As we were heading home on Monday 30th March 2015, I managed to talk Marija into us detouring a little bit to activate the Minlacowie Conservation Park, which is located west of Stansbury, to the south east of Minlawton, and about 210 km by road from Adelaide.

Above: The location of Minlacowie CP.  Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

To get to the park we travelled down Rogers Road which runs off the Minlaton-Yorketown Road.  You will know that you are in the correct spot, because the old Minlacowie school is located at this intersection.  It is well worth stopping to have a look.

We set up just off Savage Hut Road.  There are not many options at this park.  There are no carparks and the scrub is extremely thick.  So your only option is operating along the fenceline either off Savage Hut Road or Rogers Road.

Minlacowie Conservation Park (28.5 hectares; proclaimed in 2008) is located about 13 kilometres west of Stansbury. The park comprises a small patch of remnant mallee/broombush vegetation in very good condition, and conserves a number of significant plant species including the nationally and state vulnerable Winter Spider-orchid (Caladenia brumalis).

This was just a quick activation, whilst we had a late lunch.  My first taker on 7.095 after calling CQ was the ever reliable park hunter, Brian VK5FMID, followed by Wolf VK5WF, Geoff VK5HEL, and then Peter VK2DG.  I went on to work a further 16 stations in VK2, VK3, & VK5.

This included Hauke VK5HW who was mobile in the Barossa Valley, Steve VK3SRB/2 mobile between Albury and Gundagai in New South Wales, and Bob VK5AK who was mobile on Gorge Road at Cudlee Creek.

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After 25 minutes in the park I had a total of 20 contacts in the log.  It was time to hit the road and continue our journey back home to Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills.

The following stations were worked:-

1. VK5FMID
2. VK5WF
3. VK5HEL
4. VK2DG
5. VK5WG
6. VK5HCF
7. VK5HW/m
8. VK3VEF
9. VK3SRB/2
10. VK3FORD
11. VK5GJ
12. VK5ZRY
13. VK5NQP
14. VK5KLV
15. VK5AK/m
16. VK5EE
17. VK3AS
18. VK5FANA
19. VK5LO
20. VK3OF

References.

Department for Environment and Heritage, Management Plan Mainland Conservation Parks of Yorke Peninsula 2009

My third activation for Sunday 29th March 2015 was the Point Davenport Conservation Park, which is located south of Port Moorowie on the Yorke Peninsula, and about 250 km by road from Adelaide.

Above: Location of the Point Davenport Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

This is not an easy park to access.  Unless you know exactly what you are looking for, it can be extremely frustrating as Marija and I experienced on Saturday.  But with the assistance of Richard VK5ZRY it was a piece of cake.  Fortunately we had permission to access the park via private property, which shortens the trip to the park dramatically.  Otherwise you will need to walk about 3 km along the beach following Sturt Bay.  Even if you do get permission to access the private property, do not even think about trying this in a 2WD.  You will not make it.  You will definitely get bogged, as this is a 4WD track only.

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After entering through the farmers gate we followed a sandy and bumpy track down to a second gate and the start of the park.  We set up just over the fenceline and not far from the ocean (about 500 metres away).  For this activation we used my Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts and the 40m/20m linked dipole supported on the 7m squid pole.

Above: Map showing our operating spot.  Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

Point Davenport Conservation Park is 242 hectares in size and was gazetted in 1987.  It is located on a promontory that separates Foul Bay from Sturt Bay, mid-way along the southern coastline of Yorke Peninsula.  It is an area of high biodiversity with a range of habitats including beaches and foredunes, and an estuary that is listed as a nationally important wetland.  The park borders a swamp fringed by Paperbark Tea-trees.

Prior to calling CQ, Richard and I had a tune around the band.  I found Lesley VK5LOL on 7.095 activating the Hallett Cove Conservation Park.  But boy, what a pile up.  Trying to break through was very difficult.  But finally we did it, and had our first contact in the log, a park to park.

I then headed down to 7.090 and started calling CQ and this was answered by a multitude of callers.  So we asked for ‘park to park’ callers first and this resulted in me getting a park to park contact with Col VK5HCF and Tom VK5EE in the Glen Roy Conservation Park in the South East, followed by a park to park with Greg VK5GJ in the Stiptipurus Conservation Park on the Fleurieu Peninsula.  Richard and I handed back the mic to each other, each time a park to park caller gave us a shout.

