8th to 16th May, 2023 Bush camps, Mosquito Creek area, east of Nullagine to The Common, Nullagine, WA

Mon, 8^th

21 months since Dad left this world.

19.2 degrees, cold wind. Mackerel clouds covered the sky.

Went wandering. Very windy which is clearing the clouds away.

Had lunch then I stayed and wrote up my blog while Steve went wandering.

Still too windy for a fire. The sky has cleared with just a few low clouds in the west. Sunset was looking nice so I walked along till I got the tree in the picture too - looked good.

 

 

Tues 9^th

Cooler morning, 16.3 degrees minimum. Up to 18 degrees when we got up at 7.30, clear sky and light breeze.

Went up to the shale hill. Good view from up here. I saw two vehicles come over the rise and watched them work their way along the track towards us. They continued on so I just gave them a wave. A few minutes later the second vehicle came back and headed all the way back out. Maybe they were the ones camped on the burnt area and maybe he forgot something and had to drive all the way back for it. At least with the camper on the back we can get into these areas easier then when you have to tow a van.

Had lunch then packed up and headed along the track. We found the two vehicles just around the hill - didn’t here that car come back!

Ray had said there was burnt areas near the Y intersection so we headed there. We parked on the burnt area so we can have fire tonight.

Went for a wander.

Adam came by with his new girlfriend and saw Steve wandering so stopped for a chat.

Steve dug a firepit and boarded it with big quartz rocks as there is still a bit of a breeze about but we have a pile of things to burn and we wanted to cook dinner on the fire tonight. The Snappy Gum is a great coal maker and easy to get the dead limbs around the area. Dead spinifex makes a great fire starter too.

The wind settled with the sun setting and we enjoyed our fire and watched the stars appear. Spotted a couple of satellites then the big bright Space Station zoomed across the sky.

It got cooler quicker tonight so had our showers earlier for a change.

 

Fri, 12^th

19 degrees, clear sky and windy again.

Packed up and continued along the track across to near Adam’s camp. We found Ray’s van and he was there so stopped to say hi.

We said bye and continued across to the old Skull Springs Road. Got phone reception along the way so stopped and checked messages and had a cuppa. Sent some replies then we continued on then turned west onto the road.

Through Cooke’s Creek - still has a bit of water about.

Continued east into the hills and found a track to the corner of the other lease we have permission for. Nice views here too.

A bit warmer today, 32 degrees on the shady side of the camper!! The wind seems to stop after lunch too.

Windy drinks outside as the sun disappeared early behind the hill. Got a bit chilly for me so I headed inside to get dinner ready. Steve enjoyed watching the stars appeared.

 

 

Sat, 13^th

17 degree minimum, cold wind and clear sky.

Nice day though still windy. Decided to explore the area and found a new spot to camp for the night.

Had drinks outside enjoying the lovely view again till the mozzies came buzzing. It is cooling off early too so inside to cook dinner and watch a movie.

 

 

 

Sun, 14^th

Mother’s Day. 34 years ago exactly I was big and fat waiting for my present to arrive to make me a mother but alas he didn’t come for another 3 days. Oh well I have had plenty of wonderful mother’s days since with our two wonderful sons. Thinking of our mothers today too and all the wonderful things they have done for us over the years making us the confident and adventurous people we are. Their love will always be in our hearts. It has been two months now since Erica passed on.

Cool morning 13 degrees, winter is coming. 7am it was up to 19 so all is good. Clear sky and cool wind.

Heard the phone ping - just enough signal for a lovely text message from Jon. I replied then he tried to ring but it just wasn’t enough for a clear signal. Will ring them when we get into town later in the week.

Had a cuppa then headed out. Another signal spot and a message came through from Annalise. A bit further along a message from Fran too. So lovely to have such lovely daughter-in-laws. Then one came through from Daniel. My world is complete.

Stopped for a chat with Ray as he was coming out after going for a wander at the top of the Valroc lease. He is hoping to get up to Mt Elsey where he has a 40E.

We headed out to the main track then back up a bit to the turn off to Eastern Creek Mining Centre. We tried last year but the track was too wet. Made it through this time, across Cooke’s Creek, only a little puddle here. Up into the hills where we spotted mines up and down the side of the shale hills. Boy those guys back then were amazing.

We spotted a grave and stopped for a photo. 1911 - just imagine what it would have been like back then out here.

We drove past a current mine set up but no one was about. Continued on the newly graded one vehicle wide track. It hasn’t had any water over it so was recently done.

Dropped down into a gum lined creek and spotted an old EH Holden which had a cross beside it. Stopped for a look. So sad. I googled to find out the story but only found their family trees. Michael was only 5 and was born in Tom Price. His mother is shown to have died in Feb 1980 aged 38 so not sure what the story was.

We continued on in the pending lease area but the track had no deviations and looks like it is the old one that heads up to Mt Elsey so Ray will be happy to travel up this track with his van. Spotted our first Sturt Desert Peas this trip so stopped for a photo.

Continued on a bit further and found a spot to turn around as we can’t detect any further on as it goes live so we headed back. Stopped in the creek and made lunch.

Headed back and checked out the actual spot of the Mining Centre as per the map. A few old bits and pieces of machinery and some shallow shafts. Stopped to check out one of the mine shafts going straight into the side of the hill. There are more above this one. Using the detector is so much easier!

Looks like this line of hills was the main gold supply as there aren’t any shafts on the other hills.

Headed back out onto the pending lease again and then found a track off to the left. Others in the van park had talked about a track being blocked by big rocks before crossing the creek - we found it. We backed up and found a spot to park up for the night.

Sat outside and enjoyed the view having our drinks then inside for dinner.

 

 

Mon, 15^th

Min 12.5 degrees. 15.9 by 7am. Clear sky and no wind.

Headed back to the main road then down to a pending lease. Found a small track in and parked up. The area was burnt last year so at least there is no spinifex to fight through. Had a cuppa then went for a wander.

The wind came back, cold and gusty but the sun is shining.

Still a bit windy but it is clear of spinifex so Steve made a small fireplace and we had drinks around the fire which was lovely. Only got to max of 27 today with the cold wind.

 

 

Tues, 16^th

13.2 degrees min. 7am 16 degrees, no wind, clear sky.

We packed up and headed out after a cuppa. Spotted the other’s camp further along - there was 4 vans.

Back along the washed creek bed between the hills and out to the Mosquito Creek Mining Centre then back onto the main Skull Springs Road and headed back to Nullagine. Passed the track we first went on for our ‘adventure’ trip up to the first two Valroc leases. Glad we made it through ok - the truck is tough and the driver knows its limits and his abilities which is good. I just sit quiet and hang on.

Into Nullagine and met Ray at the water point. He was all clean after a visit to the van park. Exchanged phone numbers and might catch up with him next year. We told him about the Eastern Creek track so he will give that a go to get to his lease at Mt Elsey.

Checked the van park but the unpowered sites are booked out till the 19^th so we headed out to the Common where Geoff & Virginia had meandered last year. We parked up and I took a photo to send to them as we have good phone reception here.

Rang David and Amanda to catch up on things. Rang Margaret and Bob and caught up with what they have been up to. They saw Kevin and he is still working on his camper so we won’t be seeing him this year.

Louis had rung while we were chatting so rang him back. Very busy with work and was driving back late from a job in Port Douglas so rang to see how we are.

Easy dinner tonight as the wind is blowing outside and we are enjoying have phone reception to check Facebook etc.