Wed, 31st August, 2016 Bush camp, 4 Mile Diggings, S of Marble Bar to Meentheena Veterans Retreat, E of Marble Bar, WA

7am 20.7 degrees, clear blue sky with a light cool breeze.

Tried to ring Valerie for her birthday but no answer so sent her a text message.

Got an enquiry about the metal detector and he was happy with the price etc. He was travelling too and was near Bundaberg though he lives in Ballarat. Packed that up too so we could send it off today as well. This is very easy – hope the others sell quickly too.

Said bye to Robert and Robyn as they packed up earlier than us. They are heading to Broome. We drove into town and arranged to post the coil and detector.

Went over to the park to fill up the water tanks. While having a cuppa we chatted with another couple from Tassie who have been on the road for 11 years. Then another couple pulled in from Mildura and they have been working around Australia for 6 years so got lots of info off them both about working on the road.

Had lunch then headed east along the bitumen Rippon Hills Road to Meentheena Vietnam Veterans Retreat. Spotted a little dingo on the way – they don’t have baits up here.

Turned onto the dirt road for 13km down to the retreat. It has been open for 5 years and is a ‘work in progress’ retreat. Met Scrap and Roger who are looking after it for a bit till a new Camp Host is appointed. We can camp in the retreat area or down by the Nullagine River in an area they have cleared and called ‘Paperbarks’. He drove us down for a look – there is still clear water in the pool and room for the van but we decided to camp at the retreat as we are only having the one night. It was Meentheena Station’s Outcamp. They used to run sheep then cattle. Scrap said it was to be the original homestead area but Telstra couldn’t give them phone reception here so they built the homestead further down and across the Nullagine River. It is now abandoned.

After setting up we drove down to check out some aboriginal etchings about 10km away. We crossed the wide dry Nullagine River with its lovely big gums.

Passed the abandoned homestead. They had a ‘coolgardie’ shelter out the back too so they can cool themselves in the heat of summer.

We turned off at the Emergency Phone sign and followed the track up and down the hills and down to a dry creek bed. From here we walked up the creek till we came to a pool. Steve upset a snake as we arrived but it disappeared quickly.

Very pretty place.

We found the etchings (chipping on the rocks rather than painting) on the stones of the hillside. There are initials and dates which are over some of the etchings which Scrap said were the station owner’s family. Other than that there are no other details as to the etchings age etc.

How they got to some of the spots amazes us. This one was right at the top.

The more we looked the more we found.

We continued around the edge of the pool and up along the edge of the creek which was still flowing down into the pool. There must be another pool further up where all the green reeds are.

Climbed to the top of the hill for a lovely view.

There is even a little waterfall.

Willy Wagtail was having a wonderful time darting around getting bugs.

Back down and along the rocky ledge.

Continued along the bottom of the wall looking for more etchings.

We could get up close to this one and feel where they had chipped into the stone. You can see the initials and dates were put on after the etchings.

A few more up high.

Back to camp for drinks with the others. Two other caravans are here and we had a great afternoon chatting. The generator went on so we all enjoyed lovely hot showers in the dongas they have had donated from mines etc.

It has been windy all day and now clouds are coming over from the west.