Thurs, 31st July, 2025 Bush camp on Killara Station, north of Meekatharra, WA

6.6 degree min, clear sky and windy again.

I worked on my blog and Steve took the 6000 for a wander for a change.  

After morning tea I went wandering too. Slow and steady, not sure I would call it exercise but it is better than sitting reading I suppose. 

After lunch I put a stew and savoury scones in the Ecopot for dinner. Wayne & Sharon called in to see if we needed anything in Meeka as they were heading to the PO to pick up new skid plates - Wayne has worn his out on his 7000. The other couple are back in the shrubs over from us - forgotten their names already, should have written it down. Wayne said they had a big win, finding a 5.5g nugget so they are all enthused again.

I went back to my gridding with renewed enthusiasm - might be a nice one out there for us.  

Jon and Annalise rang - he is home. We arranged to video chat when we go into town. 

Took off my jumper as the sun’s warmth was beating the wind - just 2 layers now. Continued gridding. It was quite pleasant to be out wandering.

Drinks inside as the sun has dipped and the coolness is coming in and we didn’t have the fire ready to go.

The wind settled with the darkness.

 

Wed, 30th July, 2025 Bush camp on Killara Station, north of Meekatharra, WA

8.4 degrees min, max of 18 forecast. Overcast again and no wind.

Lingered in the nice warm camper reading. I sent my cousin Chris a happy birthday text - he is 81, the oldest of all the cousins. Got a call from Carmel & Merv - she rang the wrong Sharon but we had a lovely chat any case. They had a nice couple of weeks out fossicking at the Willows. They fossicked for many years with Terry & Erica. Merv was rewarded this time with a lovely sapphire while specking along the track. We tried that with Erica using a mirror to shine the light down on the ground so you can see the stones. After rain the locals head out to do it as the dirt is washed off the top of the stones. 

After morning tea we warmed up our clothes and headed back out into the cold wind to continue gridding. There is blue sky between the puffy clouds.

More sunshine and the wind has dropped off which is nice. We continued gridding to afternoon tea and were rewarded. While we were having our cuppa we got hit with a willy willy and it gave the camper a good shake as it roared over us. Luckily I didn’t have any windows open.

It got warm enough that I had to take my jumper off and just have two layers and one set of gloves - probably only 18 but after the cold wind that actually feels warm!

I messaged Virginia & Geoff in NZ to update them on our visit next year and ask their advice on a couple of things. Looking forward to seeing them again.

 

Tues, 29th July, 2025 Bush camp on Killara Station, north of Meekatharra, WA (Jon & Annalise’s 2nd wedding anniversary)

4.1 degree min and BOM says 16 degree max so will be putting another layer on today.

Sent Jon & Annalise happy anniversary texts for today. Jon is still at work but should be home on Thursday so they can celebrate over the weekend. Annalise replied with a photo of the beautiful bouquet of flowers she received from Jon.

Clear sky and the wind is back when we headed out after warming my clothes up with the heater. I am even putting an extra pair of gloves on. Even Steve is wearing gloves.

The others are back in their spot. The sun is warmish if you can get out of the wind. We gridded all afternoon.

One of the couples called in to ask about the track. They only have an on road van and we had mentioned before about the track being ruined by someone in the rain. We showed them the other way up and around that we took the first time we came in here with Ray & Carol. They will go for a drive and check out the creek crossing and then decide on Saturday as they need to head out before the rain on Sunday. We are heading out Saturday too as we need to get water and more food. The other couple are staying here.

The wind is coming over the fireplace now so we went back inside for drinks. The sun is on the dining side of the camper so the heat is coming in through the window which is nice (19 degrees) while we play cards. Once the sun goes down though the temp drops and the heater goes on.

There were clouds building in the south again and are heading our way but there is no rain predicted. The wind settled down by 8pm which is good as the vinyl flaps about when it blows hard.

 

Mon, 28th July, 2025 Bush camp on Killara Station, north of Meekatharra, WA

9.4 degrees min, overcast and very windy again.

Rick texted to say he is near Charters Towers and will be home tomorrow. So glad he had a great time and safe drive home. He is very happy to have found some gold at Clermont too so had a nice little collection now.

We sent a text to Ray and Carol as they should be home now from their detecting time at Kurundi Station in NT. They replied that they were home and had a good time there. Will give them a ring when we get back to town. 

Blue sky is appearing through the clouds but the strong wind is still blowing. We stayed inside and read for a while longer with the heater going.

Steve spotted the one of the group wandering off over the flats from us. When we went outside we saw their vehicles on the other side of us and the others wandering through the trees there. Everyone wears bright shirts so it is easy to spot people in the bush.

