Wed, 13th July, 2016 Opthalmia Dam, 16km E of Newman to Bush camp near Sandy Creek, E of Nullagine, WA

7am 10 degrees inside and 6.5 degrees out, clear sky and sunny. Very windy.

Steve found a piece of iron ore – very heavy.

Headed off around the track past another dam wall.

Looking across to the iron ore mine. Will have to check out Newman next time.

Very corrugated track and it was hard to see the corrugations as we came in last night and there was at of water in one of the creeks.

Lots of rocky outcrops.

On the last stretch we found the grader making the road smoother!!

Back onto the bitumen heading northeast to Nullagine. Lots of big ant hills across this flat open ground.

Across the Fortescue River again (just before Roy Hill Station), this time there was lots of water under the big wide bridge.

Twiggy and Gina Reinhart (two smaller iron ore mining companies) have mines around here. End of the nice bitumen and onto the corrugated dirt road as we head towards hills.

The road changed direction at Gina’s mine, Roy Hill Mine and it was bitumen again as we headed further east. Looking back to the mine as we climbed up a rise.

Across the worked ground.

Further along was the new accommodation village etc.

Fascinating landscape with the spinifex covered hills with their little caps. Obviously the road was diverted as they must be going to mine all the hills etc where the old road went straight north.

Across the long straight railway line that they had to put in to get the ore to Port Hedland. Amazing amount of infrastructure that has to go in before they start mining.

A pussycat made a dash across the road.

Back to the old road and onto the dirt again through the rolling hills. Pulled off to let a road train by.

35km from Nullagine we were back on the bitumen through the wet area of Nullagine River – very wide area but no water.

I was just commenting to Steve that we hadn’t seen any cattle when there was one on the road. He was just checking out his mate who was dead on the other side.

The bitumen ended again and we were back on the corrugated dirt. As we got closer to Nullagine the hills became barer. Passed the turn off to the Nullagine Gold Project.

Over a rise and a nice view across the valley area of the river to the hills near Nullagine. The grader was just beginning to work on the road!!

Across the Nullagine River again as we enter the township.

Spotted a lookout on the ridge so decided to head for that for lunch.

Passed the pub, little van park, police station and then turned off before an outer suburb – well a few houses out of town that is used by the local aborigines. Unfortunately as we neared the lookout there was a big sign – no caravans or trailers passed this point. We turned around and headed back into town to the park.

Lots of old machinery and trucks around the picnic area.

A bit of information too.

Had lunch and tried ringing Mum to see how she was. No answer and Dad didn’t answer so I got onto Greg. He said she was coming home at 4pm and that she had a good night.

Across the road was the Conglomerate Hotel.

Wandered inside – nice and clean with a few photos on the walls of locals, football teams etc. Found this one of the river in flood where we crossed to come into town.

Checked out the shop – they have lots of things, certainly dearer but you have to expect that. They get fresh meat, vegies and bread fortnightly. Fuel is dearer too, 159.9c/l. Hopefully we won’t be doing too much driving as we will be too busy picking up the gold!!

Headed back across the river then turned east onto Skull Springs Road. The hills look strange with no trees, just spinifex covering them.

Turned off to check out some pending ground near Blue Spec Mine. The mine is now closed though there was a grader there cleaning up around the accommodation huts. We couldn’t find the track to the pending area and as the spinifex was very thick we decided to continue on to Jeff’s patch.

Stopped at the Government Battery near Sandy Creek.

Across Sandy Creek – which was sandy!! Then we turned off onto a track through the spinifex.

I got out to check the van as we crossed a creek area – all good.

Pulled up in a clear area and Jeff pointed out where he found a very nice big hunk of gold last time he was here. Hope we find some more.

Found a nice open area to camp – just in case someone lights up the spinifex which they do so they can detect the ground under it. We haven’t seen any other detectors so should be ok. Still quite windy but it was nice in the sun that I had to take off my jumper!!

Had a cuppa and rang home (can get reception in the van with the taller antenna, might have to drive up the hill to get better reception for the internet though). Mum was there and all is good. She is back on fluid tablets as she had fluid building up in her heart, lungs and stomach which is why she was distended and feeling breathless. Hopefully that will fix her up.

Grabbed our detectors and went for a wander. I found 2 little pieces of lead shot so at least I know I can find a target.

Drinks time as the sun set behind the hill. No gold for Steve either – tomorrow we hope!!

Got a text from Rod & Ruby but no message so I rang them. He has a mate in Nullagine and will let him know we might call in when we go back into town – he loves detecting too.

Still windy into the night with a few huge gusts but all good. No TV of course so back to the movies – will have to get Dan to download me some more when we get home.