Mon, 25th Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

8am 26 degrees, lovely cool south-easterly breeze and clear sky.

Mum and Dad rang for a chat. They had a lovely day with Greg on the Tablelands.

Steve filled our buckets with water then we drove out to Holding Paddock trough to check it. More cattle hanging around and the 2 emus again and some kangaroos. The trough is nearly empty again. The windmill had pumped a little bit of water in the tank so there was enough to just trickle in the trough. We poured in the buckets of water which didn’t go far. Decided to go back home and fill up the other water pod cube we have and put it on the old ute. Our top tank is now full since the new impeller in the pump has been working well and both our tanks are full again.

Had lunch then Steve drove the old ute while I followed in ‘Pat’. Filled up the trough then parked the ute nearby. It doesn’t have hose connection like the other pod so Steve just held the pipe at the tap opening and I had the other end in the trough. We will have to come back each day and top up the trough. Luckily it is the closest water point to home.

Relaxing afternoon playing Skipbo with the new rules in the cottage with the air conditioning on.

Steve found an old window air conditioner in the shearer’s quarters which worked. We had removed the van’s air conditioner before we set out and replaced it with a fan which works well but we thought we would try the air conditioner for something different. Also it runs off the van power using only one generator whereas we have to run two generators to use the air conditioner in the cottage. We found a frame and tried it through the bedroom window to try and cool down the van. Decided it would be better through the kitchen window so it blows the cool air on us while we watch TV at night.

Rang Jon and got him with Daniel putting in an air conditioner in Dan’s bedroom. They are having an unusually hot February in Cairns with temperatures in the high 30s and of course 90% plus humidity. At least we don’t have humidity like that here.

The air conditioner worked well after we shut the window as the hot northerly window has gotten stronger.

Had dinner and watched movies with a nice cool breeze from the air conditioner. Turned it off at bedtime as it has cooled down and the wind is blowing well, not cool but comfortable.

Sun, 24th Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA (David’s birthday)

8am 31degrees, clouds in the north and a light breeze.

Rang David to wish him a happy birthday and had a lovely chat with him.

Headed off on our bore run. Appears to be a smoky haze but we can’t smell anything – might be from that red glow we saw.

Our first stop was Holding Paddock bore with windmill and trough. As we arrived a heap of cattle were near the trough. They had just been finishing off the last dregs of water and were shoving the trough around trying to get more.

Luckily they didn’t break the pipe. We knew the tank was getting low and had tried to see if it was the windmill itself not bringing up the water or whether the bore hole was drying up. Unfortunately as it is a bore hole we can’t actually test the water depth unless the whole thing is brought up so that will be a job for Rob to sort out. We will just try and keep the trough full of water for the cattle and the two emus we saw as we arrived.

Drove down and around to St Patrick’s and picked up the pod on the trailer, it has only just filled up as we haven’t had much wind lately. There are three more dead roos which we will deal with when we come back.

Back to Holding Paddock to fill up the water trough.

The cattle were hanging around and one chap was so thirsty he didn’t wait for me to finish. He stood there for ages drinking.

Steve grabbed the camera.

After it was full and so was that bull we drove the car around to the bore hole and windmill. Steve poured more water down it hoping it will pump some up into the empty tank.

I made a cuppa and watched as the other cattle came over for a drink.

Others just sat around – they were the ones who emptied the trough in the first place I suppose.

Steve climbed up and poured some more water down the windmill shaft again. Unfortunately the wind isn’t blowing so we can’t see if it will pump up the water. Will check it on the way back after we check the other water points.

They were thirsty as they drank half the trough.

Steve cleaned out an old concrete trough nearby and filled it and refilled the main trough. Three galahs were keeping an eye on Steve, waiting for a drink too.

The cattle are content now.

We headed back to St Patrick’s, hope the wind starts blowing to fill up the pod again.

A huge goanna who lives under the old tank wandered towards the rotting roo – gross. We left the two more rotten ones – must have died just after our last bore run. I got the other one who must have only just died after getting his foot caught in the fence – poor thing. I dragged him off away from the water area.