After lunch we ventured out and continued gridding now there is more sun shining. The wind is still blowing but we have layered up and it isn’t too bad.

A small misty shower came over so we headed back to the camper for a cuppa. 

Steve went back out while I rang Rebecca back. Had a lovely chat with her - nice and hot in Cairns, 28 degrees today. Their winter is over.

Inside for drinks and cards with the heater on as the wind hasn’t let up.

By dinner time the wind has died down and there is more blue sky than cloud now.

Sun, 27th July, 2025 Bush camp off Ashburton Road, north of Meekatharra to Bush camp on Killara Station, north of Meekatharra, WA (Wendy & Matthew’s birthdays)

5.4 degrees min, clear sky. No phone reception here so will sent birthday messages later.

Cold breeze when we went out wandering. Only a bit of rubbish for me. Steve came back with a pretty polished rock with stripes to add to our collection of special rocks.

Had a cuppa then packed up and headed back out to the highway. When I got phone reception I sent off birthday messages. Wendy replied that she is having a lovely day so far.

Decided to give the crown land with small pending lease one last go as it has been a good spot to us so far. Got to the second water point and someone must have come out when we had that ran as they have dug up the track. Water is still laying in the grooves they left but we found dry ground around the wet areas. It’s a shame when people do that as it makes it harder for the pastoralists as this is low red soil country. We always watch the weather forecast and know if it going to rain to get out before or be prepared to wait a while till it dries up.

After we turned off at next water point some emus joined us for a jog along the track.

Back into where we were camped before. Saw two vans a bit further over so drove over to meet them. Two couples from Perth - fairly new to detecting so we told them where we had found gold etc. One chap had been lucky and had found a 3.4g nugget and a quartz specie with gold in it so they were happy. That’s a good sign at least that there might still be more out there for us.

We went back to where Steve and Rick had down some chaining on the flats and set up camp over some of their chain lines. There is a quartz marker at the front of the truck. Hope that’s a good sign.

While I made our late lunch Steve got some firewood and made his quartz fireplace. He found a beautiful clear crystal rock too. I added it to the pretty one he found earlier.

It is still windy but the sun is shining as we went for a detect. We decided to continue chaining this area as the gold is well spread out and you have to be lucky to find them by just random wandering. We attach a rope off our harnesses and it has a small bit of chain at the end which drags along the ground marking where we have walked so we can cover the ground more effectively.

The wind has gotten stronger and clouds that were building in the south-west are starting to come over us. Forecast is for 1mm of rain tonight or maybe in the morning.

Steve had set up the fireplace on the non-wind side of the camper so we were able to sit outside for drinks but after the sun set it got too cold.

Spag bol for dinner - I miss our family dinner nights with Mum & Dad. We have plenty of memories of all the laughter while we all played cards etc.

After dinner a sprinkle of rain fell then the storm front hit us with strong wind. Feels like more wind than rain - or we hope so at least. It went on for a hour or so then settled down.

 

Sat, 26th July, 2025 Bush camp on pending lease to Bush camp on pending leases off Ashburton Road, north of Meekatharra, WA

2.9 degrees min in the camper at 6.30 - no wonder I was cold even with the blankets etc. It is probably 0 outside as there are ice crystal forming on the aluminium surround of the roof.

The ice melted, then I dried it off with a towel, as the heater brought the camper up to a nice 20 temperature for breakfast.

Clear sky and windy outside as we packed up and headed back to the highway. We turned north to check out some more pending leases further up off the highway on the west side.

No luck there so after lunch we headed back south again to Ashburton Road and out to the pending lease we visited with Ray & Carol. I had found one little bit near a big quartz blow so we thought we would try our luck again. Some one has been through and fixed up the creek crossings.

There is a mine at the end of the track so we drove on to check that out first. No name or red markers on Trilobite. We saw a drilling company’s sign and as we approached the mine area we saw the drill camp. They must have fixed the road to bring the drill rig in. Makes us think of Jon as this is the work he does now but he is drilling for water. We don’t think it was a gold mine as there is a lot of small ironstone piles. Only a few bits of rubbish about to show that it was a mine site. It is a live lease any case so we headed back to our turnoff into the pending lease.

Followed our old wheel tracks back to the quartz blow and set up camp.

Steve went for walk with the 6000 for a bit. I read my book.

No joy for Steve so inside for drinks and a game of cards before dinner with the heater on of course.

 

 

Fri, 25th July, 2025 Bush camp on pending lease, north of Meekatharra, WA

4.6 degrees - ouch but not for long once I got the heater on. Clear blue sky.

