Fri, 13th Apr, 2018 Bush camp, 120km north of Laverton, WA

Black Friday – hope it will be a good one!!!

7.30am 16.7 degrees, clear sky and gusty wind.

We tried a new area to detect. Steve had found lots of detector holes and a big hole – wonder what came out of that!! There was a Victorian number plate hanging in the tree near the camp rubbish they left behind!! Unfortunately they got all the gold!!

Went back to the spot where Steve had found a nice one and had a good time there. There was a lot of old tins etc so Steve used his detector and I cleaned up the rubbish and dug the targets for him.

A vehicle towing a camper drove by and headed up the track away from us.

After lunch we went back and I gridded the area with my detector while Steve went for a walk to find another patch.

Went for a drive back to the main track to find the site of the Government Battery and well. Not much left now except for bricks, some foundations and the old frame that went over the top of the well.

The pastoralist has put in a new windmill and tank.

We spotted a shower tent in the bush and on closer inspection found a bus and caravan. No one was about though so we aren’t the only people in the area.

Steve had found some interesting shafts and diggings on his walk earlier so we went around for a look. Interesting ladder – don’t think I would want to trust it now!!

Nor would I want to go down these holes they dug. Certainly were amazing men to dig through this ground – boy they must have been tough.

This one had such a wall around the opening I would be petrified it would fall in on top of me.

Continuing along in a straight line they opened up the ground. Not much room to work.

Another shaft.

Then another open trench. This one has filled with water and is connected to the shaft at the other end. Steve dropped in a rock and I could see the ripples on this side. The little finches are having a lovely time in the water.

Further along we found another trench. Would love to know what they found here to show them where to dig – was there a reef showing on the surface?

Steve found an old shovel, tins and tools they had been using.

Back home for drinks by the fire. Saw the vehicle that came in yesterday drive by on the track but they didn’t see us. Cooked dinner inside as it is quite chilly so no star watching tonight.