Fri, 24th June, 2016 Leinster Van Park, Leinster to bush camp, near old Yandal Station Homestead, WA

7am 11 degrees and overcast.

Rang Jon to see how his trip to the State of Origin went – he had a ball.

Mum and Dad rang to say they had received their birthday cards already – and naughty them, they opened them!

Rang Jenny to wish her a happy birthday. Unfortunately she wasn’t out having lunch but heading up to Mareeba for a funeral. There was a crash on the Kuranda Range so they had to turn around and head up to Port Douglas and go up via the Rex Range – nice day out for a drive!!

The clouds are shifting and the blue sky is peeking through. Steve got some fuel while I walked across to read the info boards. Part of the Leonora Loop Trail.

Packed up and headed off to our 40E area near old Yandal Homestead. An old drill head as we head out of town.

Leinster’s rock formation.

Headed down the main road towards Leonora for 30km then turned off and headed along a dirt mine road. Over a rise which gives us a good view over the land.

Another ‘The Granites’. Seem to be everywhere.

Looks like something is coming towards us.

It was a big truck from the mine at Melrose.

Crossing low area which is part of the big Lake Darlot system. There is water in this lake for a change.

Then we crossed a big flat area of Lake Darlot.

Now we have left the mine area the road isn’t as well maintained and is a bit boggy in places.

Turned north at the woolshed.

Arrived at Yandal Station’s old homestead site. Not much left now. When the mining company took over the land they didn’t maintain the buildings so they fell down. A few old cars litter the area.

There were palms here too – only this old trunk remains.

Gold was discovered here in the 1940s by a Yandal station hand nicknamed Nobby. There is one of WA’s largest exposed quartz reefs nearby called The Chimney. Will have to try and find it.

We continued along the track to find somewhere to camp. Met another chap coming out – he has been stuck in here since the rain came down. We continued on till we turned around at a bog hole. Found some scrapes nearby and pulled up. The road is quite wet so best to stop and then explore tomorrow without the van on.

The boys wandered off with their detectors while I did my blog. I can get good phone signal with the van aerial which is good. No gold found so got a fire going and watched the stars appear in the clear sky and the satellites go over.

Getting chilly so I headed in to cook dinner. 7pm 18 degrees in van and 10.6 degrees outside.

Got a couple of stations on the radio – one was the footy!! Steve went through the movie hard drive – we are running out of good movies!!