We ventured outside after morning tea into the cold wind to take a photo of our campsite.

We went for a wander with our detectors. There is a bit of warmth in the sun when you face it but the wind is biting. I gave up after a while as it was so cold and I found no targets. Forecast for only a max of 13 degrees hence I wasn’t too keen on being outside. Steve did a big walk and came back with nothing too.

After a nice hot lunch we packed up and headed back to one of the spots Steve found gold in 2016 - before I got a detector.

I put a stew in the Ecopot for dinner while Steve took the 6000 for a walk on squeaky over his old patch. He came back with the tiniest bit of gold yet. The wind has settled and there is some warmth in the sun but I was happy inside.

After a cuppa Steve went wandering again and I worked on my blog and read.

Steve set up the fireplace so we can burn our rubbish and enjoy a drink outside. Willy Wagtail joined us, hopping around the firewood eating the termites.

6pm, it was down to 14 degrees in the camper so we put the heater on so we were warm for dinner after being warmed by the fire.

Thurs, 24th July, 2025 Bush camp on pending lease, north of Meekatharra, WA (Erica’s birthday)

Light rain through the night. The wind is back, min of 12.5 degrees.

Thinking of Erica on the day of her birth. Time just flows on.

Another shower of rain with very strong wind like a storm front gave the camper a shake. It settled down a while till the next scud came through. We had a relaxing morning reading, still in our warm pjs with the heater going.

I made fresh pumpkin soup for lunch to warm us up. The wind is still blowing and the rain comes and goes but not too heavy.

A bit of blue sky appeared then another shower. More blue sky by the late afternoon and no more rain. We didn’t got outside at all so we didn’t get any mud on our shoes. Forecast is for clear sky tomorrow and with the wind it should dry up the ground.

 

Wed, 23rd July, 2025 Bush camp near Hole in the Rock to Bush camp on pending lease, north of Meekatharra, WA

8.2 degrees min, heater on of course. Overcast and cold wind as we packed up to try and find a spot to sit out the rain forecast for the next two days. Only a few mms but that can make it boggy for driving in this red soil country.

We headed back to the Crown land as we don’t want to be on the pending lease when it goes live. We found some interesting ground and Steve went wandering. I stayed in the camper - too cold for me.

No joy by lunch time. A few drops of rain hit the camper then the sun came out. Steve continued his wandering, I kept reading my book! I did get some exercise though and walked up and down the track for a while. The sky has cleared a bit to the east but dark clouds are coming from the west.

After a cuppa we decided to go somewhere else for the night. Back through the groups lease - still hasn’t gone live - they must be frustrated.

Onto another pending lease and set up near some old pushes. It was cold and a sprinkle of rain started so we headed into the camper so I didn’t take a camp photo.

The rain pitter pattered on the roof into the evening. Not heavy which is good.

 

Tues, 22nd July, 2025 Bush camp near Don Well to Bush camp near Hole In Rock, north of Meekatharra, WA

5.1 degree min in our camper though BOM said it was 2 degrees min so we are glad to have our heater and no need to rush outside.

Packed up and headed off under the blue sky and cold breeze. We followed the track around the hill. Spotted two vans on top of the hill then further along another two vans, a truck with water pods and an excavator - not something you should see on pending ground.

Rick rang so we sat for a while chatting with him. He is in Broken Hill and heading to Tiboburra to try his luck there with the detector. We had found a few bits when we went through there a few years back. I took photos of the maps from Doug Stone’s book so he could get his bearings. He had terrible 80k/h winds at Port Augusta and then went through the dust storm that had gone over Sth Aust but otherwise the trip has been good so far.

We drove into the camp area to apologise for parking nearby while we chatted to Rick in case they were wondering what we were up to. Steve chatted with a couple from near Eidsvold, Qld (Steve’s birth town). They are in partnership with a couple of chaps from Esperance and have this pending lease. They said it should be coming live hence they had the machinery ready to go.

We headed off their lease and onto the open Crown land that has no leases and followed the fence line south. It would lead down to the area we were on before on Killara Station. We went through a creek and saw some dig holes so pulled in. After a cuppa we went wandering. The breeze is still cold but it is ok in the sun. The only good thing about the cold weather is it keeps the flies in hiding.

Steve got a bit further over so after wandering for nothing I headed towards where he had been and got a bit near his. Nice of him to leave me one!! Then I got another nice signal and it was a big lead shot!!

A willy willy zoomed through but just missed me.

