Sat, 19th Apr, 2025 Roadside stop, east of Leonora to Bush camp, Mt Redcastle area, east of Leonora, WA

4 years since Mum moved on to her Heavenly life - still think of her all the time.

Min 11 degrees, nearly diesel heater time! The sun is shining so we stayed in bed till 8am when the temp climbed to 17 degrees.

Back to the turn off and followed someone else’s wheel tracks in so no problems as the road base is good.

Along to the old Laverton Road then down to our turn off. The mine here had a grader out as a road train was bogged just at their turn off. That section was very churned up by their trucks. We turned onto our track to head to the new pending leases - no problems here. A few pools of water but there hasn’t been much traffic on it.

Found a nice spot on a rise which had phone service and a lovely view and set up camp.

The wind is a bit nippy though and the clouds are coming over again.

After a cuppa we headed off wandering. 

Steve went off wandering again while I worked on my cross-stitch, had enough exercise today!

The temperature didn’t get over 17 today even with the sun shining for a while.

The cloud band has come over though you can see blue sky on the horizon and the cold wind is blowing so no fire or sitting outside this afternoon. We could see the bright orange sun drop below the cloud band and then sink over the horizon which was nice and then the lovely golden glow up onto the clouds.

The temp didn’t change but it felt colder which out the sun shine so we put the heater on to make it more comfortable for dinner. 

The sky was clear again when we went to bed but still a cold wind so kept the windows closed.

 

Fri, 18th Apr, 2025 Bush camp, north of Broad Arrow to Roadside stop, east of Leonora, WA

Min of 15.2 degrees and still overcast.

Rang Suzanne for her birthday and caught up on the 90^th birthday celebrations for her mother recently.

Bit of blue sky is starting to break through the clouds. Steve went for a wander and I continued with my cross-stitch. 

Packed up and headed back to the highway - no problems on the track as it is all rocky.

Lots of puddles on the side of the road as we head north to Menzies where we stopped for lunch. The sky is more blue than cloud now.

Continued on to Leonora, lots of water about and the ‘dry’ lakes have water in them now. Topped up the water tanks again at the park before town then headed east on the road to Laverton. There is a band of cloud a head of us and it looks like a shower of rain might have fallen from it ahead of us.

Under that cloud band now. As we neared our turn off we heard a lady say, ‘phew we made it out’, on the radio then two very muddy vehicles came towards us. We could see their muddy tyre marks as we neared out turn off but we didn’t go in as it was all boggy. We turned around and went back to the roadside stop and parked up for the night. No rain forecast for tomorrow so hopefully the track will be drier by the morning. Had a cuppa inside with the camper closed up as it is still quite chilly outside with the wind.

A big truck pulled in for a quick stop then a couple with their van. They are heading across the Great Central Road for a quick holiday.

The cloud band continued eastward so blue sky and the sun started to appear in the west then over the top of us by 4pm.

Lots of trucks going by but otherwise it is all good here.

 

Thurs, 17th Apr, 2025 Bush camp, north of Broad Arrow, WA

Light shower of rain about 1am then thunder and lightning started in the west at 4.30am. Made sure everything was zipped up and went back to bed. The rain arrived soon after, not very heavy but consistent.

Bleak 16 degrees when we got up, overcast and the rain had stopped.

Sent Leanne a happy birthday text message. No wandering this morning so I worked on our blog and Steve read. I checked where we can pre-vote for the federal election and it is only in Kalgoorlie so I put in applications for postal votes to be sent to Leonora Post Office.

Another shower of rain, at least we are on rocky ground and the track in was firm. Heavier rain then as we passed the time playing cards.

Hot soup and crackers for lunch as it still hasn’t gotten any warmer.

By cuppa time we are nearly ready to put the heater on as we are now in long pants, socks and jumpers.

I worked on my cross-stitch for our new grandbaby. Steve decided to have a snooze and keep warm in his bed.

The rain stopped at last and the temp didn’t get over 18.3 degrees.

Drinks and a few games of Rummykub for a change then a few sprinkles of rain again.

Dinner and movie and no more rain.

