Wed, 18th May, 2016 Bush camp, 38km SE of Meekatharra, WA (Daniel’s birthday)

Sent Daniel a text to wish him a happy 27^th birthday – boy I am feeling old. Will ring him this afternoon when he finishes work.

15 degrees this morning – a little chilly at 7.30am with clear blue sky.

I went for my hour walk up and down the road while Steve went gridding near where he found the one bit yesterday. He tied on a rope with a metal thing on the end to pull along behind him to leave a trail so he can make sure he is covering all the ground.

No gold when I got back so made him a cuppa instead. He then headed up to the hill for a detect. He found a base to the tobacco tin.

No gold there either so after lunch we went for a drive to check out an old mine area – Polelle Mine – which was named after the pastoral area here or it was named after the mine. Will have to Google it. Lots of open shafts along the way.

At the mine there were plenty more.

Further over were some more recent workings. This shaft had a fence around it.

Lots of these little melons around.

They had scraped up all the dirt and covered it with black plastic – not sure if they were trying to make a dam or what but the plastic has all corroded away now except for bits and pieces sticking out.

Another shaft became the rubbish dump.

There were all kinds of bits of machinery scattered around.

Thousands of broken bottles and old tins. I found a couple of bottle ‘corks’. One had Holbrooks on it.

Another tobacco tin by a different company.

Bits of purple and blue glass amongst the common grog bottles. Some china plates too. Even some old Bendigo Pottery.

Steve found some chain on the front of the truck which he will use to drag behind him while he detects. The sign on the side of the truck was Rhodes P/L, Earthmovers & Mining Contractors.

Steve found another horseshoe complete with nails. With all these horseshoes we should be having lots of good luck. (Obviously only in finding horseshoes!!)

Drove further along the track passed lots of piles of broken bottles and tins. It looks like it must have been the miner’s shacks as there are piles everywhere. They must have just tossed the bottles outside their tent into a pile.

Same as the ones we found at Maytown.

Found a pretty little red striped rock that I can add to my collection.

Continued along till we came to an old water tank then followed the cattle track which was an old road back to the windmill near our camp. They have a nice waterhole here.

Back to the van for a cuppa then tried Daniel. He texted back that he was getting a haircut and would ring when finished. Well at least he is looking after himself.

Steve went back out detecting up to the other shaft he had found that we saw yesterday. I rang Kaylene for a chat. Had a quick chat with Sandra, will catch up again when she is free. Chatted with Suzanne getting all the news of the family. Alex is now in France following his ‘white boat’ dream of working on the big luxury boats overseas now he has all his tickets. Good on him.

Prepared a cake for the camp oven. Leftovers for dinner. No gold for Steve or Jeff today. Dan rang and it was lovely chatting to him. Nothing much planned for his birthday - had to work in a boat today so no treats at work!! His Soarer is getting a new paint job so that is his birthday present to himself.

Got the fire going as the clouds came over. The moon is getting fuller and it created the weird circle around it, like the clouds part in a perfect circle around it. It must just be the light of the moon is stronger through the thin cloud creating the circle affect.

Cake came out well. Breeze is cooler tonight but it is lovely by the fire.