Fri, 1st Mar, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

Turned off the air conditioner in the early hours as it got too cold but then realised how hot was still outside. Kept the windows closed but by 3am had to open the van up and put a fan on.

7.30am 31 degrees, strong south westerly wind and heavy clouds in the west. A couple of drops of rain fell!

Mum and Dad rang to check we were ok as the news said WA was suffering from a terrible heat wave. All good here as today is supposed to only get to 39 which is cool compared to the 45 degrees! They are enjoying a bit cooler weather there with showers of rain so looks like Autumn will be nicer. They had lunch with Val the other day – looking a lot frailer.

Drove back to Holding Paddock to fill up the four troughs – all dry again with cattle standing around waiting for a drink. 10 donkeys ran off as we drove up. A dark cloud passed over us and sprinkled us with a few drops – it had dried off the windscreen before I could put the wipers on.

Brought the ute pod back and Steve filled it using the top tank as there is no sun to be able to pump the water up from the well.

Lost phone reception again for a few hours. It happened the other day too. Maybe there is some maintenance going on with the mines repeater towers.

Washed the sheets – need it after that week of hot weather.

Steve pottered about. I finished my 750 piece jigsaw. 35 degrees, nice south westerly breeze and the sun is shining now.

Kym sent me two of the lightning photos from last Sunday – fabulous.

After lunch we took the pod back to Holding Paddock and topped up the troughs again. Hopefully they won’t be as thirsty now we are in for cooler weather.

Drove down to Leonora and topped up the water tanks in the truck after Steve transferred the water into the caravan. Chatted with a chap who was a cray fisherman near Strahan in Tassie.

Around to the homestead to look for a 240v water pump so we can use our little generator to pump the water directly into the tank so we don’t have to keep going backwards and forwards. Chatted with Rob about what has been happening at 10 Mile. The musterers should be up on Sunday to set up yards and hopefully start the muster as they think there is good rain coming by the end of next week.

Kym and Glen arrived back with the groceries from Kalgoorlie. Loaded ours then joined them for a drink and chat.

Headed home as the sun was setting – lots of heavy clouds about but no more rain.

As we headed down our track we saw a fire just off the road. Someone had driven in as I could see the tyre tracks in the torch light and lit a fire near a bush. Steve cleared around it so it could just burn out. Probably a ‘local’ but no signs of any roo kill or any rubbish left behind so who knows. As long as they don’t venture further down the track to our camp!

All good back home, thank goodness. 8pm 35 degrees. Steve unloaded the truck while I got dinner underway.

After dinner we drove back out the Holding Paddock to check the troughs. Dodged a heap of dump roos who are determined to get run over.

Back home for a cuppa and movie. Much nicer temperature, just needed a fan on low speed to stir the air.