I then asked for QRP stations and this resulted in some great QRP contacts including Tom VK5FTRG on 5 watts from Millicent, Adrian VK5FANA on 2 watts, and Amanda VK3FQSO on 100 milliwatts.

I always try to call for park to park contacts first, followed by QRP, other mobiles and portables, before I work the hoards of callers.  I know from experience that it can be quite a challenge breaking through the pileups when you are mobile or portable.

I then worked a few more park to park contacts.  This time with Keith VK5OQ in the Sandy Creek Conservation Park, followed by Matt VK5MLB activating the Montacute Conservation Park.

After working a total of 21 stations, Richard and I swapped over, and Richard jumped into the ‘driver’s seat’ and made multiple contacts.

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While Richard was operating, we continued to swap the mic over, each time a park to park opportunity presented itself.  This resulted in me working a further 6 park activators.  The first was with Arno VK5ZAR activating the unique Fort Glanville Conservation Park, followed by Steve VK5SFA on the Woodforde Track in the Morialta Conservation Park.  Working Steve was a pleasant surprise, and he was not one of the activators on the activation spreadsheet.  I then spoke with Tony VK5ZAI in Jip Jip Rocks Conservation Park, then Andrew VK5MR in the Hopkins Creek Conservation Park running his little X1M QRP transceiver, and then Greg VK5ZGY in the Furner Conservation Park in the South East.

Richard then took a break and I worked a further 7 stations on 40m, including another park to park contact with Andrew VK5MR who had moved to the Red Banks Conservation Park.

Richard and I then decided we would have a crack at 20m hoping to get some of the VK6 fellas in the log.  My first contact there was with Con VK2KON, and then much to our surprise, I was called by DK4RM in Germany (5/9 sent and 5/7 received).  Next taker was Mike VK6MB, followed by Wil DL8MX and finally Adam VK2YK.

But time was marching on, and we decided to pack up and go for a walk down to the beach and view the Gulf St Vincent and the beautiful coastline of the lower Yorke Peninsula.  I had a total of 38 contacts in the log.

Many thanks to Richard for getting us in to Point Davenport.  It was great to meet Richard in person and do a couple of activations together including the rare Point Davenport CP.  This is only the second time this park has been activated.  It is difficult to find if you don’t know what to look for, and of course you need permission first to cross the farmer’s property.

After leaving Point Davenport, Marija I drove back to Inneston via the South Coast Road, stopping off a number of times to enjoy the spectacular views.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5LOL/p (Hallett Cove Conservation Park)
2. VK5HCF/p (Glen Roy Conservation Park)
3. VK5EE/p (Glen Roy Conservation Park)
4. VK3OF
5. VK5GJ/p (Stiptipurus Conservation Park)
6. VK5FTRG
7. VK5FANA
8. VK3FQSO
9. VK5OQ/p (Sandy Creek Conservation Park)
10. VK5MLB/p (Montacute Conservation Park)
11. VK3ARR
12. VK5JK
13. VK5LSB
14. VK3PF
15. VK3PMG
16. VK2YK
17. VK5FMID
18. VK5BJE
19. VK3DAC
20. VK5NIG
21. VK3JP
22. VK5ZAR/p (Fort Glanville Conservation Park)
23. VK5SFA/p (Morialta Conservation Park)
24. VK5ZAI/p (Jip Jip Rocks Conservation Park)
25. VK5MR/p (Hopkins Creek Conservation Park)
26. VK5ZGY/p (Furner Conservation Park)
27. VK5KLV
28. VK5NQP
29. VK5FCHM
30. VK5MR/p (Red Banks Conservation Park)
31. VK5FGAZ
32. VK5FO/m
33. VK4SD/2

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2KON
2. DK4RM
3. VK6MB
4. DL8MX
5. VK2YK

References.

Department for Environment and Heritage, Management Plan Mainland Conservation Parks of Yorke Peninsula 2009

Our second activation for Sunday (29th March 2015) was the Warrenben Conservation Park, which is located about 260 km by road from Adelaide.

