Wed, 6th June, 2018 Bush camp to Shed camp, Mt Dockrell goldfields, south-west of Halls Creek, WA

7am 20.4 degrees. Checked the minimum/maximum of my thermometer and it said last night it got down to 14.3 degrees and it was 33.2 degrees during the day. The strong ESE wind is back.

Packed up and moved on in search of that elusive gold.

We wonder what the old timers saw on the ground on the side of the hill to make them dig those holes. What hard work it was and with so little and so far from everything. How did they have enough water to survive.

Up the hill and text messages came through from Robert & Robyn and then Jeff. Rang them back. R&R are leaving Broome heading to Marble Bar then on to Mosquito Creek. We told them to look out for Jeff since he is heading that way too. Jeff was in Marble Bar preparing for rain as lots has been falling around Geraldton etc.

Tried another spot then Steve saw some scrapings in the distance so we drove there to check it out. He got three little bits but nothing for me. Did I mention the 4WD adventures we are having to get up and down these hills. The track is very rutted and the creek crossings are eaten out. In low range 4WD most of the time. Steve loves it. I close my eyes at times and just hang on but he always has our safety first. He says it’s easy. I wouldn’t drive here at all.

The wind has stopped as we head back to another spot where we saw the couple from Gladstone to check out the scrapes there. No joy here either. So glad we had that patch to start with. Lots of spinifex pigeons fluttering about.

Pulled up to check an eroded creek crossing as we worked our way up the other road. Steve said there is a car behind us – I said oh really, and there was. It was a couple from Perth who have an exploration lease here and they were doing some sampling and thought they would check out this track. We showed them the silver rock and they thought it was Galena too so we will need a ton of it to get $600. I think the truck is loaded enough!!

We were on a track but it disappeared when it went over the flood plains. Between the two cars we managed to find the track again and headed up onto a rise above another creek. There was a shed and water tank which probably belonged to a mine nearby. There is even bed bases if we wanted to sleep under the stars!!

As the sun was getting low we parked up for the night.

The others continued on as they were booked into the Halls Creek Motel.

David rang to say he passed on our number to a friend who is planning to do the Canning soon. We will ring the chap when we get into town as we weren’t sure if we will have reception in the next spot we are going too.

Nice evening using the concrete patio. Set up the shower on one of the poles and had a nice long shower.