Thurs, 16th Apr, 2015 Derby Park

8 months on the road – it’s amazing. We have travelled 18,000 kms. Lovely morning. Quite warm last night, 17 degrees when we got up. Mr Kookaburra popped in. I put out some meat but he didn’t want to come down for it.

Drove back out to Moorina and the Weld River to look for some more blue sapphires. Had a chat with the road maintenance guys. They said there was another bridge further up and a camp area just around the corner. Found a few small blue sapphires but nothing much else. Went around to the camp area and Steve found a comfy seat – I got a real one out of the truck!!

Nice area.

We think the locals use this too for parties as there was a makeshift bar.

They made use of an old centrivical pump housing to make a great fireplace.

We laughed at the sign.

The forestry are carting logs out so we sat at the intersection for a bit waiting for a truck to come past so we could follow it rather that meet one on the road!! We sat for a while and none came so we headed off to try and find the other bridge the guy told us about. This road is called Fromes but it is also known as the Power Station Road. We pulled up at an intersection to decide which way to go when Jon rang so we pulled over. A log truck came out of the other road so we headed up the ‘dam’ road. Eventually we found the dam.

 Lots of logs on the other side. There was a flood around here in 2008.

And a tombstone – I could only make out the first name, Thomas.

Found another road down to the river and went for a look to see if there were any gemstones. Looking back up to the dam wall.

Then down following the creek downstream.

Around the corner was a concrete wall with a hole to allow the water through.

The water fell down over the rocks but we couldn’t get down to see the waterfall.

Looking back on the weir where the water is flowing through the hole.

We crossed over the creek to check out some machinery on the other side. It was water gate, maybe from years ago when there was a water race here or something.

Steve saw some diggings and climbed over the rocks to the other side of the water gate. The pipeline from the dam was exposed as there was a leak and someone has been trying to fix it.

We didn’t find any gemstones so headed back to the main roads. Didn’t run into any forestry trucks either which was good.

Stopped at the Golf Club for a photo in the ‘buggy’.

The sky is so blue – I sound just like Mum – isn’t it a beautiful day. Turned off towards Winnaleah as the chap at the Museum said they find gemstones here. Little village but we couldn’t find a river so headed back to the Ringarooma River again. Drove further down the road and found the old wooden bridge and the Mutual River that my info brochure mentioned but there wasn’t anywhere to dig for gemstones there. Drove back to the river for a cuppa. Someone has been having fun.

Went back down to the river and dug around another tree. A few more small topaz to add to our collection.

Back to the van to get dinner ready. Trying the camp oven on top of the bush cooker.  Chatted with another couple from Brisbane.  Rang Jenny for a chat. Texted Alan & Dianne from Burnie to catch up. Tracy texted to say she and Grant are flying home tomorrow – such wonderful news. They will be so happy to be home again.

Beautiful dinner by the fire. Starting to cool off so headed back inside about 8pm.