Above: Location of Warrenben CP.  Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

This was another park that Marija and I had visited and activated during the 6 month anniversary of the VK5 Parks Award.  For information on the park and details of that activation, including a video, please have a look at…..

https://vk5pas.org/2013/10/21/warrenben-conservation-park/

After leaving Leven Beach we headed south along the Hundred Line Road, and then turned right onto Ilfracombe Road.  We set up in the scrub off Ilfracombe Road.  This is a very different park to Leven Beach.  Warrenben is very dry, rocky and typical mallee scrub.  Certainly not as picturesque as the beach setting at Leven Beach.

Above: My operating spot.  Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

Warrenben Conservation Park is a large reserve comprising 4,065 hectares, which was gazetted in 1972.  Together with nearby Innes National Park, it conserves a substantial proportion of the natural habitat remaining on southern Yorke Peninsula.  The park comprises an area of undulating limestone plains and low, stabilised dunes that remain well vegetated with mallee and tea-tree scrub and some sheoak woodlands.  It provides habitat for a number of threatened species including the nationally and state vulnerable Annual Candles, state rare Goldsack’s Leek-orchid , and the nationally and state vulnerable Malleefowl and Western Whipbird.

Prior to calling CQ I had a look around the band and found Tony VK3VTH/5 calling CQ on 7.105 from the Flinders Ranges National Park in the Far North of South Australia.  Tony had a beautiful 5/9 and was my first contact from Warrenben.  I then found the dyamic duo from the South East, Tom VK5EE and Col VK5HCF on 7.100 in the Mary Seymour Conservation Park in the SOuth East.  Again, beautiful 5/9 signals all the way to the Yorke Peninsula.

I then headed off to 7.095 and started calling CQ and this was immediately answered by Arno VK5ZAR, followed by Adrian VK5FANA, and then Tony VK5ZAI who was portable in Jip Jip Rocks Conservation Park in the South East.  Following my contact with Tony I had another park to park contact, this time with Tom VK5FTRG who was activating the Gower Conservation Park.  And then a few contacts later I was called by Andrew VK5KET who was portable in the Calectasia Conservation Park.

I worked a further Richard arrived at the park.  Richard had taken a punt that we would set up, on Ilfracombe Road and he was right.  After our introductions and a chat, and a look at my portable set up, it was time for Richard to jump into the operating chair and make some contacts.  But not before Richard offered to take us to the Point Davenport Conservation Park after our activation here at Warrenben.  I jumped at this opportunity after our failed attempt of yesterday.

Whilst Richard was operating he was called by Peter VK5FLEX who at first was a little cryptic, but we eventually got it out of Peter that he was bogged in the Peebinga Conservation Park in the Mallee near the South Australian/Victorian border.  This is quite a remote location and Peter had no mobile phone coverage.  So for the next 90 minutes I made a number of phone calls on Peter’s behalf, with Richard relaying information back to Peter via the radio.  Finally, we secured the assistance of a mate of Peter, to head out to Peebinga and pull Peter out.  I am pleased to report that Peter was pulled out of his bog and made it home safely that night.  It proved the power of amateur radio when other forms of communication fail.

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After we had helped out Peter, Richard continued on working some more stations, and then it was my time to hop back into the operating chair again.  I was hoping to get my 44 contacts for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program, but the day was now getting on.  I worked a further 15 stations, including 1 SOTA activator, and four VK5 park to park contacts.

My first contact after jumping back on the mic was with Tony VK3CAT who was on SOTA peak, The Knobs, VK3/  VE-040.  My park to park contacts were with David VK5NQP portable in the Brookfield Conservation Park, Gordon VK5GY portable in the Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park, Tim VK3MTB portable in the Little Dip Conservation Park, and Peter VK5FLEX portable in the Peebinga Conservation Park.  Peter decided, ‘well why not get a park to park while I’m waiting to get pulled out’.

Unfortunately I did not reach the 44 contacts.  But I did get a total of 29 contacts in the log.  I will be revisiting Warrenben another day for the remaining 15 contacts to reach the 44.

Off to Point Davenport Conservation Park.  I was excited.

