Our second park activation for Sunday 3rd April 2016 was the Eric Bonython Conservation Park 5CP-062 and VKFF-0877, which is located on the Fleurieu Peninsula, around 100 km south of Adelaide.  It is just a short drive from our previous park, Waitpinga Conservation Park.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Eric Bonython Conservation Park, south of Adelaide.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

After leaving the Waitpinga Conservation Park we continued south on the Tunkalilla Road and then turned left onto Rymill Road.  This is quite hilly country, with some great views out to sea, including views of The Pages, and Kangaroo Island.

Above:- View out towards The Pages.

The park is about 250 metres ASL.

Above:- Contour map showing the terrain surrounding the Eric Bonython Conservation Park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

The Eric Bonython Conservation Park takes its name from Eric Glenie Bonython (1910-1971) who was an author, explorer, and conservationist.  The park is quite small and is situated on the northern side of Rymill Road.  It is situated on a ridgeline, with great views out across farming land and the ocean to the south, and farming land to the north.  The Tunkalilla Creek flows on the northern edge of the park.

The park soon comes into view only a few hundred metres after turning onto Rymill Road.  The park sign is quite visible amongst the narrow length of scrub.

We set up in a clearing amongst the scrub in the south western section of the park.  For this activation I ran my normal park equipment, consisting of the Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts, and the 20m/40m linked dipole and the 15m 1/2 wave dipole.

Above:- Aerial view of the Eric Bonython Conservation Park, showing our operating spot in the park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Prior to propping on a frequency and calling CQ, I tuned across the band and worked the following park activators:-

• Andrew VK5MR/p, Mokota Conservation Park
• Tony VK5FTVR/p, Cox Scrub Conservation Park
• Richard VK5ZRY/p, Bird Island Conservation Park
• Col VK5HCF/p, Reedy Creek Conservation Park
• Joe VK3YSP/p, Churchill National Park
• VK3FOWL/p, Churchill National Park
• Tony VK3VTH/5, Glen Roy Conservation Park.
• Dennis VK2HHA/3, Baranduda Regional Park
• Ron VK3MRH/p, Baranduda Regional Park
• Norm VK5GI/p, Bakara Conservation Park
• Greg VK5GJ/p, Bakara Conservation Park
• Rob VK4AAC/3, Yarrawonga Regional Park

I then headed to 7.150 and commenced calling CQ and this was answered by Peter VK3PF operating portable in the Snowy River National Park.  This was followed by Steve VK5SFA operating portable in the Morialta Conservation Park.  Steve was using a 1.2 metre diameter magnetic loop antenna and had a beautiful 5/9 signal.  There was a steady flow of callers from across Australia: VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, and VK7.  More Park to Park contacts followed, including:-

• David VK5PL, Swan Reach Conservation Park
• Andrew VK5MR, Mimbara Conservation Park
• Gordon VK5GY/p, Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park
• Adrian VK5FANA, Innes National Park
• South Coast Amateur Radio Club VK5ARC/p, Onkapringa River National Park
• South Coast Amateur Radio Club VK5TTY/p, Onkaparinga River National Park
• Adam VK2YK/p, Brisbane Water National Park
• Greg VK5ZGY/p, Monarto Conservation Park
• Andrew VK5MR/p, Hopkins Creek Conservation Park

I also spoke with Peter VK3PF who was activating SOTA peak Mount McLeod, VK3/ VE-034.

I then moved up to 20m and called CQ on 14.310.  The ever reliable Rick VK4RF/VK4HA was there waiting for me and kindly spotted me.  I was then quite surprised when I was called by VK5ARC/p (op Barry VK5KBJ) in the Onkaparinga River National Park.  I worked a further 8 stations in VK2, VK4, and VK6.

I then lowered the squid pole and put up the 15m 1/2 wave dipole and started calling CQ on 21.244.  I was extremely pleasantly surprised to be called immediately by Joe KG6JDX in Guam.  This was a new country for me whilst operating portable.  Joe was a very strong 5/9 and gave me a 5/9 from Guam.  Rick VK4RF/VK4HA then called in, and this was followed by Alberto P29LL in Papua New Guinea.  This was another great contact.  A number of Japanese stations then followed, all of whom had strong signals.  I ended up working a total of 11 stations on 15m from VK4, Guam, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand.

