Mon, 9th Oct, 2017 Bush camp beside historic railway siding, 50km E of Yalgoo to Yalgoo Van Park, WA

7am 15.4 degrees, clear sky.

Steve coloured my hair – ready for sightseeing now!! We played a few games of Skipbo while we had a cuppa then headed into Yalgoo running alongside the old railway line. No line left but the culverts etc are still there. The gas line runs beside it.

Another siding spot.

Across a grid into Wagga Wagga Station – big sign saying ‘no shooting’. Obviously they don’t shoot roos here as there are so many dead ones on the side of the road.

Into Yalgoo to the van park which is very nice. If we have to stop in a van park this is our sort – plenty of room.

Mum’s brother, Wal, turns 90 today so rang my cousin to get them to pass on our good wishes. They had a party yesterday with his friends and family which was lovely.

Nice big washing machine so got all the washing done and one the line by the time Tom and Sandy arrived.

We all went for a walk around town. There has been lots of money spent on playgrounds, even a water park one to keep the ‘kids’ amused but apparently they don’t respect them which is very sad.

Remains of an old building but no information. Very thick walls.

Across the road is the Yalgoo Hotel – sign on the door stating ‘the best pub in Yalgoo’ – it is the only one!!

The info board needs redoing – This was originally the Emerald Hotel and there were 6 hotels in town in the late 1890s.

Picked up an info brochure from the Shire Office where we paid our van park fee. Alluvial gold was discovered in the 1890s in Yalgoo.

They have to lock up the museum and church now and there is a fee so we just went for a walk. This is the old courthouse which was relocated here in 1921 from Day Dawn after the original one was destroyed in a storm. Recently they have restored the old Yalgoo police station and jail. They were built in town in 1896 and although the cells are tiny they were a vast improvement on the stick and chain method used for incarceration prior to that.

Continued along the main road to Jack Nevill’s Store. At least you can read this sign.

Up the road to the Chapel. Only the stone section remains and recently the ‘darlings’ got in and vandalised it – such a shame.

Steve giving them a good sermon!!

Back to camp. Got a text from Erica that she is just getting over a very nasty flu and reckons she was knocking on the Pearly Gates but they wouldn’t take her in so she is back – which we are very pleased about. She is starting to feel a bit better – poor thing.

Had drinks and a few games of Sequence in the camp kitchen area with Tom and Sandy. Later we were sitting beside their van commenting on the perfect temperature and no wind when Sandy said ‘that breeze is getting a bit cool’ then it just started to blow. Very strong and cold. Luckily we both had leftover spag bol for dinner so into the van for that.

We were going to play some more games in the camp kitchen as it is sheltered from the wind but other campers moved in there chatting. We joined them – of course more prospectors so we all shared stories.

The wind kept blowing.