Wed, 25th May, 2016 ‘Belly Plate Camp’, near Goodin Mine, 93km NE of Meekatharra, WA (Steve's patch)

7.30am 21.2 degrees, much nicer temperature. Some dark clouds are coming over but the sun is out at the moment and shining brightly. A nice light breeze making my wind chime sing.

I headed off with Steve to his ‘patch’ for a look and to try his hill for internet. No luck there. Took some photos of where he has found his nuggets or nuglets as he calls them. He marks each spot with a pile of quartz. His chain lines easily show where he has walked so he can make sure he covers all the ground.

I walked up and down the track getting my morning exercise while he gridded. A scud of misty rain came over us from the dark clouds to the west. I heard the detector beeping so went over for a look. He had just changed the settings so there was no gold but he had found a little bit.

I left him to it and walked back along the track, with his GPS, back to the van. Easy to follow his wheel tracks any case. Made a cuppa then finished off my colouring in. I had given the other book to Lyn.

Played a few games of Sequence with Lyn as the wind blew misty rain on us. About an inch in the bucket of the awning. At least the awning’s had a good wash.

Jeff back from his spot with a couple of bits of gold. He also found a natural rockhole full of water with a resident goanna. Another WA 4WD came past and the lone block gave us a wave as he drove by.

Steve came back with 7 nuglets, totalling 1 gram. Told him he needs 10 grams to get icecream again!!

Got more firewood and broke it all up into neat piles. We chatted over a cuppa till it got too cool to sit outside – the wind is bringing more clouds over with some misty rain again. Into the van for a few games of Rummykub. Got dark early with the heavy clouds.

Steve back with 10 nuglets totalling 2 grams, biggest one was 0.4g. He would like bigger but is happy getting quantity from his patch.

Jeff got 9 nuglets though his are flatter where Steve’s are like little dice.

Got the fire going even though a misty shower came over. Using our big billy can to boil their water for their shower – at last we have taken the red dot of that one so we can keep it!!

Stayed by the fire burning all the little bits I had broken up till another heavier shower came. Steve had hung up the water catcher so hopefully that will scare the rain away or else fill up the water tank.

Early showers for us then we watched a 4WD Action DVD of the Kimberleys. I had dug them out and decided to watch them then get rid of them when we drop off our read magazines and books at Meeka.

Cool night but pleasant. At least it isn’t blowing a gale and there has been no more rain.