Mon, 12th Mar, 2018 Bush camp, near 45 Mile Well to Niagara Dam, Kookynie, WA (Niagara Dam)

7.30am 20 degrees with van closed up from the cool wind. Overcast and still windy.

Packed up to head off. Our new starter motor played up again. Will have to investigate at the next camp spot.

Headed back to Menzies where we stopped so I could get internet service to do my blog, Facebook, emails and banking and check the weather forecast too. All good though Thursday forecast for 39 degrees!! Margaret got a message that poor Gary headed north with his new caravan and the wheel and axle broke off – not a good advertisement for that company!!

Continued north up the Goldfields Highway. Stopped for a photo of the rock frog – not as good as ours on the Gillies Range.

Turned east to Niagara Dam. Stopped at the dam wall for a look and get the history information. The dam, completed in 1898, was built by WA Railways Dept to provide water for steam trains and the Niagara township. It became redundant a few years later when plentiful underground water was discovered at Kookynie. Interesting note about why the dam was called Niagara – named after a waterfall nearby that only flows after heavy rain. It is a good example of the outback dry sense of humour – naming a generally dry waterfall after its famous (and gigantic) namesake. The town took its name from the dam.

Another site which used the prisoners to repay their debts to society – a great idea.

Walked out along the wall. Margaret said when they were here once the water was lovely and clear and a lot higher and you could see the yabbies on the bottom.

We drove down to the bottom camp sites where we found shady trees to park under.

Steve went to move our truck and it the starter motor wouldn’t go. He did all this work to make sure we were good to go for the desert and we have broken down already!! Luckily I have reception so we got onto the chap we bought the new heavy duty starter motor from in Victoria and he said they have found that because it is heavy duty it draws more power and it needs a bigger relay!! He will freight one over for us to Leonora and in the meantime he told Steve how to get around it, which Steve did so we were able to get the truck going again.

In the afternoon we went for a walk – found the old dump!!

A huge ant’s nest and one of the inhabitants – nasty chappies.

Walked over to the breakaways.

Headed back then around the other side of the dam. Found the Debris Trap.

Around the other end of the dam.

Chatted with a couple from Brisbane in their bus and their daughter who works in Kalgoorlie then the next couple from Fremantle with their new motorhome.

Margaret had gone wandering with her detector. Les, a chap from Karratha, parked his van further over and came over to chat. Margaret came back with her ‘gold’ – a $1 coin. She is in the money!!

Steve walked over to chat with two guys who parked nearby and mentioned Bob was from Mandurah and the chap knew him. Got a little fire going (still windy) – our first one for 2018.

The guys, Reece & Russell, came over after dinner for a catchup. They have a lease north a bit but haven’t had any joy but are enjoying the challenge.

Russell spotted the Space Station crossing low on the horizon – very bright.

Strong wind still and quite cool so we closed up that side of the van for the night.