 

Wed, 16th Apr, 2025 Lake Douglas Reserve, west of Kalgoorlie to Bush camp, north of Broad Arrow, WA

Min of 14 degrees, overcast and the wind is cold this morning.

Rang Lou back as he had texted us. Just a catch up chat to see how the automatic went. All good at home though the new house has been delayed again.

Packed up and headed back to Kalgoorlie to top up with water and diesel and get another windscreen shade to use on the window for the fridge and my window when we are parked up. The sky is starting to clear.

Picked up a hot chook for lunch then headed out to the rest area on the north side of Kalgoorlie. Continued north passing the historic Broad Arrow Hotel where we signed out names on a window frame like thousands of others - the walls and ceiling is covered.

Turned off onto a track to a pending lease with the sun shining on us now.

Only up to 28 degrees but it feels warmer when you stand in the sun.

After a cuppa we went wandering. 

Clouds coming over again - there is rain predicted for tomorrow.

Drinks by the fire but no star watching as the sky has clouded over completely. Perfect temperature though so we had our dinner outside once the flies had settled down.

 

 

 

Tues, 15th Apr, 2025 Bush camp, east of Kalgoorlie to Lake Douglas Reserve, west of Kalgoorlie, WA

Cold morning, min 14.4 but up to 17 at 8am when we got up. Clear sky and cool breeze.

Packed up and headed back to Kalgoorlie. Grabbed some more groceries for the next couple of weeks.

Drove back west for a bit to Lake Douglas Reserve which is all bush camping. The dam is on the other side of the hill - day use only there.

After lunch I packed away the shopping and Steve got started on the washing. Rain forecast for tomorrow so we thought we should get it down while the sun is still shining. It isn’t a hot day only got to 26 but there is enough warmth to get everything dry. Only a light breeze too.

Rang Ray and Carol to check on their plans of which way they are coming across - still deciding. Will confirm closer to the end of the month.

Text Jon - he is in Melbourne on his way back to work. Rang Annalise - starts her new job on Monday. Beau is getting better after a double ear infection, poor little mite, that must have been painful.

Drinks and cards as it’s a bit cool outside and we aren’t making a fire here. A couple of motorbikes/4 wheelers have been zooming around on the other side but they have gone now so it is all quiet again. Only two other travellers are parked up.

 

11-14 Apr, 2025 Bush camps east of Kalgoorlie, WA

Fri, 11^th

15 degrees this morning, clear sky and breezy.

Rang Malcolm and confirmed our plan and dates for Steve joining him.

After lunch Kerry sent through the Virgin ticket confirmation for Steve - efficient lady considering she is so sick.

Moved up the slope to an old shaft and set up camp. Very white dirt.

Got to 31 degrees.

We enjoyed had a delicious BBQ dinner and then ice cream - hard life.

Lots of satellites again to night and the moon is getting fuller.

 

 

Sat, 12^th

Clouds came over making a warmer night - had to throw of my blanket. Woke to the sound of light rain on the roof at 5.30 so we jumped up to bring in our boots and put the chairs under the truck but by then the rain had stopped.

Min of 19.7 and warmer by the time we got out of bed. The sky is clearing now.

The sky is clearing as we packed up headed out to the main road. Drove back to the turn off towards Lake Perkolilli - track now has bitumen on it to the turn off into the lake. It is still a dirt track which we followed into the edge of the lake. Crossed over a section of it to the ‘camping’ area. Another vehicle here with some motorbikes. We parked and had lunch overlooking the dry lake. This is where Malcolm will zoom around in his 1926 Buick in October.

Back out and continued eastward to the next pending area that Steve wanted to check out. Found a spot and parked up.

Forecast had been for a hot day and they got that right, 37.8 degrees in the camper though there is a light breeze but that doesn’t get into the camper! There are clouds building in the east as there was a shower of rain forecast too.

As we park the nose of the truck to the NE to keep the heat off the fridge we get the afternoon sun in the dining window which makes it a bit uncomfortable to sit at when we have these hot days. We had bought a small windscreen shade to cover the window with so we can leave it open to get the breeze but block out the sun. Steve pegged it on to start with and it worked. Previously I had pegged a towel over the window which is what gave me the idea. I found some elastic in my sewing kit and sewed that to the edges in two places so then Steve could slide it over the window and it held in place perfectly. Needs a ladder though to put on but can be pulled off easily if we need to close the window in a rush etc.

