Tues, 7th July, 2015 Laanecoorie River Reserve

Overcast morning but not raining. 10 degrees in the van at 7am. 6.7 degrees outside at 8am. Did my blog uploads and watched some gold prospecting Utube videos. At 10am the sun was out so we headed off to the Loddon State Forest to find some gold.

Found the area of the Kangaroo Reef but the old timers did a very good job as there is no gold left there. The mine shafts are very deep so obviously it wasn’t surface gold they found here!!

The first one I checked out had the wire mesh pulled away from it. I held on the tree and tried to get some shots down the shaft. They are amazing intact and still very deep.

The next one was interesting as it didn’t seem to be the usual square but just a narrow slit. There were two openings – one was narrow and looks like the trees roots are growing across it. Zoomed down it. Can’t see any gold.

I went around to the other end and it had timber reinforcements around the top.

The next one was very deep too and the sides were so neat and smooth.

Steve kept on searching while I went back to my book.

Empty-handed we headed back to the van for lunch. The sun is out and it is lovely to sit outside in the sunshine. There is no breeze but as soon as a cloud goes over the sun it is freezing!!

Steve headed off to check out another spot so I got out a new book (finished the other one) and enjoyed the sun. Our days don’t get much past 12 degrees if the sun is out but we are dressing accordingly with thermals and jumpers.

At 3pm went for a walk up the river walking trail.

More 2011 flood info.

The reinforced concrete bridge was built in 1911 replacing the timber one from 1872 that was washed away in 1909.

Lovely walk, listening to all the birds, by the river which was so calm.

Up to the weir where a chap was fishing on the other side. Found a sign stating that the bag limit for Murray Cod has been changed to only one now.

Found the pelican who flew over us before. The mirror image makes a lovely picture – will have to put it on Facebook.

The reservoir, built in 1891, is owned by Goulburn-Murray Water and has a storage capacity of  7,940ml and has a catchment area of 4118 sq metres. The submerged area is 480ha. Eddie said the flaps on the top of the dam were added after the floods of 2011. Would be perfect for a barefoot today.

I had to climb over the fence to get in – then I found the lock on the gate was just through the mesh and not locked!!

Steve came back and yeah he found a little bit of gold but it is gold!!! Now he has 7 pieces so far. Not going to be rich but at least he is finding something.

6pm it has dropped to 6.7 degrees outside so on with the heater.

Rang Valerie for a chat as they have bought a new Alpha Romeo.

Rang Suzanne too to catch up on her news and the kids.

At 8.30pm it was 3.8 degrees. Rang Sandra and got her this time. She had just walked in the door. Then I rang the girls at cross-stitch at Susan’s place. She has bought a new car too – Mercedes Sports. It’s all happening at home. Christine is doing her knitting again now it is winter so she has Tuesday night projects. I haven’t got my cross-stitch out yet. Will be so good to catch up with everyone in August.