Friday, 27 May 2016

Fri, 20th May, 2016 Meekatharra Van Park to ‘Belly Plate Camp’, near Goodin Mine, 93km NE of Meekatharra, WA


7.30am 16 degrees and a clear blue sky again. Rained fairly heavily last night so everything feels fresh and washed.

Put another load through the washing machine then the dryer. Went into town with Lyn to get a couple of things while the boys went to the Mining Office.

Headed off north through town on the bitumen Great Northern Highway. Lots of Wedgies on the road kill, soaring overhead and in the trees.

Evidence of the rain last night – doesn’t take much to flood the road around here.

Lunch at the Government Well – 25 Mile Well which was done up by the Lion Club in 1976.



Oops the bucket has a hole in it Dear Liza.

Steve opened the well cover. Still has water in it.


Good reflection.

A big mining operation right beside the road.


A sign said we had just crossed the 26th Parallel and entered the North West.

Turned off the highway onto a dirt track, through a gate and down past a good windmill, tank and water trough. Continued along the narrow track to a private mine lease which is one of the original Goodin Mines.

Further down the track we found ‘Belly Plate Camp’, obviously named after the machinery left around here. Jeff had stayed here a couple of years ago.


No phone reception here so I got out the satellite phone to charge up. I had reminded everyone they can send a short email to the sat phone and it will come through as a text.

The boys went off to detect. Lyn and I played a few games of Rummykub.

Got the fire going then the boys came back empty-handed. Lovely night around the fire with the moon getting full. Should be full on Sunday. Lyn said they have the Kimberley Moon Festival this weekend.

I got two text messages through from Telstra – must be just enough signal at night so at least if someone tries to ring we should be a text message about it.

Bit of a chilly breeze tonight so closed up the van. I had read in Tommo’s Camp Oven book about putting coals in the camp oven to heat up the van so we tried it. It was warm around the stove but didn’t keep hot for too long.

Won’t be able to upload my blog for a couple of weeks now till we get back to better service.



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