Continued on our bore run. Found a little bat hanging onto the side of the trough at Music Well. Cute little thing till Steve moved him with the broom – he has some nasty looking teeth. Steve lifted him out on the broom and put him on a tree to dry out.

At North Mill Well the cattle had shoved the float’s concrete cover so the float was stuck open and the placed was flooded. Emptied half the tank but luckily this one has a good water supply so with the sun shining it won’t take long for the solar pump to fill it up again. Steve managed to get the top back and the float working again.

Naughty cattle!!

The wind still isn’t blowing so don’t know if Holding Paddock windmill will fill the tank again. Will check it in the morning . No more problems so headed back home for a late lunch. 1pm 40 degrees in the van. No wind but the sun is out so our solar pump should be refilling the two tanks.

Kym messaged to come and join them for games and dinner. I thought it was because the backpackers were leaving but when we arrived I found out they had left in the morning. Didn’t quite cope with the heat here. The musterers will be joining us for dinner instead.

I had my tablet with me and Jess had posted a video and some photos of the great weekend they had water skiing and tubing at Tinaburra. Lily and Bandit love the boat.

Storm clouds are building in the north and west. A chap arrived in a truck to take some of the cattle to market so we sent him up to the musterers who are staying near the shearers’ quarters.

The sun peeked out under a cloud so we grabbed our cameras – Kym loves sunsets too.

As we photographed lightning flashed to the left of the sun in that dark cloud. I missed the lightning strike of course.

Last one before the sun disappeared.

The lightning show began to the west and the north. We went onto the verandah on the other side of the house and watched the storm move south. Kym set her camera on a tripod and set it for long exposures and started clicking. There were some amazing flashes and they hung there for a long time. Not too much thunder and we only got a few drops of rain.

Looks like a good storm to the north too so I hope our van is ok as I didn’t close the roof hatches this time.

The musterers arrived – young crew from Mataranka, NT. It was like being with our boys and their friends listening to them go on about things – though these boys let loose with the swear words very frequently but they all seem very nice.

Kym and I quickly went through the 500 odd photos and found a few great ones of the lightning. She will send them to me for my blog. Glen posted this one on Facebook.

Headed home with more amazing lightning flashes as we headed north. All good at home with no rain, just some dust blown in the windows. Now the wind is blowing well we will be able to check Holding Paddock windmill tank tomorrow.

The lightning show was over when we went to bed. Heard two donkeys eeyoring with some cattle at the water trough.

Sat, 23rd Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

7am 27 degrees, clear sky and no breeze. Woke to the chorus of birds playing and drinking from the water feeder and bird bath.

The flies are back by the hundreds even though my fly catchers are still catching heaps. They don’t like the heat and are hanging off the screen door in the shade or the cool pipe of the water filter.

Matthew who has the mustering team arrived with offsider/cook Casey to collect some things they left in the old shearing sheds after they left last year. They are doing another muster of rogue cattle on a mining lease near Laverton then they will start on Tarmoola. Should be interesting as there will be two helicopters as well.

Unfortunately the smaller BBQ that Steve has spent a lot of time and energy cleaning and servicing belonged to them. They were very grateful to get it back in such good condition. Steve helped them load it on the ute then we pulled the other one back into position. We were going to send it back to the homestead but it can stay here now till we leave.

Steve checked the well solar pump as it didn’t seem to be pumping much yesterday. He pulled it up and found the impeller was worn out. After a cuppa we drove to the homestead to see if there is a spare there. Steve found a spare impeller and a spare pump so we should be back in action soon. Clouds are building in the north and west though so he mightn’t have any sun to try it by the time we get back home. Luckily we don’t have a heap of cattle to keep watered at the moment.

Steve went to get fuel and smelt burning rubber. The pumps cabling had shorted out. There was no spare pump here but we have a pump on the fuel pod back home. The other musterers were coming up to collect more things from the shed so we will send the pump back with them so Glen can fix the fuel pump. Steve can use the jerry cans to fill up the generators. Always something to repair and maintain around here.