The following stations were worked:-

1. VK3VTH/5 (Flinders Ranges National Park)
2. VK5EE/p (Mary Seymour Conservation Park)
3. VK5HCF/p (Mary Seymour Conservation Park)
4. VK5ZAR
5. VK5FANA
6. VK5ZAI/p (Jip Jip Rocks Conservation Park)
7. VK5FTRG/p (Gower Conservation Park)
8. VK5TD
9. VK5KET/p (Calectasia Conservation Park)
10. VK3OF
11. VK3DAC
12. VK5BGN
13. VK5SFA
14. VK3PMG
15. VK3CAT/p (SOTA The Knob)
16. VK3PF
17. VK5NQP/p (Brookfield Conservation Park)
18. VK5NIG
19. VK5KC
20. VK5JK
21. VK5LSB
22. VK5GY/p (Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park)
23. VK3AVm
24. VK3MTB/5 (Little DIp Conservation Park)
25. VK3TKK
26. VK5FLEX/p (Peebinga Conservation Park)
27. VK3HRA
28. VK5BB/p

The following station was worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK6MB

References.

Department for Environment and Heritage, Management Plan Mainland Conservation Parks of Yorke Peninsula 2009

Our first activation for Sunday morning (29th March 2015) was the Leven Beach Conservation Park (CP), which is located just north of the little town of Corny Point on the Yorke Peninsula, and about 258 km by road from Adelaide.

Above:- The location of Leven Beach CP.  Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

We last activated the Leven Beach CP back in 2013 for the 6 month anniversary of the VK5 Parks Award.  For full information on the park and details on that activation, please have a look at…..

https://vk5pas.org/2013/10/21/leven-beach-conservation-park/

Marija and I set up in the same spot as the previous activation which was at the end of Roe Road, on the beachfront.  Roe Road runs off the Corny Point Road and travels down passed the shacks to the beach.  At the end of Roe Road there is a carpark, with plenty of room to park.  You will clearly see the park on your right as you travel down Roe Road.

Above:- Map showing my operating spot.  Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

The Leven Beach Conservation Park is 502 hectares in size and was proclaimed in 198.  It is a coastal reserve located on Hardwicke Bay, part of the northern coastline on the upper ‘foot’ of Yorke Peninsula.  It has a six kilometre beach frontage backed by low cliffs and a hinterland of undulating, vegetated dunes.  The park conserves sheoak woodland and provides habitat for a nationally endangered species of butterfly, the Yellowish Sedge-skipper Butterfly.

The operating gear for this activation was the Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts and the 40m/20m linked dipole.  We set up the deck chair and the fold up table on the sand just in front of all the coastal vegetation from the park.  It was a beautiful morning weather wise.  The ocean (Spencer Gulf) was very flat and calm, and I sat back and watched a few fisherman taking their boats out into the water with their tractors, and heading off for a morning of fishing.

The Europeans were absolutely belting in on 40m with the CQ WW DX Contest, so it was quite difficult to find a clear spot on the 40m band.  Finally I found 7.092 clear and put out a CQ call and this was answered by Steve VK3NSC, followed by David VK5KC, John VK5BJE, and then Allen VK3HRA.

My first park to park contact was about 4 QSO’s later and it was with Peter VK5KX who was activating the Hogwash Bend Conservation Park in the Riverland (5/9 both ways).

My next contact was with Doug VK2FMIA who was portable in the Horton Falls National Park in New South Wales.  Doug had a nice 5/6 signal on the Yorke Peninusla.  Doug has an excellent WordPress site, which can be found at…..

http://vk2fmia.com/

It was pleasing to hear a steady flow of callers from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK5, and VK6.  And a few QRP callers as well including Peter VK3PF, and Peter VK3TKK.  I even managed to get Mike VK6MB in the log on 40m with a nice 5/8 signal (5/6 received).

While I was enjoying the sunshine and on air, Marija took a walk along the beach, and through the park, and had a chat with some of the locals.  I had one local approach me who was walking her dog on the beach, and was very curious as to what I was doing.

I also received a call from Yorke Peninsula local and regular park hunter, Richard VK5ZRY, and we arranged to meet at my next park, the Warrenben Conservation Park to do a joint activation.  I had spoken with Richard a number of times on the radio, but we had never met in person.  So I was looking forward to the ‘eyeball’.

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My next park to park contact was with David VK5NQP who was portable in the Whites Dam Conservation Park in the Riverland (5/9 both ways), and then 2 QSOs later I also spoke with Chris VK4FR/5 who was portable on Kangaroo Island in the Kelly Hill Conservation Park (5/9 both ways).

