Sun, 19th June, 2016 Quinns Lake bush camp, 50km S of Meekatharra to Lake Mason Homestead, 56km NE of Sandstone, WA

Clear sky, windy and 13 degrees at 7.30am.

The boys headed out for a last detect. I checked the weather and the rain (8 to 20mm) is still coming on Tuesday (doesn’t sound much but it doesn’t take much to make roads boggy out here). Monday and Wednesday are now looking wetter so we decided to head back to Lake Mason as there are two sets of road works on the Sandstone Road that will get boggy and the road will get closed till it dries out.

No gold so packed up after lunch and headed out across the lake along another track that was much better than the fence track we came in on.

Stopped at the Vermin Proof Fence to read the sign we missed on the way down last week. Another sign says private property and it is not allowed to travel along the fence line. There is gold around here too but big private property signs gets the message across!!

Had to pull off the road as another vehicle came out of Lake Mason but they didn’t stop to chat. Another caravan was parked up behind the shearer’s quarters. We went back to the kitchen area and parked beside it trying to get the best position to cope with the wind and rain.

Jeff cleaned up the cook’s room and kitchen and moved his bedding in there. As they were predicting colder temps on Wed, Thurs, Fri we will be able to stoke up the kitchen oven and keep warm in there!!

Jeff even has a lovely lace curtain to separate his bedroom from the kitchen – how nice.

We pushed his camper-trailer under the verandah so he can still get to his cooking facilities and fridge so we are all set up ready for the weather.

Said hi to the couple in the other van – they are from SA. I collected some branches and the boys went out and got big trees and we got the fire and shower fire going. I put out dirty clothes in a bucket with some washing liquid and gave them a good wash in hot water then put Steve’s detecting clothes in to soak. I will need to mend his jeans as he has rips in the knees etc. Will have to find an Op Shop and get him some more  jeans.

Sent a text to Rebecca and Clive to see where they were and they rang back. At Lawn Hill but both have the flu – poor things – don’t need that on a holiday. They have had a fabulous trip through NT.

Not as cold this evening. A few clouds coming over but moving on quickly so still had a clear sky and nearly full moon.

Watched the highlights online of the V8s racing in Darwin then checked out the new GeoMap – looks interesting.