Headed back home, 2pm 42 degrees in the van but a bit cooler in the cottage. At least the surfaces inside don’t feel red hot like in the caravan. The clouds are building up but there is no wind so I don’t think it will turn into a storm.

Steve replaced the impeller now we need sunshine to make the solar pump work but the clouds are blocking out the sun this afternoon.

Very hot and still but we resisted putting on the air conditioner. Got into the pool instead, first time since we refilled it with bore water. The nice slippery surface of the trough is now rough from the calcium but it is nice and cool and clean.

Worked on my new jigsaw nice bright one with three dolphins and underwater scene. Finished reading ‘In the Middle of Nowhere’ by Terry Underwood. Have marked the station on my map so we might see if we can go in and visit as I found the book fascinating.

Drinks in the cottage away from the flies then another dip in the pool. 6pm 40 degrees in van.

A few cattle are wandering into the yard for a drink. The birds are always at the water feeder at the moment with this heat.

We walked down to the yards and closed the big gates so now the cattle have only the open red gate to come in and out of again.

At last the flies have gone to bed so we had dinner on the lawn watching the storm clouds slowly move across the sky as there is no wind.

7.15pm the wind picked up and then we saw some fabulous flashes of lightning for about 15 minutes then the show was over.

Back into the van to watch TV – enjoying Peaky Blinders series at the moment.

Steve noticed a red glow to the north so maybe the lightning caused a fire.

Half hour later I checked the red glow and it was gone.

Using our fans tonight!! 8pm still 39 degrees.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Fri, 22nd Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

7.30am 26 degrees, clear sky and no breeze.

Heaps of crested pigeons and finches are using the goanna/bird path. A bull, cow and calf wandered up to join them. I told them they can use the one in the yard so they turned around headed down that way – well that’s what it looked like!

Decided to sort out my hard drives as we have finished one lot of movies and need some more. We are very grateful to those who have shared their movies with us as we don’t get TV reception here and in a lot of places we stay. Mind you when we have had it there is only rubbish on TV any case.

The newer generator started playing up again. Steve can’t work out what its problem is other than someone putting oil in the diesel and flooding the insulation with diesel hence all the smoke that pours out of it. He got it going again so we treated ourselves to another afternoon of air conditioning as it is going to be 40 degrees again today.

Played 3 to Kings today – Steve had a great start winning the first nine hands then winning the game overall.

Relaxing afternoon reading and doing my jigsaw. Steve dug out some old magazines and read them again.

Drinks inside then we turned off the air conditioning and headed back outside. Used the rakes to spread the remainder of the hay into the yard to encourage the cattle to come back in for a drink.

7pm 39 degrees with no breeze tonight. Steve had finished cleaning and servicing the other BBQ so cooked dinner on it. Then sat on the lawn again enjoying the brilliant sky. Very busy night in the Milky Way as we spotted at least 15 satellites, 1 planes and 3 falling stars.

Heard some cattle come in for a drink.

Needed a fan for sleeping tonight.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Thurs, 21st Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

7am 27 degrees, clear sky and light breeze.

Steve fed the cattle while I put the washing on.

I started a new jigsaw, 750 piece. Nice bright one of dolphins and coral etc.

The finches are enjoying the goanna bath while the goanna is busy stuffing his mouth with the leftover tough roast.

Rob rang – having truck issues so he said to let the cattle out and they will round them up again when the muster starts.

We walked down to the yard and Steve opened the gate and the red entrance gate to let the cattle out.

The cattle just stood there and watched us but nobody moved.

Eventually one cow decided to have a look. She walked out then turned around and came back in – we must have looked after them well – they don’t want to leave.

We turned off the water to the second trough so the cattle will go into the yard again.

Steve put the second generator on and used the spare lead to run the fridge in the cottage separate to the power to the cottage, that way we could try the air conditioner again and have the fridge running too. Set the temperature at 24 degrees and enjoyed a nice cool lunch inside.