I went on to work a total of 36 stations on 7.092 until things started to slow down, so I then had a quick tune around the band and found Andrew VK1NAM on SOTA peak Mount McDonald, VK1/ AC-048.

I then lowered the squid pole and took out the links and re-erected the squid pole and headed for 14.309 and started calling CQ.  This was answered by Mike VK6MB (5/8 both ways), followed by Adam VK2YK, and then Daniel VK6LCK.  But that was the end of callers, so I headed back to 40m.

My first contact upon returning to 40m was with Andy VK5AKH who was portable in the Coorong National Park on 7.098 (5/9 both ways).  I then found Andrew VK5KET on 7.092 calling CQ from the Penola Conservation Park in the South East (5/9 both ways).  And the park to park activity kept rolling on.  I next spoke with Greg VK5ZGY in the Kungari Conservation Park in the South East (5/9 both ways) on 7.085.

I put out a few CQ calls on 7.080 and was called by Tom VK5FTRG who was portable in the Gower Conservation Park in the South East (5/9 both ways).  A few QSOs later I was called by David VK5HDW who was portable in the Beachport Conservation Park in the South East.  There were certainly a lot of activators out and about in the South East of South Australia.  The SERG boys are certainly great supporters of the VK5 Parks Award.

My last contact from Leven Beach was with Chris VK4FR/5 who had now moved to the Mount Taylor Conservation Park on Kangaroo Island (5/9 both ways).

It was time to pack up and head off to the Warrenben Conservation Park and meet up with Richard VK5ZRY.

I had a total of 49 contacts in the log from Leven Beach Conservation Park.

The following stations were worked:-

1. VK3NSC
2. VK5KC
3. VK5BJE
4. VK3HRA
5. VK5HCF
6. VK5ZAR
7. VK5FMID
8. VK5KX/p (Hogwash Bend Conservation Park)
9. VK2FMIA/p (Horton Falls National Park)
10. VK3PF
11. VK5FANA
12. VK3MCX
13. VK3FQSO
14. VK6MB
15. VK3PMG
16. VK3DAC
17. VK5ZRY
18. VK5GY
19. VK3TKK
20. VK3FCOE
21. VK2YK
22. VK1DI
23. VK5KLV
24. VK2PKT
25. VK5NQP/p (Whites Dam Conservation Park)
26. VK5JK
27. VK4FR/5 (Kelly Hill Conservation Park)
28. VK3AFW
29. VK5STU
30. VK5MLB
31. VK5LSB
32. VK5TW
33. VK5FDEC
34. VK6KY/5
35. VK5FJEN/m
36. VK5AV
37. VK1NAM/p (SOTA VK1/ AC-048)
38. VK5AKH/p (Coorong National Park)
39. VK5KET/p (Penola Conservation Park)
40. VK5ZGY/p (Kungari Conservation Park)
41. VK5FTRG/p (Gower Conservation Park)
42. VK5HEL
43. VK5NQP/p (Whites Dam Conservation Park)
44. VK3VCE
45. VK5HDW/p (Beachport Conservation Park)
46. VK4FR/5 (Mount Taylor Conservation Park)

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK6MB
2. VK2YK
3. VK6LCK

References.

Department for Environment and Heritage, Management Plan Mainland Conservation Parks of Yorke Peninsula 2009

On Saturday morning, 28th March, Marija and I awoke to the sounds of noisy galahs and a beautiful sunrise.  We cooked up a hot breakfast of bacon and eggs, and enjoyed a nice hot cup of coffee and sat outside on the verandah of the old Post Office at Inneston, taking in the view.  We then packed the 4WD and got on the road and headed for my first proposed activation of the day, Point Davenport Conservation Park.  However, everything went downhill from here.

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We could not find the park.  In fact we drove around aimlessly for numerous hours trying to find our way in.  What we did find was that the GPS in the Toyota Hilux and the mapping system on our i-phones were unreliable.  Many roads were marked on the maps, but when we reached that particular location, no road existed.  Also, a number of the roads had totally different names on the actual road sign, to what appeared on the maps.  And many marked roads were obviously Government roads that were now either very poorly maintained dirt tracks that were fenced off, or totally covered in scrub.  The upshot was that we just could not get into Point Davenport.  The closest we got would have been a few kms, and we were not sure whether we would have to walk across private property, so we cancelled this activation.

