7th to 19th Sept, 2022 Bush camping, east of Nullagine, WA

9^th Sept, 2022          

Back out in the bush again. A beautiful sunrise greeted me this morning at 6am.

Worked out the Morse Code message I copied from Millstream Homestead.

10^th Sept, 2022

Birthday wishes via telepathic airways to Lou and Ian today as we have no phone reception.

Geoff and Virginia drove out to meet us. I baked yummy pikelets and pumpkin scones for morning tea which we all enjoyed with my Rosella jam. They brought us out water in containers which is very handy.

Sadly they informed us that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away yesterday, aged 96. Things will seem very strange in England etc for a while as they adjust to Charles now becoming King.

 

 

12^th Sept, 2022

Checked out a nice campsite near Mosquito Creek, called Hill Top Camp 2017. They have done a nice job. Sadly they lost a dog, Biscuit, in 2018 and its grave is nearby. Might come back and camp here.

 

14^th Sept, 2022

Erica & Terry’s 55^th wedding anniversary today as well as Kaylene and Alexander’s birthdays.

Moved camp, exploring some different areas. Up hill and down dale and at one stage crawling along the top of ridges which I can’t tell you about as I had my eyes closed, but I have all the faith in the world in Steve and he says ‘Smokey’ can handle it all with ease - just a bit top heavy with the camper on, that’s all!!

Reached a junction where an old airstrip was marked on the map but we only saw two 44 gallon drums. Saw a van in the distance and a well worn track. Steve said that in the detecting book it mentioned a mine but now the area is just all live exploration leases.

Came to the old camp and checked out all the equipment. Everything was neatly laid out and it looks like some of the gear is being readied to be taken out of here. Steve said it looked like the machinery was for processing the ‘fine gold’ and it went down into the big ‘dish’ which is on rollers.

Made it back the main road then headed back to Mosquito Creek. Drove back up to the Hill Top Camp and dropped off the camper so we can drive into town tomorrow and fill up the buckets and bladder. Placed the camper so the pavers were at our door, perfect.

As we have phone reception here we gave Erica and Terry a call for their anniversary. Erica was thrilled we remembered - obviously she hadn’t see our text! She said John’s funeral/memorial was huge, over 500 people which was expected with all that he was involved in with the museum etc.

Rang Kaylene to wish her a happy day too - our last year of the 50s! She said that Ian’s father had passed away so will send him a text. Shane and Doreen are in town and meeting them for dinner tonight which is great.

Sent off a text to Ian to wish him a happy birthday for the 10^th and our sympathy about his father’s passing. Sent Louis a belated birthday text too as he is also the 10^th, like his cousin, Ian. They both replied.

The wind has settled so it feels hotter in the camper. As the setting sun hits the back we put up the two shadecloth awnings. Got some more firewood then headed back to the camper for drinks by the fire. As the sun is setting later now we had to sit on the other side which our backs to the sun.

The breeze has sprung up and is quite cool again as the sun set. Needed to move around to the open part of the fireplace to get some warmth. A few mosquitoes started buzzing around - well we are near Mosquito Creek!

 

 

Thurs, 16^th Sept, 2022

Our tranquillity has been broken with someone lighting fires again. Luckily they are on the other side of Mosquito Creek so we are safe here. The spinifex burns black as it has an oil in it. They are along the road edge so maybe it is the pastoralist not a prospector as it seems to be in strange places if it was a prospector. We are camped in plain site so if it was the pastoralist you would think they could leave a note!

 

Mon, 19^th Sept, 2022

Windy day and getting hotter. After lunch we noticed smoke again and Steve went for a drive to check as it looked like it was on our side of the track. It was so we packed up and loaded the camper back on - nerve-racking as the wind was blowing in gusts against the camper while it was up on its 4 legs waiting for Steve to back underneath. We got it loaded on ok and headed out of the area. We continued eastward to the Davis River and down to Running Waters which is a spring-fed waterhole that never dries up and the water stays about 25 degrees. We arrived late in the afternoon and after a very wobbly trip down the track to the river we parked up for the night.