Steve found some old bottles and a kerosene tin so made a display in front of the fireplace. Very nice.

Drinks outside but well back from the fire as it is still very hot. The clouds are building up so we will make sure we put everything away tonight just in case.

Watched the moon rise as the clouds covered the sky and then it disappeared behind them. No star gazing tonight. The flies go to bed then the mozzies move in!

6pm still 33 degrees in the camper. No blankets or even a sheet needed tonight.

 

 

Sun, 13^th

Light shower of rain at 11pm last night - still very hot.

More rain early this morning - no heavy which is good as we are on dirt tracks.

Overcast and another light shower when we got up. Min 21 degrees, light breeze.

Steve went wandering, I did my my baking.

A vehicle drove past but didn’t stop. Steve came back later and said they stopped when he saw them and it turned out to be Scottish Sandy that we met at Quinns, near Meekatharra, in 2017 - small world. He was showing a friend how to detect. Steve said good luck as he hadn’t found anything.

Had a cuppa and fresh date slice. Steve went back wandering and I did some cross-stitch. I got more achieved then Steve, he just got exercise.

After lunch the sky is clearing in the west though there is still dark clouds to the east. We packed up and moved further up the lease to some old mine shafts and set up there.

Another hot day, 37 degrees at 3pm with a light breeze and the sky is mostly clear now.

By drinks the clouds were coming over again and the breeze has stopped. Still 34 degrees in the camper even with all the windows open.

Full moon tonight but we only saw it for a little bit on the horizon then it disappeared behind the clouds. No star gazing again tonight.

6pm we could hear a ‘wave’ of wind coming from the north. We thought we were going to get rain but then it changed to the east. It was strong and cool so the temperature dropped nicely. Inside for dinner and we even had to close the kitchen window from the strong wind.

Much nicer for sleeping tonight.

 

 

Mon, 14^th

Min of 20 degrees, perfect. Cloudy and a cold wind.

Cooler morning so I worked on my cross-stitch again while Steve went wandering. At least he is getting lots of exercise.

After a cuppa we packed up and headed back out the main road and continued eastward. We haven’t had any phone reception but at one point the phone went off and we got a few messages so stopped and answered those. Turned off into another pending area over some old mine shafts and parked up near some old mines. Steve put the shade on the window again - working well.

I walked up to look at the shafts - not sure how they got down into this one. The other one is quite deep but I zoomed in to the bottom - some rubbish has been thrown down it. There is a lot of old tins and bottles about.

Looking back to the camper at the dark clouds to the west.

After lunch we went wandering - much cooler today which is nice. 28 degrees. The clouds are heading our way.

2.30pm the rain and wind started for an hour but it wasn’t heavy.

4pm the sky is clearer to the west but the clouds are still over us and the rain has stopped. Down to 23 degrees - what a change from yesterday’s heat.

Played cards while we had drinks for a change as it was quite cool outside and we weren’t bothering with a fire after that shower of rain.

Nice sunset as we were up on the hill and the cloud band over us is slowly moving eastward so the sun was in the clear as it disappeared on the horizon.

The sky was all clear by the time we went to bed so we could see the stars outside our windows though there is a very cool breeze coming in so closed them up when we went to bed.

 

 

 

 

Thurs, 10th Apr, 2025 72hr RV stop at Centennial Park, Kalgoorlie to Bush camp, NE of Kalgoorlie, WA

Min of 15 degrees - need our blankets and bed socks! Clear sky and no wind.

Headed east out from Kalgoorlie to do our ‘wandering’ in the bush. Will be meandering till end of Sept so no sightseeing as we have done all these areas before.

Nice camp near clumps of shiny bronze trunked trees.

Very quiet here except for the birds who are singing lots of nice songs. Unfortunately the flies like it too! I keep a fly swat in my chair to keep them at bay.

Steve got a nice fire going and we had our drinks watching the moon rise (nearly full) and then the stars appear. Satellites zoomed across the sky. Aah the tranquillity of the bush. This is what we love.