Instead we headed for my 2nd planned activation, the Caribbie Conservation Park, which is located south of Corny Point and about 266 km by road from Adelaide.  The park is 19.5 hectares in size and was gazetted in 1972.  It is located beneath the ‘toe’ of the Yorke Peninsula.  It contains a small area of remnant sheoak and mallee vegetation.  The park’s vegetation comprises of open scrub dominated by Coastal White Mallee and Red Mallee.  It has an understorey that includes Acacia and Correas.  Some sections of the park also contain Drooping Sheoak woodland.  There are 81 native plant species recorded from this park.  The only known species of conservation significance is the Western Dady-long-legs.  Carribie is native aboriginal meaning ’emu flat’.  And there are certainly plenty of emus down here at the bottom of the Yorke Peninsula.

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

Marija and I travelled along the Marion Bay Road and then turned right onto Gleesons Road.  The park was a few kms up on our right.  We set up just over the fenceline, just to the east of Rockleigh Road.  This is in the south western corner of the park.  The last time we activated the park we were set up in the south eastern corner of the park.

For more information on my initial activation back in 2013, please see…..

https://vk5pas.org/2013/10/21/carribie-conservation-park/

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

What was very pleasing about this particular activation was the lack of flies.  When we activated this park back in 2013, the bush flies were out in force and it was almost impossible to be out in the open without a head netting.  But this time around, they were few and far between I am pleased to report.

As per usual, for this activation I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts and the 40m/20m linked dipole, supported on the top of my 7 metre telescopic squid pole.

Unlike the previous night’s activation at the Innes National Park, there was absolutely no noise at all on the band here in Carribie.  It was dead quiet.  I called CQ on 7.095 and this was immediately answered by Adrian VK5FANA who was portable on the western side of the Yorke Peninsula in the Bird Islands Conservation Park.  Not a bad start, a park to park contact.  This was followed by Tim VK5AV at Mount Gambier, and then another park to park contact, this time with Tom VK5FTRG who was portable in the Reedy Creek Conservation Park in the South East.  Signals were very good and the 40m band seemed to be in very good condition.

My next park to park contact was with David VK5NQP who was portable in the Mid North of South Australia in the Mokota Conservation Park (5/9 both ways).  This was immediately followed by another park to park contact, with Peter VK5PET operating portable in the Bullock Hill Conservation Park on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide (also 5/9 both ways).  And this was followed by a call from Arno VK5FO in the Angove Conservation Park in the north eastern suburbs of Adelaide (5/9 both ways), and then David VK5AAH portable in the Cleland Conservation Park in the Adelaide Hills.  David was also doing a Summits on the Air activation from Mount Lofty, VK5/ SE-005 (5/9 both ways).

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A few QSO’s later I was called by Richard VK5ZRY who was portable in the Ramsay Way Conservation Park on the eastern side of the Yorke Peninsula (5/9 both ways as you would expect).

I had a steady flow of callers from VK3 and VK5, and I was then called by Tim VK3MTB who was portable in the Grampians National Park in western Victoria.  Tim was on his way to South Australia to activate some VK5 Parks for the anniversay weekend.  As was the case with the VK5 activators, Tim had a lovely 5/9 signal from the Grampians.

About half a dozen QSOs later, I had my eighth VK5 Park to Park contact in the log from Carribie.  This time it was with Greg VK5ZGY who was operating portable from the Martin Washpool Conservation Park in the Mallee (5/9 both ways).  And what an interesting history that park has.  It is named after Malachi Martin, who was convicted murderer.  For more information please see…..

https://vk5pas.org/2013/09/12/martin-washpool-conservation-park/

A few QSOs later I was called by Chris VK4FR/5 who was portable on Kangaroo Island in the Beyaria Conservation Park (5/9 both ways).

When things started to slow down a little, I took the opportunity of QSYing from 7.095 and tuning around the 40m band.  I found Tony VK3CAT calling CQ on 7.100 from SOTA peak Basalt Knob, VK3/ VE-074 (5/7 both ways).

