Sun, 18th Aug, 2019 Bush camp near Western Shaw Mine, south-west of Marble Bar, WA (Steve and Amanda’s birthdays)

7.30am 14.7 degrees, clear sky and strong gusty wind.

My man is 60 today, wow I still remember his 21^st birthday like it was yesterday. It is also Amanda’s birthday so will have to give her a ring when we get phone reception again.

I gave Steve his golden birthday note – 60 made out of gold nuggets. I baked him a banana cake which we enjoyed with our cuppa. No candles luckily as it might have burnt down the van!!

(Still haven't worked out how to turn these back - they are the right way on the computer).

The wind is getting stronger so we decided it was a good day to stay indoors – again. It is really buffeting the van so it wouldn’t be nice to be out detecting in it.

Rod stopped by on his way to the dam. He said that the miners of the old shafts around where we were detecting used donkeys to pull their trolleys along some railway tracks. I am amazed at what they achieved out here with so little. The alluvial area near the dam apparently produced 1000 ounces of gold when it was being worked. I wonder whether they actually made any money out of it as there was a lot of equipment etc.

We played Skipbo for a bit then another chap drove up. He was out exploring and detecting. He is working on an Emerald mining lease about 80km away – now that would be interesting to see.

The wind has changed from south-east to north and is hitting the van side on now. It is cold too, only 23 degrees in the van at lunch time.

Made Steve a toasted wrap (not topless – that’s only for when he finds big bits of gold ha ha) then we had cheesecake for dessert. Don’t think weigh-in day tomorrow is going to be good!

Watched a movie then relaxed reading our books while we had our afternoon coffees.

I cooked Steve’s favourite Ecopot dish with lamb chops for dinner as it is too windy for the fire. Played 3 to Kings over drinks – Steve’s luck has run out for this game.

Lovely dinner then ice-cream to finish off Steve’s birthday celebrations.

The wind is still blowing hard outside but we are nice and cosy in the van and very comfortable so it doesn’t worry us to have a day indoors occasionally.