Back to the camper for lunch. I stayed in the camper reading and Steve took the 6000 for a wander.

He returned at cuppa time with a nice single crystal. The camper got to 20 degrees though it feels colder outside.

We drove down to where he found them and set up for the night.

A band of cloud is in the west - there is rain forecast in a couple of days. We made the most of the clear sky and got a fire going for drinks as the sun dropped behind the trees.

We are up on a rise so can just see the Hole in the Rock. I see on my map it is called Tunnel Hill.

Spotted a couple of satellites and cooked dinner outside but ate inside as the food goes cold too quickly.  

 

 

 

Mon, 21st July, 2025 Bush camp near Don Well, north of Meekatharra, WA

10.6 degrees min, mostly clear sky and windy. The rain had arrived at 3.30am, misty at first then very strong winds and heavier rain fell for a short while then the storm passed over us but the wind remained.

Fozzie sent a text about his gas HWS so we rang back. Chatted with Michelle for a while then Fozzie. They bought a van and the hot water was playing up so Steve went through the things to try.

I checked the BOM, max to be only 15 today which I agree with the feel of the cold wind and more clouds are coming over blocking any chance of warmth from the sun.

We went wandering and got one bit each by lunch time.

The sky has cleared now but still windy. Steve took the 6000 for a wander while I worked on my blog then read my book. No joy for him after another big walk. I put the heater back on as the cold was creeping back into the camper by drinks time. The old remote for the inverter won’t work with this new one so we ordered theirs using the $50 gift card they emailed me. We only had to pay for the postage.

Played cards then cooked dinner.

 

Sun, 20th July, 2025 Peace Gorge picnic ground, Meekatharra to Bush camp near Don Well, north of Meekatharra, WA

9 degree min, clear sky and windy. Forecast is for very strong winds today.

Into town for water and fuel. A lady pulled in with her van while we were getting water and asked me about a few things to see. She had done a trip around the coast up to Exmouth and now heading back to Adelaide. I told of some highlights to see on her way down to Kalgoorlie which she noted in her book. She had some funny stories too.

We stopped opposite the new sign to get a photo.

A very wide load then came towards us, 8.5m. A road train had to get off the road so they will have an interesting drive north. There were two smaller buckets at the servo heading north too.

We followed along slowly after the wide load listening to the pilot giving directions to oncoming traffic and sorting out the ones that wanted to get past them. The wind has picked up a lot so it must be interesting driving that wide load.

We turned off onto the dirt track back into the pending ground near Don Well where we had taken Rick. Decided to grid around where Steve left his last smiley face.

We parked up near it and pointed into the strong wind as it was rocking the camper.

Robyn rang from Mosquito Creek with an offer of a house site in Mandurah in case we were heading south again. They are all ok up there with more friends coming to visit etc.

We went for a wander getting blown about but the sun was still shining so it wasn’t cold. I got one bit nearby then continued gridding but no more. Steve did a big walk then got one on the other side of his smiley face.

Had a cuppa then went back to gridding. The gusts of wind nearly blew me over.

Clouds are coming over from the south west. Drinks inside of course with a game of cards.

 

Sat, 19th July, 2025 Peace Gorge picnic ground, Meekatharra, WA

7.7 degrees min, clear sky.

I stayed inside with the heater on writing up my blog so I could upload it while Steve went out into the cold to set up the washing machine for later.

After morning tea I ventured out into the sunshine - breeze is strong and cool but the sun was nice. Steve found the leak in the tyre and patched it.

After lunch had a lovely chat with Annalise. She was at her Mum’s place in Aloomba which doesn’t have good phone reception so couldn’t video chat. Beau is a busy boy and bubby is growing well too. I am looking forward to taking Beau swimming and for walks though he will probably run everywhere. Jon was home for a week before he flew to Bali for Ian’s ‘bucks’ golf weekend.

After a cuppa Dan rang with video so I had a lovely chat with Sophia and sang her a couple of songs that she does the movements too - Incy Wincy Spider etc. Looking forward to playing and dancing with her. She is so cute. Fran had sent through some photos of her and Dan at the Cairns Show. 

Steve had wandered off so I went to find him. He had met a couple from Mackay who have been travelling for 7 years. We chatted for a while till the sun dropped behind the hill and it got chilly.

Back to the camper for drinks and a game of cards. Jon rang after he finished work at the yard in Adelaide so we had a good chat. Rick sent a text that he was in Eucla.

Put the heater on for dinner and a movie.

 

Fri, 18th July, 2025 Bush camp off Meeka/Sandstone Road, south-east of Meekatharra to Peace Gorge picnic ground, Meekatharra, WA

5.2 degrees min, clear sky and light breeze. Heater on of course.

