Mon, 30th Apr, 2018 Bush camp, south of Meekatharra, WA

Lovely morning. I got up early to copy 1000 songs that Sandy had given me so I can put them on the Ipod to entertain us when we are on the bitumen again in a few months!!

Continued on with the packing. Did the final wash. A nice breeze has come up so drying quickly.

Steve put the sand flag on the aerial and Rebecca & Clive’s present to us nearly 4 years ago – two iridescent knickers – I haven’t worn them by the way!! Will leave one at Mt Dare Hotel on the way back as apparently the ceiling there is covered in ladies knickers.

Down to the last bits – wrapped the vegies and fruit in newspaper to protect them and hopefully make them last a bit longer in a cardboard box.

A few games with Tom and Sandy at 3pm.

Leftovers for dinner and the last of the icecream.

Packed the fridge in the truck then turned off the van fridge.

Will be my last post for about 3 weeks till we get to Halls Creek. Then there will be a lot of photos and info about the Canning Stock Route!!

Sun, 29th Apr, 2018 Bush camp, south of Meekatharra, WA

Clear sky and cool breeze.

Continued on with the packing. Took all day but we are making some headway. Trying to work out where to put things and how to fit them in the best is such fun!!

Erica rang while we were out chatting so I rang her back. Checking when we were heading off. Will give them all a call on Tuesday from Wiluna before we head onto the Canning Stock Route.

Group dinner at the camp tonight and a great time chatting. Learnt lots about drilling rigs – they can go down 2km and there is one out from Wiluna trying to get to 3km. Also they don’t necessarily go straight down – quite amazing. Lara cooked a camel pie so we had a taste before buying one at Birdsville.

No wind tonight so it was very pleasant.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Sat, 28th Apr, 2018 Bush camp, 104km north of Menzies to Bush camp, south of Meekatharra, WA (Jonathon’s birthday)

Clear sky and a cool breeze. Thought of Jon on his 25^th birthday but no phone reception here so we will ring him at Sandstone.

Continued on to Sandstone and rang Jon. He had played a couple games of golf with his friend in Sydney.

Stopped for lunch at the meteorite rock south of Meekatharra then continued on to Ross’ camp where we are leaving the van while we do our 6 month trip.

Phil, Annette and Sandy were in camp so caught up with them after we got the van into our spot from last year. Steve’s fire place is still intact.

Started rearranging everything between the truck and the van – going to be a big job figuring out how to fit it all in. First job was to sort clothes. We need summer, winter, detecting and good clothes so that was a fun job!!

5pm Ross and Lara arrived so we grabbed a drink and went over for a chat. Tom and Sandy then pulled in with their van and set up in their spot. Had a great time catching up.

After dinner we continued chatting with Tom and Sandy till it got too cool to be outside in our shorts and t-shirts.

Quite windy too so I closed up the van. We were thinking of putting summer sheets on but have decided to go with the flannelettes as we will be colder than hotter and we hate being cold.

Fri, 27th Apr, 2018 Centennial Park, Kalgoorlie to Bush camp, 104km north of Menzies, WA

7.30am 23 degrees and overcast – van closed up as it was quite chilly last night.

Kev and Linda called in for a cuppa after putting Dean on the train back to Perth. Then Max and Belinda stopped by to say farewell as their friends were in Leonora so they were heading up that way to detect.

Noel rang to say he had a few bits for Ross so we picked them up and had a chat with him. Dark storm clouds are passing over to the east but doesn’t look like it will rain here.

Greg Bridges pulled into the camp area so we caught up with him for a bit.

I put up some photos on Facebook of 25 years ago when I was admitted into hospital waiting the arrival of another son, Jonathon and then some lovely baby photos of him. Wow how the years have flown.

Had lunch then hooked up the van and went around to the water point for the long process of filling up the van’s water tanks. Steve wants to leave water in them while we are away. While we waited I rang Rebecca and Clive for a chat.

Headed north towards Menzies. Stopped just out of Kalgoorlie to check out the Two Up School – we were never here on a Sunday to check it out.

Steve checked out the rustic amenities – no thunder box, it had a flushing toilet.