Steve is always finding something else to fix up. He reconnected the power to the shower and toilet block so he can use the light in the toilets now. I don’t bother, I prefer to just use the van toilet as it doesn’t have frogs in it!!

The finches are back having fun in the goanna bath and drinking from the water feeder. They are so little and cute.

Steve had picked up a sharpener for the chainsaw when we were at the homestead and gave it a try. Then tried the chainsaw on a dead tree near the cottage – much better.

The cattle are still in the yard, feel like going boo to make them move but don’t want to upset them as they are nice and calm.

As the air conditioner was working well we played a few games of Skipbo using Kym’s new rules. Instead of 4 piles going 1 to 12, there are two piles 1 to 12 and 2 piles 12 to 1. Certainly more challenging on the brain!!

Checked the temperature in the van when I made a cuppa, it was 40 degrees. So much nicer in the 24 degree room. Read my book and worked on the jigsaw.

Steve found another BBQ in the shearer’s quarters so decided to clean it up for us as it is smaller and then the big one can go back to the homestead.

All the cattle have left the yard at last. Wonder if they will be back for a drink later.

A big red kangaroo came in for a drink as the sun set. We were still in the air con but can see what’s happening through the window, hence he came in early.

6.30pm still 38 degrees in the van but we have turned off the air con as it is quite pleasant outside now.

Had dinner sitting out on the lawn once the flies had disappeared. Laid our chairs back and looked for satellites. Saw 5 before the mozzies started buzzing.

It has cooled down enough by bed time that we didn’t need a fan as there was a nice breeze blowing.

Wed, 20th Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

Good sleeping now the outside cattle have water and the inside ones are content.

7.30am 28 degrees, clear sky and strong northerly wind.

The little finches are enjoying the bird/goanna bath once I refilled. It is always empty in the morning after the roos have their drinks during the night.

We are only feeding the cattle the good hay in the evening to make it last. We gave them some of the older hay with molasses which they sniffed at and when nothing better came they started chewing it. The water trough had algae growing so with the cattle quiet Steve went in with the broom to give it a clean. It was pretty bad so he dumped the water then scrubbed it clean then let it refill. The cattle were very curious to see what he was up to but they just stood and watched which was good as I was keeping watch in case one of them decided to do something dangerous.

There is still a calf and two others hanging around. The calf calls and the mum inside the yard calls back but we can’t get the calf to go inside. He is a bigger one so should be ok.

Headed off on our bore run. Holding Paddock Well windmill hasn’t pumped up any water for a while. Steve poured some water down the shaft to wet the cups in case that was the problem, or maybe the well is going dry. Will let Rob know as it will need looking at as the tank is down to less than one third.

There was a big dead roo at Grey Mare Well. The fence was bent near the tank and it was dead beside, with it guts ripped out. We think it tried to jump away from a dingo but hit the fence and then the dingo got it. We pulled it away from the watering area – very smelly.

No more dead roos at St Patricks thank goodness. The ones we had moved are just skin and bones now. Brought the water pod back home and I watered the grass – not really the best grass for this area and with cattle, roos and lack of water it is an ongoing battle to keep it alive. Steve put the rest down the well.

Lunch 1pm 40 degrees with the strong northerly still blowing its hot wind over us. Clouds are building in the north then we heard some rumbles of thunder. I closed the roof hatches just in case we get rain.

Took the pod back – shouldn’t take too long to refill with the wind blowing the windmill furiously.

A scud of rain went over us on the way back – enough to put on the windscreen wipers! We are always on the lookout for broken wire on the track from the old fences and had stopped to remove some when the rain fell – lovely smell as the rain hit the ground.

Back home we could see we had rain and a lot of wind here. The new rain gauge measured 1.5ml of rain.

Worked on my blog etc for the afternoon. Steve resurrected an old trough float for the second trough as the cattle were drinking it all the time and we had to keep topping it up. He then ran a cable so he can start the truck using the Red Arc thing on the auxiliary battery until we can buy new ones.