Packed up and meandered through the leases checking out the ground. Ended up at the live mining lease so stopped to ask how to get to another pending lease further south. The chap has been working here for years and is in the process of selling - lots of cleaning up to do around camp!! He gave Steve the directions and we headed off again to an old open pit mine area called Tried Again. He had said his friend wandered over the flats and came back with a few bits of gold.

We parked up on the salt/pepper ground, had a cuppa then went wandering. 

After lunch we went for a drive to check out the other leases. Lots of good looking ground so we might come back. We decided to go back to Meekatharra and around to Peace Gorge again to do the washing and put the inverter in. Steve also has to look at a slow leak in a front tyre too. There is rain forecast for Monday so need to be where we want to detect in case it is more than the predicted 3mm.

Set up in the same spot at last time.

I did my baking while Steve started making brackets to hang the inverter from. He had bolted the last one upside-down from the top of the storage box and maybe that didn’t give it enough ventilation as this one’s manual says not to have it upside down.

Drinks inside while we played cards.

Kaylene rang to say that Wendy’s mum, Heather, had passed away yesterday. I sent Wendy a text and will chat to her later as she will be busy getting things sorted. Sad but a blessing as she had been deteriorating.

 

Thurs, 17th July, 2025 Bush camp off Meeka/Sandstone Road, south-east of Meekatharra, WA

7.6 degrees, clear sky. Rick come back from his wander as we came out of the camper. The wind is cold but in the sun it is ok. No joy for Rick except for a piece of conveyor belt he can use to fix the mudflaps on the trailer. The ground is just red dirt so we decided to move on to where we had found nuggets on a pending lease further over.

This area is old dry blowing and scrapes so we all went for a wander. I got a couple of good signals near the truck but it was just old bullets. Continued wandering and was rewarded with one little bit. Nothing for Steve or Rick. Rick had hoped for one more bit to get him over 12g. Steve gave him two little rocks that had gold on them that someone else had smashed and left in a pile. He was stoked with his trip and to have found some WA gold too. He decided to head off now. I checked with Leinster and the van park was still open so we suggested he go there tonight so he can get his washing done and it’s a cheap van park compared to ones in Kalgoorlie. He will have about 10 days then to get across the Nullabor and up the centre and back across to Cairns so that shouldn’t be too bad. We said farewell and safe travels and to let us know that he got to Leinster tonight ok. I will see him and Kaylene in October.

After lunch I wandered for exercise as I only got one bit of rubbish. I watched a willy-willy work its way along the flat then up the side of the hill whipping up the dust as it went.

Steve went for a big walk to try and find where he found his big nugget when we first came to WA in 2016 as it was around this area. He didn’t find the spot but did get one little bit on his way back.

The wind had picked up so we stayed inside for drinks - no visitors to sit by the fire with tonight.

Rick got to Leinster and enjoyed a good wash, Molly had one too and he got his washing done so feeling ready for the big drive ahead.

I used the oven to cook dinner so we didn’t need to put the heater on straight away but by 9.30 it had dropped to 14 degrees so into bed to read our books.

 

Wed, 16th July, 2025 Bush camp near Don Well, north of Meekatharra to Bush camp, pending lease off Meeka/Sandstone Rd, WA

7.2 degree min, clear sky and light breeze. Sent Fozzie a happy birthday text for today.

Got a text from Aust Post to say our new inverter has arrived at the Post Office.

Rick had gone wandering early and had two bits in his jar by the time we came out of the camper. We all went wandering but only Rick was rewarded with another little bit. Just an old tin lid for me.

Steve did a big walk and found the spot he tried to find in the car yesterday. Others have been there too. He saw more holes further up the hill slope from where we had been - oh well.

I had sent an email off to ITechWorld yesterday after getting a promotion email stating the inverter we ordered is on sale for $50 less than what we paid. I got an email back this morning offering us a $50 gift card since the sale came the day after we ordered the inverter. Good PR for them and hopefully we will find something we can spend it on with their company.

We decided to head back to Meeka to get the inverter and Rick had some business emails to sort too so after lunch we packed up and headed back to the highway and down to Meeka.

Topped up the water and got a couple of things from the IGA then headed down the gravel road towards Sandstone to check out a couple of pending leases down there. Rick is planning to head off on Friday so this will save him a 100km towards heading back to Kalgoorlie.

We turned off into a new pending area as the sun was low in the sky and set up camp.

Got the fire going for drinks. The cold settled in so we headed inside for dinner.