Continued north under the dark clouds but haven’t seen any rain. An emu ran along the railway track beside us for a bit near Broad Arrow.

Stopped at Menzies for a cuppa and topped up the fuel at the number plate covered self serve station.

Turned onto the road to Sandstone, first 22 km bitumen then onto the dirt. Passed Lake Ballard but kept going as it was still early.

The sky is clearing the further north we head which is good.

Found a bit of a clearing near a breakaway up a track off the road just as the sun was going down.

Quiet evening though we have heard a few vehicles go by on the dirt road.

Thurs, 26th Apr, 2018 Lake Douglas campground, west of Kalgoorlie to Centennial Park, Kalgoorlie, WA (sightseeing)

7am 16.8 degrees, few clouds around.

Rang Debbie in Cairns to arrange for credit for our Satellite Phone. Hopefully we won’t have any need to use it but it is better to be prepared.

Gavin rang back, he and Tonia had a trip to Bali and just got back. Marlene is over looking after the kids so we will call around later to see them all.

Drove back into town and parked at the 24 hour RV stop at Centennial Park again. Unhooked the van then headed off to explore another deserted township – Kanowna. First we turned off into the mining plant of Kanowna Belle. There is a lookout and information about the gold processing plant here. There was also a lookout over the mine but that is closed now.

Continued on to Kanowna – now only a few broken signs and grass as the area hasn’t been maintained as a historical site. Lots of diggings here.

We found one of the 3 cemeteries where there was some good information.

The cemetery is surrounded by diggings.

This grave was for a police man. Steve noticed a box behind the tombstone and we realised we had found a Geocache – and we weren’t even looking for it. I have joined but hadn’t gotten round to finding out where any of the caches were in this area. Didn’t have anything to swap so just signed our name in the book.

Further down this strip which is the Protestant part of the cemetery. Lots of diggings so close to the graves. Luckily no one found a leader that went under the cemetery!!

The narrow Catholic section.

Followed another track and found the information about the railway siding and more history.

Followed a track down to find the Dam. Passed a couple of chaps working their lease with dozers and dryblowing machine.

Headed back to town past the ‘locals’ camp – really!

Looking at the back of the Superpit.

Up to the lookout to see what they have been up to lately in the Superpit. The measurements haven’t changed 3.5km long, 1.6km wide and 620m deep.

They have been busy – this is the view from 2 years ago.

View down into the pit and the little ‘tonker’ trucks crawling up the road shows how far away we are from them.

The gold price flashed up on the TV screen.

Looking across to Mt Charlotte Mine headframe. They have reopened the shaft down into the mine rather than using the decline access. They are also drilling on the western side as we drove up to the lookout so might have to move the lookout again!!

We noticed the fallen rock on the far side and realised the trucks are going up there to dump the rubbish rock.

Fabulous aerial photo.

Down Burt Street, Boulder for a look at the redone old buildings – looking good. Near the town hall I spotted a lady and three children and then realised it was Marlene with her grandkids. Stopped for a chat and arranged to go over to visit after dinner as they were going to the movies. Poor Tonia came back with Bali Belly and the flu.

Back down Hannan Street in Kalgoorlie – couldn’t resist another photo of the golden dome.

Home for the night in the RV stop.

Had some lunch then baked Anzac cookies as we wanted to use up the gas in the bottle so we could exchange it tomorrow – it was due to run out on the weekend. Steve went over to the water point and filled up the truck. They have changed the tap and it must have a restrictor in it as it takes ages.

Gavin rang to say he was leaving work and they have changed plans so to come over soon. I was just going out to find Steve when a lady came to the door. It was Belinda who we met here last year. Steve had spotted their truck and van and was chatting with Max. Great catching up with them.

Headed over to Gavin’s and had a nice afternoon chatting.

Linda texted they had arrived and were staying at their friend’s place so we had a quick dinner in the van then went over for a cuppa around their fireplace. It is a vacant block which the couple are planning to build on one day. Very handy for Kev and Linda. Dean is going back on the train at 7am in the morning. He had a great trip and even found a bit of gold.

Getting chilly as we headed back to the van.