I rang Mum and Dad after seeing on Facebook that Cairns had been hit by a wild storm. They said the lightning and thunder was amazing. They have lost their land line again but luckily they have the mobile to use. They lost power for 3 and a half hours but thankfully it came on just as they laid down for their afternoon snooze so they could have the fan on.

I texted the boys and Jon was driving home from Palm Cove when it hit but it was all over by the time he got home. Dan said it was pretty wild but ok – he is looking forward to winter. Cairns has been having a very hot summer and with the humidity it is terrible.

Steve racked up some more old hay and poured on the molasses for the cattle. He left the race open with a line of molasses heading to the other hay hoping to lure the calf in.

Drinks watching the lightning show as another storm cell headed south east.

Unfortunately no cattle went down the race so he closed up the race again when we checked it after the sun had set.

The wind is still blowing hot but it isn’t too bad.

Tues, 19th Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA (Jocelyn & Bradley’s birthday)

7am 26 degrees, clear sky and northerly gusty wind.

Only got a bit of hay left after giving the cattle their breakfast. They are well behaved and stand quietly while we toss the hay through the fence. One bull gave a snort so I took that as a Thank You and said Your Welcome!! Will get some more hay from the homestead later.

Headed off for a detect again. Making the most of these cooler days as another week of over 40s is predicted.

Went to start the truck to leave and the battery was dead. The jumper leads were back at the cottage as Steve has been using them to jump start the generator. Luckily he has a Red Arc system and was able to use it to start the truck with the auxiliary battery. Headed for home – looks like we need to buy a new battery. We got this one when we first came to Kalgoorlie nearly 3 years ago so that wasn’t a bad run.

Rang Uncle John to pass on our happy birthday wishes to Jocelyn – her hearing is bad so we can’t chat on the phone. They are both doing well.

It is also Bradley’s birthday to sent a message via Amanda to wish him a great birthday.

When Steve was topping up the outside water trough he heard a ruckus in the yard and one of the smaller bulls had cornered a bigger bull and was into him with his horns. Poor thing had scrapes down his hide and two bleeding spots on his head. Naughty boys!

Lunch, 37 degrees and nice breeze.

Drove down to the homestead – another dead bull on the side of the road. Will be good when the highway fence is erected.

Unfortunately we can’t take any more new hay as what is left is needed for the new cattle in the yard there. We rounded up some of the older stuff and got some more molasses. Will have to do our cattle till the next hay load arrives.

Went around to the dam for a lovely cool dip before heading back home. The water is so clear Steve spotted a pair of sunnies beneath his feet – bit scratched but ok.

Dark clouds are building in the west blocking out the sunset.

Rob texted that the boys should be here in a couple of days to process our cattle.

Gave the cattle some hay, good and the older stuff with molasses. They certainly know which is the better hay.

The wind is picking up as the storm builds. Had late drinks watching the lightning show as the storm headed south.

The roos came in for drinks and the outside cattle used the second trough so all is good in our camp.

Dinner, movie then bed. 10.30pm 33 degrees, gusty wind.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Mon, 18th Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

7am 22 degrees, clear sky and cool breeze.

The cattle and roos were trying to get into our pool again in the night. We decided to fill up an old trough near the tanks so the outside ones, who won’t go in or leave to find water, can get water and maybe they will leave us alone.

Fed the cattle – the mum on the outside came down into the race to get to some hay and bub stuck its head through the rail and had a great feed too.

Drove to St Patricks and picked up the water pod. There were four more dead roos and the resident rabbit was dead too. It can’t be dingoes. The water overflows onto the ground through the concrete base so I wonder if it is contaminated. We are using the water from the well for the cattle and they are fine. We only drink town water that we have in the van and truck but we shower in the tank water. Steve thought with the roos it could be like the ones we saw in NSW that were all dead around a dam – they were starving and ate something then when they drank the water it killed them. We pulled the roos away from the water area – they have only been there less than two days and boy do they stink.

