VK7CW, and then Peter VK4SIR at Ipswich.  But again, callers  slowed down very quickly.  I took the opportunity of tuning around the band and worked Andrew VK1AD on VK1/ AC-008 in the Namadgi National Park.

It was at this time that I headed to 7.115 and this is when the band seemed to open up somewhat and all the fun commenced.  My first responder to my CQ call was Gerard VK2IO who was activating SOTA peak Mount Elliot, VK2/ HU-093 (5/2 sent and 5/4 received).  I worked a further 31 stations after Gerard, before the UTC rollover.  They were in VK1, VK2, VK3, VK5, and VK7.  This included the following summit to summit contacts:

• Nick VK3ANL, VK3/ VS-001
• Mark VK1EM/p, VK1/ AC-043
• Tony VK1VIC/p, VK1/ AC-023
• Rod VK2TWR, VK2/ SM-024
• Tony VK3CAT/p, VK3/ VT-026
• Ron VK3AFW/p, VK3/ VE-018
• Andrew VK1MBE/3, VK3/ VE-019
• Allen VK3HRA/p, VK3/ VT-006
• Andrew VK3ARR/p, VK3/ VT-006
• Adam VK2YK/p, VK2/ HU-007
• Peter VK3PF/2, VK2/ SM-022
• Bernard VK2IB/3, VK3/ VE-023
• Andrew VK3BQ/p, VK3/ VC-007

The close in propagation was not working, with my only VK5 contacts being Peter VK5PET and Damien VK5FDEC.

After the UTC rollover I worked a further 33 stations on 7.115.  This included the following Summit to Summit contacts:

• Andrew VK3BQ, VK3/ VC-002
• Tony VK3CAT/p, VK3/ VT-026
• Andrew VK1AD/p, VK1/ AC-008
• Mark VK1EM/p, VK1/ AC-043
• Andrew VK1MBE/3, VK3/ VE-019
• Matt VK1MA/2, VK2/ ST-005
• Peter VK3PF/2, VK2/ ST-005
• Nick VK3ANL/p, VK3/ VS-001
• Adam VK2YK/p, VK2/ HU-007
• Christine VK3FCEK/p, VK3/ VC-007
• Brian VK3MCD/2, VK2/ SM-027
• Rob VK2QR/p, VK2/ SM-027
• Tony VK1VIC/p, VK1/ AC-023
• Andrew VK3ARR/p, VK3/ VT-006
• Allen VK3HRA/p, VK3/ VT-006
• Ron VK3AFW/p, VK3/ VE-008

Again, just a sprinkling of VK5’s.  They being Roy VK5NRG and Paul VK5FUZZ at Wellington.

I also spoke with Andrew VK3JBL who was operating QRP.  Andrew was a little difficult to copy, so I got up from my operating spot, with bum up in the air, and ear down to the speaker.  Just as a group of bushwalkers went passed.  They must have wondered what the hell I was doing.

I had been trying to get to 15m for a while, so when things became quiet, I lowered the squid pole and ran out the 15m dipole.  I called CQ on 21.244 and this was answered by Graeme VK5ZVC at nearby Mount Barker.  I saw a spot on SOTAWatch for ZL2AJ on 21.270, so after working Graeme I quickly headed up there but could not hear anything other than a rather weak USA signal.  I also saw a spot for Lewis VK6FLEW on 21.200, but again, unfortunately I could not hear Lewis.  So I headed back to 21.244 and called CQ, where I worked a further 4 stations, all from Queensland.

It was starting to really heat up, so I quickly went to 20m and worked a total of 7 stations including the following Summit to Summit contacts:

• Gerard VK2IO/p, VK2/ HU-093
• John VK6NU/p, VK6/ SW-039.

I then put out a final CQ call on 7.144 and worked 5 stations from VK3, VK5, and VK7.

After nearly 3 hours on the summit/in the park, I had a total of 93 contacts in the log, including a total of 36 x Summit to Summit contacts.  This was a really enjoyable activation.

The following stations were worked:-

After packing up we headed up to the Mount Lofty Visitor Centre.

As we were walking in, we spotted this little fella, enjoying a snooze.

It had really warmed up and was approaching the predicteed 35 degrees C, so we took some time out for a nice cold ice block.

The summit was quite busy, with a lot of tourists, enjoying the view, a coffee in the shade, and a meal in the restaurant.

There are some great views here to be had of the city of Adelaide.

The obelisk on the summit is known as Flinders Column.  It commemorates the sighting and naming of Mount Lofty, by explorer Matthew Flinders in 1802.

Another dominant feature on the skyline at Mount Lofty is the Fire spotting tower, which was erected in 1982.  It is 32 metres in height.