Wed, 15th Apr, 2015 Derby Park (Blue Lake & gemstones)

Rain through the night which kept it a bit warmer. Overcast when we got up so had a lazy morning. Steve had put out the awning last night as the weather forecast had been for rain. Now he decided to put out the water catcher which has now brought out the sunshine!!!

Had a cuppa then headed north to check out the ‘Blue Lake’ near Gladstone.  It was a tin mining area and is now being revegetated. The lake is a beautiful blue. The sign says it is reflection but I reckon it has to be from the minerals as well. Great reflections too.

We drove around the other side – looks like the locals camp here – rubbish everywhere. The sign said not to swim or drink the water but we found blow up swim rings!! The ground cover looks like snow.

I walked down to the water’s edge. The water is very clear, maybe it is blue sky reflections.

Great view from the end of the lake.

Drove back to Derby for lunch. All the houses here are made of timber.

And the yards are very rocky – this one even has huge mushrooms!!

The National Bank of Tasmania, established 1888, is the oldest timber bank in Australia.

The Town Hall.

Drove back across the Ringarooma River and turned off to find another area to dig for gemstones. Found a nice place to camp too. A couple of guys were camped there. One from Scottsdale – down on his luck by the looks of it and the other chap was from Netherlands, trekking around with his backpack.

Someone has been making rock piles everywhere.

Found an old tree and had a dig around it.

Found a heap of small topaz, a zircon and a smokey quartz.

Our neighbour, Kerry, checked out our stones and thought we had done quite well. A motorhome has parked beside us – couple from Tweed Heads. She said she chatted with another couple from Cairns at Devonport yesterday.

Nice night by the fire and it isn’t really cold tonight.