I then moved back to 20m and 14.310 and called CQ for around 10 minutes but there were no takers.  Mobile phone reception in the park was very marginal, and it took numerous attempts to eventually self spot on parksnpeaks.  But despite being spotted, I had no callers.  So I headed back to 40m briefly before going QRT, working a further 19 stations, including the following park to park contacts:-

• VK5PL/p, Maize Island Lagoon Conservation Park
• Garry VK1ZZ/4, Forty Mile Scrub National Park
• Andrew VK5MR/p, Redbanks Conservation Park.

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It was getting mightily cold, and dark, so Marija and I pack up and headed back to Goondooloo cottage.  I had a total of 100 contacts in the log.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5MR/p (Mokota Conservation Park)
2. VK5FTVR/p (Cox Scrub Conservation Park)
3. VK5ZRY/p (Bird Island Conservation Park)
4. VK5HCF/p (Reedy Creek Conservation Park)
5. VK3YSP/p (Churchill National Park)
6. VK3FOWL/p (Churchill National Park)
7. VK3VTH/5 (Glen Roy Conservation Park)
8. VK2HHA/3 (Baranduda Regional Park)
9. VK3MRH/p (Baranduda Regional Park)
10. VK5GI/p (Bakara Conservation Park)
11. VK5GJ/p (Bakara Conservation Park)
12. VK4AAC/3 (Yarrawonga Regional Park)
13. VK3PF/p (Snowy River National Park)
14. VK5SFA/p (Morialta Conservation Park)
15. VK5TR
16. VK3AWG
17. VK4RF
18. VK4HA
19. VK6MB
20. VK5BB
21. VK2LEE
22. VK2NP
23. VK3SIM
24. VK3YB
25. VK5PL/p (Swan Reach Conservation Park)
26. VK2IO/m
27. VK1AT/3
28. VK5KLV
29. VK7CW
30. VK5BMC
31. VK5FMID
32. VK3PAT
33. VK3PMC
34. VK3ARH
35. VK1DI
36. VK3FAPH/p
37. VK5MR/p (Mimbara Conservation Park)
38. VK5GY/p (Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park)
39. VK3NCC
40. VK3TKK
41. VK5HP
42. VK4VXX/p
43. VK4ATM
44. VK3EJS
45. VK4HNS/p
46. VK3ZMD
47. VK5KDK
48. VK5FANA/p (Innes National Park)
49. VK5ARC/p (Onkapringa River National Park)
50. VK5TTY/p (Onkaparinga River National Park)
51. VK3PF (SOTA Mt McLeod VK3/ VE-034)
52. VK2YK/p (Brisbane Water National Park)
53. VK5ZGY/p (Monarto Conservation Park)
54. VK4QQ
55. VK3VEF
56. VK5LG
57. VK5MR/p (Hopkins Creek Conservation Park)
58. VK2NNN
59. VK3FORD
60. VK3KRH
61. VK3NBL
62. VK4FW
63. VK5PL/p (Maize Island Lagoon Conservation Park)
64. VK5KAF/p
65. VK3ZD
66. VK4MON
67. VK1ZZ/4 (Forty Mile Scrub National Park)
68. VK3ANL
69. VK5MR/p (Redbanks Conservation Park)
70. Vk2SR
71. VK2BDR/m
72. VK2MOR
73. VK4KET
74. VK4FLYT
75. VK4FBMW
76. VK3CM

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4RF
2. VK4HA
3. VK5ARC/p (Onkaparinga River National Park)
4. VK6YV
5. VK4HNS/p
6. VK4QQ
7. VK2LEE
8. VK2NP
9. VK1ZZ/4 (Forty Mile Creek National Park)
10. VK6WE
11. VK2XXM

The following stations were worked on 15m SSB:-

1. KG6JDX (Guam)
2. VK4RF
3. VK4HA
4. P29LL
5. JH1RFZ
6. JN2OWE
7. JH3JEZ
8. ZL2GLG
9. VK4KUS
10. VK4QQ
11. 7N2TNI

Marija and I spent a very quiet night in the cottage, following a nice meal and a few more beers from the Smiling Samoyd Brewery.