Inside for dinner as it is getting quite cool. Closed the windows too. I cooked Steve’s favourite chicken wings since he wasn’t lucky in finding any gold today.

Malcolm rang - his mate can’t come across with him with the Buick and Kerry is flying into Perth to see her family and will come out with them to watch the racing. He asked if Steve would mind flying across to Melbourne (he would buy the ticket) to meet him when he comes across on the Spirit and then drive across the Nullabor with him. He wants to get the Buick out for a spin somewhere along the Nullabor too - near the Bight to get some good drone footage. Steve said he would as I am flying home for Baby Geck No. 2. We discussed it after we hung up and I worked out the best way would be for Steve to take the train to Perth on the 24^th, then fly that night to Melbourne. Malcolm will get off the Spirit and pick him up and then they have 5 days or so to get across to Kalgoorlie. We will book the camper into a van park the day before Steve leaves and I can stay there till I catch the train on the 30^th for my night flight to Cairns. Hopefully the boys will turn up before I leave otherwise Steve will just pick up the camper from the van park and then they will go out to Lake Perkolilli for the ‘racing’ on the 4 & 5 October. Steve will then go detecting till I get back and Malcolm & Kerry will drive back across the Nullabor.

 

Wed, 9th Apr, 2025 72hr RV stop at Centennial Park, Kalgoorlie, WA

Overcast, min of 17.6 degrees.

Packed up and headed into Woolies. Parked then walked up and back the main street to visit a couple of shops then got our groceries.

Back to Centennial Park and set up again in the same spot. Had lunch then I worked on my blog and Steve fixed a water leak he found on a pipe under the bonnet. He is always checking under the bonnet and engine. He is very happy so far with the work the auto transmission guys did and the modification they made. He gave them a ring to let them know.

Heard the rumbles of Super Pit blast.

Drinks outside under a clear blue sky now and it is a bit cooler too. One of the ‘neighbours’ came back and said they just made it in time to ‘see’ the blast. It is weird as you see the ‘puff’ but the sound takes ages to get up to your ears.

Dinner and movie - all quiet again.

Tues 8th Apr, 2025 48hr RV Stop, Bruce Rock to 72hr RV at Centennial Park, Kalgoorlie, WA (exploring Westonia)

Min of 17.4 degrees, overcast with black clouds so might be some rain in them.

Packed up and headed to Merredin still through grain country. Another road to mark off in our map book.

Passed another ‘rock’ but didn’t go in - we have climbed lots of them already.

Into Merredin which we explored before - it has another big rock with WW2 history. When we did the drive along the Great Eastern Highway we were following the Golden Pipeline Trail - the water pipeline from Mundaring Dam near Perth to Kalgoorlie. Very interesting.

Continued eastward with the sky clearing ahead of us.

Passed the sign for the No. 1 Rabbit Proof Fence which we cross here - we have been to the top and bottom of it and seen lots of signs of it as we crisscrossed the state.

Turned off at Carrabin (only a roadhouse here now) and headed north for 9km up to Westonia. There is a gold mine here so it is where the goldfields meet the wheat belt. It is also part of the Golden Pipeline Trail but we missed driving up here previously.

Great entrance sign at the turn off, established in 1910. 4 shops, telegraph poles complete with birds.

Into town, van park, golf course and very neat and quiet. We parked on the main street and walked up and down as there was lots to check out.

Lovely orchids on the post office building. They have history photos on the bins too.

An old truck on display in the centre of the road.

Continued up the street.

Steve commented on the grader driver would have a warm bottom as his seat is above the radiator.

A winch thing representing the Edna May gold mine that is just out of town.

The Club Hotel. Didn't see an info board about it.

Unfortunately the Museum was all shut up even though the sign said it should be. Whilst writing this I read the smaller print on the sign and it said that entry was via the Shire Office - Dam. Shame they didn’t have that directly under the open hours. It sounds like it was a very interesting museum. Oh well will put it on my list if we come back along the highway again.

I think it is great they have kept the old world charm.

A gold ore crusher - ‘a stamper’.

These palms were planted in 1973 by the CWA. This was probably their building too.

More little shops.

