After leaving Mount Lofty we headed east to the Monarto Conservation Park VKFF-0828 hoping to log some more stations using the special VI50IARU3 call sign to celebrate the 50th anniversary of region 3 of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).

As we drove east we could see blue sky which was very promising.  Sadly that didn’t last for long and we soon had a huge downpour of rain.  It wasn’t looking good to be sitting out in the park.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Monarto Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

Once we got to Monarto the weather had started to clear somewhat, but not enough for me to sit outside of the vehicle.  We set up the 20/40/80 m linked dipole and operating from the comfort of the Toyota Hi Lux.

Our operating location was our normal spot in the carpark off the Ferries McDonald Road.

Above:- Aerial shot of the Monarto Conservation Park showing our operating spot.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

We started off the activation on the 40m band.  First in the log was Bill VK4FW/p who was activating the King Conservation Park VKFF-1572.  After logging Bill we moved down the band to 7.130 and I called CQ.  Andrew VK2UH had followed me down and was logged with a strong 5/9 signal.  Next up was Peter VK3PF, followed by Ray VK3NBL, and then Brett VK2VW.

I logged 40 stations on 40m from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 VK7 and VK8.  This included another Park to Park, this time with Nik VK3NLK/2 in the Murray Valley National Park VKFF-1178.

I then moved to the 20m band and called CQ on 14.310.  Greg VK4VXX/8 had followed me up from 40m, and was first in the log.  Next was Snow VK4FE.  But despite a number of further CQ calls I had no further takers on that band.

So to finish off the activation I called CQ on 3.610 on the 80m band.  I logged 13 calls on that band from VK2, VK3, & VK5.

I ended up with a total of 55 stations in the log for the activation.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4FW/p (King Conservation Park VKFF-1572)
2. VK2UH
3. VK3PF
4. VK3NBL
5. VK2VW
6. VK2IO/m
7. VK2KEL
8. VK4NH
9. VK4DXA
10. ZL4TY/VK4
11. VK3NLK/2 (Murray Valley National Park VKFF-1178)
12. VK2NP
13. VK4SMA
14. VK4VXX?8
15. VK3MDH/m
16. VK3ZPF
17. VK5KLV
18. VK3FMKE
19. Vk2HPN/m
20. VK7RN
21. VK5FMWW
22. VK4WJW
23. VK3ANL
24. VK2KMI
25. VK3SQ
26. VK5TRM
27. VK5FANA
28. VK3FSPG
29. VK3MPR
30. VK3GGG/p
31. VK3PMG/p
32. VK4SOE/p
33. VK4FW/m
34. VK4TJ
35. VK2ABN
36. VK3ARH/m
37. VK5TS
38. VK3VAR
39. VK7FRUS
40. VK3VGB

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4VXX/8
2. VK4ME

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5FANA
2. VK3SQ
3. VK5GJ
4. VK3GGG/p
5. VK3PMG/p
6. VK5FMLO
7. VK5KC/m
8. VK3FMKE
9. VK5MRT
10. VK3PDG/p
11. VK2NP
12. VK3DET
13. VK3PF