Back home and the outside cattle haven’t found the new water trough and hay we put out for them yet.

I worked on my blog while steve tried to work out what’s wrong with the newer generator – again. A willy willy came over the van so I had to do a quick clean-up of all the dirt it threw in through the windows and vents!! Luckily it doesn’t take me long.

1pm lunch, 33 degrees with a nice breeze.

Went over to try another spot nearer Round Oak’s village area that Claudio suggested. I scored with two bits. Steve just got some exercise.

Jon rang, planning to go up the dam on the weekend so he is trying to sort out his fuel hose problem and needed a chat with his Dad. It is great to know they are learning things and that they can still ring their Dad for advice.

Back home and the cattle have discovered the new trough – now to keep the water up to it as we just fill it from the top tank and there is no float to regulate it like the other water trough. Hopefully that will solve our wandering cattle problem and we might get a better night’s sleep.

Had our drinks watching the outside cattle eat and drink at their trough – yeah. We fed the cattle in the yard.

We put some more hay out for the mummy cow and she wandered into the race again and bubby came up for a feed. We put some more hay further along the race to lure her in past the slide gate. We climbed over the rails and walked around the yard. Another young bull came in too so we came up behind them and closed the slide gate. Steve then opened the inner panel and we encouraged them to walk in to the others. Eventually they got the idea so mum and bub are together again.

Lovely evening as the nearly full moon rose. Another five cattle wandered in bellowing to the others. We hope they will sniff out the new water trough and get a belly full of water. Steve has topped it up and will do it again before we go to bed.

Nice breeze so we had dinner outside. I spotted one satellite travelling down the Milky Way from north to south. It is funny seeing the Southern Cross pointing upwards in the sky rather than pointing down to indicate south.

A roo came in for a drink from the goanna bath – very slow progress trying to watch us and get across to the water.

Another herd of cattle came in and once it was dark they found the new trough and drank it dry. Topped it up then checked the yard as we had left the race open again to see if we could catch any more cattle that way. One was in there so he went in with the others too.

8pm 32 degrees, lovely breeze, clear sky.

Watched a movie then checked the trough again – empty so we refilled it. I refilled the goanna bath too for the roos.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Sun, 17th Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

7.30am 25 degrees, clear sky and strong ESE wind – nice and cool.

Cleaned out the remainder of the water from our pool then refilled it with well water from the tank. Will have to get the water pod again to top up the tank.

Fed the cattle – one Mum is still outside moaning to her calf but she won’t go in the gate. The hay and molasses is eaten at the gate but they won’t go in.

The outside cattle have stomped the pipes at the water tank when it had overflowed so we decided to erect a fence in case they break a pipe and we lose the lot. You can see the black container Steve has made his overflow tank and he has pipes going to and from the two tanks and the well so he can direct water where he wants – very clever chappy.

There is a big black bull who looks old – we call him Ferdinand as he just sits about.

We lifted up the water tank onto the back of the Chev.

Spotted Claude coming out of the fire pit – must have smelt the meaty paper towel I put in there.

Had lunch then started preparing dinner for Kym and Glen. BBQ with potato bake, pumpkin and bacon bake, a cheesey carrot and capsicum dish, mushies and onions and corn on the cob.

I tossed out some of the roast that was tough for the goannas – it was funny watching Cyril swallow the lumps, should have cut it up smaller.

Steve ran another lead across to the generator so we can try out the air conditioner tonight. Will have to run the two generators.

Kym and Glen arrived. Lovely afternoon chatting and playing Skipbo. The newer generator started playing up before we even turned on the air conditioner. Steve turned off the fridge in the cottage and we tried the air con. Worked ok on low speed. We definitely need a bigger generator.

We all ate too much dinner but managed to still fit in our Sticky Date pudding. Played some Sequence then they headed back to the homestead.

We fed the cattle. A few roos came in for a drink while we had our cuppa. They are very nervous and took ages to move across to the bird bath to have a drink. Nice breeze blowing from the south east.