I then propped on 7.090 and called CQ and this was answered by Mike VK6MMB (5/2 sent and 4/8 received).  This was my first VK6 park hunter for Carribie.  Mark VK5QI then called in from the Coorong National Park with a very strong 5/9 signal.  Next up was Matt VK1MA, my first VK1 hunter.  I went on to work a further 3 VK5 stations, before lowering the squid pole and removing the links in the dipole, so I could operate on 20m.

I put out numerous CQ calls on 14.314 but there were no takers.  I had no phone coverage so I was unable to spot myself on parksnpeaks.  But my CQ call was finally answered by Dane VK2LDF (5/9 both ways), followed by Wayne VK3XF and then Brian VK3BBB.  But this was the end of callers on 20m, so I headed back to 40m.

First up I worked Tom VK5FTRG who was portable in the Furner Conservation Park (5/9 both ways).  Tom was calling CQ on 7.090.  I then settled on 7.095 and called CQ and this was answered by Peter VK3TKK, followed by Nick VK3ANL, and then Mick VK3PMG.  Peter, Nick and Mick are all very active park activators and hunters.  I then bagged my 13th park to park contact, this time with David VK5NQP, who had now moved to the Caroona Creek Conservation Park in the Mid North of South Australia.

Again, when things slowed down, I cruised around the band and found David VK5HDW calling CQ on 7.060 with a very very big signal, from the Lake Frome Conservation Park in the South East.  David was certainly the strongest activator signal on the band.

I then went back to 7.095 and put out a few final CQ calls and worked a further 8 stations, including another two park to park contacts.  The first was with Tony VK5ZAI who was portable in the Mount Scott Conservation Park in the South East (5/9 both ways), and then Tony VK3VTH/5 who was portable in the Far North of South Australia in the Gammon Ranges National Park (5/9 sent and 5/7 received).  My last caller was Ron VK3JP, who is a regular park hunter.

Whilst I was activating, one of the locals arrived at the scene.  He had seen our 4WD parked on the side of the road and wanted to check on our welfare.  But it was clear that this old fella also liked a chat.  Whilst I hid behind the radio, Marija spoke to this old timer for over an hour, even being introduced to his dog Molly on the back of the Ute.  And the local Constabulary also arrived.  They had a report of a crashed car a little further up the road, which we went to have a look at after we had packed up.

 So after about 2 and 1/2 hours in the park I had a total of 54 stations in the log.  It was time to pack up and head back to the Innes National Park.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK5FANA/p (Bird Islands Conservation Park)
2. VK5AV
3. VK5FTRG/p (Reedy Creek Conservation Park)
4. VK3AFW
5. VK3FQSO
6. VK5TN/m
7. VK4FR/5
8. VK5NQP/p (Mokota Conservation Park)
9. VK5PET/p (Bullock Hill Conservation Park)
10. VK5FO/p (Angove Conservation Park)
11. VK5AAH/p (Cleland Conservation Park & SOTA VK5/ SE-005 Mt Lofty)
12. VK3JAP/m
13. VK5ZRY/p (Ramsay Way Conservation Park)
14. VK5GJ
15. VK3ARR
16. VK3PF
17. VK3OHM
18. VK3MTB/p (Grampians National Park)
19. VK5ZAR
20. VK5FMID
21. VK5JK
22. VK5SFA
23. VK5HEL
24. VK5HCF
25. VK5ZGY/p (Martin Washpool Conservation Park)
26. VK3DAC
27. VK3JP
28. VK4FR/5
29. VK3CAT/p (SOTA Basalt Knob VK3/ VE-074)
30. VK6MMB
31. VK5QI/p (Coorong National Park)
32. VK1MA
33. VK5FBFB
34. VK5KAA
35. VK5FMJC
36. VK5FTRG/p (Furner Conservation Park)
37. VK3TKK
38. VK3ANL
39. VK3PMG
40. VK5NQP/p (Caroona Creek Conservation Park)
41. VK5STU
42. VK5TD
43. VK5HDW/p (Lake Frome Conservation Park)
44. VK5IS
45. VK5MBD
46. VK5FBUD
47. VK5TR
48. VK5ZAI/p (Mount Scott Conservation Park)
49. VK5APR
50. VK3VTH/5 (Gammon Ranges National Park)
51. VK3JP

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2LDF
2. VK3XF
3. VK3BBB

References.

Department for Environment and Heritage Management Plan, Mainland Conservation Parks of the Yorke Peninsula 2009