Wow
36 years married – how the time has flown. We are both still very happy and
enjoying our wonderful life on the road together.
7.30am
19.3 degrees, clear sky with a band of cloud on the horizon in the north. The
wind is still blowing but in softer gusts. Watched our photos of 3 years ago
when we were in Marble Bar and we had spent our anniversary exploring the area,
hence we didn’t need to do that this time. Today we will spend it trying to
find more gold!!
Mum
rang to wish us a happy anniversary and amazingly the phone has enough
reception that we had a lovely long chat.
We
went back to yesterday’s spot to see if there were any more nuggets further up
the hill. While we were having a cuppa I commented about feeling tired and
Steve said he was woken up in the early hours by a loud sound which he thought
was a big gust of wind roaring through camp but then the van shook. I slept
through it obviously.
No
more gold here only lead shot – I wonder if 36th anniversary metal
is ‘lead’ as it certainly isn’t gold.
Followed
the track to the northern end of the lease and came upon a car and tent near a
couple of shafts in open ground. No one was about so we continued on to the end
of the lease but there no more workings for us to detect. We headed back and
stopped to check out the shafts which weren’t too deep. Steve spotted someone
on a rise walking back to us so we waited for him is arrive. Bevan is from
Perth and is with his brother David having a go at detecting and exploring the
country with their cameras.
We
chatted for a while then Bevan said how he got up for a leak about 3am and
heard a loud roar coming from behind him so he turned around and waited. David
heard it too in the tent. There was no wind but the roar came towards then the
sound rushed over them and the ground shook then the sound continued on heading
west. About 8 minutes later there was another roar which would have been an
aftershock. That must have been what Steve heard. They think it was an earth
tremor. I said there had been an 6.6 magnitude earthquake off Broome a month ago.
At 12.09, David checked the time, we heard another roar which sounded like a
big jet engine taking off so that must have been another aftershock. David said
this one wasn’t as loud as the one straight after the earthquake. I am glad we
heard that much. Bevan said it was the weirdest experience. Will have to try
and ring someone to get the news of where the earthquake was. We invited them
to join us for a drink so we can show them where the others had dug lots of
holes in case Bevan can find something with his 7000 that we couldn’t hear as
it punches deeper.
Home
for a late lunch. We pulled the awning back out as it is quite hot (32 degrees)
now the wind has settled.
Detected
another spot but no joy. Back to the van for a cuppa. I had phone reception so
rang Margaret to see if she heard about the earthquake. She hadn’t but then she
googled it and found out it was a 4.8 magnitude earthquake that hit at 3.11am
north of Nullagine to a depth of 15km. It was obviously just under us.
I
did our washing as we will move on tomorrow. Steve walked down to the creek for
one last detect. Bevan and David arrived. I told them about the earthquake information
then they went for a wander with their detectors and walked up the hill and got
phone reception. I haven’t had phone reception since Margaret’s call – go figure.
As
the sun set we had our drinks around the fire. Bevan had brought their dinner
too which was good thinking so we had a great night chatting. Bevan is retired
pilot who flew little planes to begin with then went to the UK and has been
flying for a biggest tourism company there and flew people all over the world.
He said that Australia is still the best place. David works for an engineering
company that works on the Navy’s Collins Class submarines. We chatted about
everything. Steve cooked roast chicken and vegetables in the camp oven while
the boys headed Bevan’s homemade very hot Thai meal up on the fire. After
dinner we had yummy cheesecake and icecream to celebrate our anniversary. Then
with coffee Bevan brought out a block of chocolate so it was a very good
evening all round. Quite warm too as there is still no breeze. Very interesting
guys – we hope they find some gold soon.
Went
to bed with the windows open and just a sheet.
NO
PHOTOS TODAY.
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