20-24 Apr, 2025 Bush camps, Mt Redcastle area, east of Leonora, WA

Sun, 20^th

10 degrees at 6.30am so turned on the diesel heater so it was nice 21 degrees when we got up at 7.30am for breakfast. Clear sky with the cold wind still blowing.

Katelin and Sarah’s birthdays today. As I have phone reception here I sent them happy birthday messages. Chatted with Wendy via text too.

Steve went off wandering again while I blogged, cross-stitched and read!

After lunch we packed up and went exploring another pending lease nearby. Stopped for a chat with two blokes who are camped with friends on the little live lease near here. Haven’t found much. We headed back along the track and found another track and another vehicle just near the edge of the lease. No one around this car so we turned around and headed back along the track. Found a spot that looked promising and set up camp.

We went wandering.

Intermittent phone signal here. Got some messages through so I sent an early happy birthday text to Susan for the 23^rd in case I don’t have any reception then. She and Ross are on a 3 days cruise out from Brisbane to celebrate their 40^th wedding anniversary - very nice.

Lovely clear evening so we decided to do a potato bake in the camp oven and cook our porterhouse steaks over the fire. First time the camp oven has been out in a while so decided to take some photos. Steve makes three fire pits - one for the steak, one for the camp oven and then the big one for warmth and to make more coals.

Delicious dinner and we spotted heaps of satellites and admired all the stars. Much clearer when you don’t have a moon about.

 

Mon, 21^st

Min of 10 degrees this morning so on with the heater at 6.30am. Clear sky and light cold wind which was sneaking in through the not totally zipped up windows!

10 minutes later we heard a vehicle then the horn being honked. Steve got out of bed to check it out and this bloke with a very bent nose asked ‘what are we doing here’. Steve said detecting on a pending lease and the guy went mad saying it was a live lease and it was his. Steve came and got the phone to show him on Trillobite exactly where we were and that it was a pending lease. Obviously he isn’t up on these things. He calmed down considerably when Steve pointed out we were correct then tried to excuse himself by saying he had been having problems with people detecting on his lease on 4wheelers and electric bikes. We said we had followed bike tracks in but they were on the pending lease anycase. Eventually he was nice and chatted about the camper etc then went on his way after leaving Steve his name, Phillip, and phone number, should we see anyone doing the wrong thing. We won’t because we won’t be on his lease! I looked up the owner’s name on the lease and it wasn’t his so he is probably only a caretaker. No wonder he has such a bent nose - bet he got a couple of whacks by accusing people and they weren’t as calming as Steve is.

Back inside for breakfast then we went wandering, on the pending lease of course which we are in the middle of. As Steve says we park in plain site - can’t miss us any case, and we don’t wear headphones so anyone can hear us when we are detecting.

The days are warming up so after lunch I got into cooler clothes and worked on my cross-stitch and wrote some blog up to upload when we get phone signal again.

Up to 26 degrees max by 3pm but it cools off again quickly as the sun drops earlier in the afternoon now. Unfortunately the flies are still around till nightfall so we had our drinks and played cards inside as I am cooking dinner inside so no fire tonight.

 

Tues, 22^nd

12 degrees min this morning, still put the heater on as it makes it much nicer for breakfast time. Clear sky.

The wind outside is still very chilly as we packed up.

We drove back along the track and tried another good looking spot but nothing but rubbish here.

After a cuppa we tried another spot but no luck there either.

After lunch we drove back near our first campsite but went down a track along the base of the hill and continued on a bit further and parked up for a wander.

Warmer day again which is nice with the only a light breeze now. It got to 29.7 degrees.

The sun disappeared by 5.30pm and we had our drinks by the fire with the flies and little mozzies but they disappeared soon after.

Watched the stars appear and spotted 4 satellites then it got too cool as the fire died down so we headed inside for dinner.

 

Wed, 23^rd

Warming up - only got down to 14 degrees this morning. Clear sky and cool breeze.

Went wandering. Saw a goanna but he saw us first and headed down one of the holes in the ground near a tree. There are lots of rabbit poos about but we never see any during the day.

After lunch we packed up and moved further along the lease and set up for the night.

Got to 32.2 degrees this afternoon. A few clouds coming over and the breeze has stopped.

Too many flies for drinks so we played cards inside.

The sky cleared as the sun set and the stars appeared but we stayed inside for dinner.

 

Thurs, 24^th

Woke to the sound of rain pitter pattering on the roof and the sky covered in a big cloud band again. Min of 20 degrees and now the wind has picked up.

Packed up and headed into another pending lease and set up. Back to being cold again so kept the camper closed up.

Steve read and I worked on my cross-stitch till lunch time.

The sky is clearing but the wind is still cold. Steve went wandering, I decided my cross-stitch was more important!

By cuppa time it had climbed to 26.8 degrees with the sky mostly clear but the wind was still cold outside.

Too windy for a fire so we stayed inside. Lucky we are comfortable in our camper and love playing cards etc. There are always birds to listen too as well as the buzzing of the flies!