We turned at the end and headed past noisy red-tailed black cockatoos.

The gums have very shiny bronze trunks - maybe the outer bark has just fallen off.

Another little shop then mini silos with photos and a truck in front.

Back to the main street - side view of the old Post Office.

Love these - Bird of Paradise.

Headed back up the main street. Lots of covered piles in the work yard - reading the sign, it is probably timber under the covers.

The 110 year old Edna May Tavern with a 'black cat on the hot tin roof'. We love the way they moved buildings in the old days - not build a new one. Note they 14 room lodging house was moved to Norseman - a very long distance from here especially when you think of the transport they had and the road conditions. Probably pulled apart, flat packed onto a wagon and then reassembled.

It even has a mine shaft with a man in it! (not the actual mine - that is just out of town)

Continued down the side of the building to check out the old truck.

Back to the main street - tribute to the local government here and an old steam engine.

A couple more little shops.

Back to the truck then along to the church which has a RV rest area and picnic table. Steve put the kettle on while I checked out the church. Another ‘relocated building’ story. I lifted the gate to go inside and it was made of plastic - a bit wobbly but serves the purpose I suppose.

Sat in the shelter shed to have our cuppas and read the info boards. We had visited some of the places before, like Elachbutting Rock - we reckon it was better than Wave Rock. Great photo of the mine.

I remember reading about Moondyne Joe when he was in Fremantle Gaol.

I looked back to 20 Dec, 2016 when we visited the gaol and found this:

A convict, Moondyne Joe, was crushing rocks in the corner and dug himself a tunnel through the perimeter wall, hidden by the rockpile. He escaped (7 March, 1857) in only his underwear and was at large for two years before being captured in the cellar of Houghton’s Winery in the Swan Valley on 25 February, 1869.

That’s why I like writing my diary/blog so I can look back at things we have seen.

Continued down the road - another little shop and truck.

Followed the Golden Pipeline sign and turned onto a dirt track to the mine lookout. Found the sign but it is so hard to read - they had done them all on the metal signs. This area is part of the trail because of its water/gold connection and shows the trials etc of the pioneering people. This one said: “Westonia owes existence to the discovery of gold. The highest grade of ore in the Yilgarn Field. Westonia’s riches lay hidden from the prospectors flocking to Coolgardie in the 1890s. Sandalwood collector and part-time prospector, Alfred Weston’s 1910 gold find started a rush to the area. Shafts were sunk and companies floated. But water flooding the underground mines meant men were laid off and shares dropped until it was extracted. By July 1915 more water was flowing into the Edna May mine than could be pumped out. The photo shows piles of timber, used by steam pumps to raise the water from the mine, stacked beside the Edna May. Today saline water is used in processing and to settle the dust.”

We walked up the slope to the first view of an open pit and the facilities on the other side.

Up the next slope to the lookout. Another ‘shiny’ sign but you can read this one.

View across to the facilities and the other open pit.

Looks like they are working behind that now.

Back to the truck and out to the highway. Pulled into the roadhouse and topped up as diesel is much cheaper here than in Kalgoorlie.

Continued along the Great Eastern Highway still going through grain country.

Stopped at Southern Cross for lunch.

The grain fields stopped at Ghooli, now it is low scrub then we enter the Goldfields Woodland Conservation Park.

Big white fluffy clouds appearing as we near Coolgardie where we stopped for a cuppa.

Continued on then got a text from Lee-Anne & Daniel. They had just passed us heading back to Coolgardie. They pulled off so we turned around and went back for a chat. Lee-Anne said they had a lot of rain early this morning so the ground has been very wet to go detecting on. We had noticed lots of puddles on the side of the road. They only have a couple more days but hopefully we can meet up further north later on when they can get away from the van park.

We continued eastward to Kalgoorlie and around to Centennial Park’s 72hr RV Stop. Lots of campers parked up but we found a spot and set up.

After drinks Steve chatted with our neighbours while I finished off my book.

A shower of rain came over at 6.30 but it was only light. This is the end of our sightseeing till Oct as we will be meandering through the goldfields bush but I will keep posting up our camps and interesting things we see every now and then.

Dinner and movie - fairly quiet here, not much traffic about.