Mon, 29th Apr, 2019 Bush camp at Wild Cat Mine, north-east of Leonora, WA

7.30am 15 degrees, overcast and no wind.

More detecting with no joy, only rubbish.

The clouds have thinned and the wind is picking up.

Lunch 27 degrees, gusty wind.

I wrote my blog while Steve went off detecting. The sky is getting darker by smoko time.

Ray came back with a grin which was great but nothing for Carol or Steve.

Drinks around the fire while the chicken legs and vegies roasted in the camp oven.

The wind settled but the cloud covered blocked out all the stars. Warmer evening.

Heard some donkeys eeyoring near us. 7pm 23 degrees.

8pm the wind gusts picked up.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Sun, 28th Apr, 2019 Bush camp at Wild Cat Mine, north-east of Leonora, WA (Jon’s birthday)

Our baby is 26 today – how the years have flown. Laid in bed thinking back over all the years and things we have done together, sports, scouts, school etc. He has made us very proud of his achievements and his commitment to work etc. Will find a hill later and see if we can get phone reception to give him a call.

7.30am 13 degrees, clear sky and light breeze. Nearly cold enough to put on the heater but the sun is shining and it warms up quickly and we detect in long pants and long sleeved shirts.

We drove down to the other shafts we found last time but we only found rubbish. Heard some dingoes howling to each other over on the breakaway to the east of us.

Tried another spot near a hill but still no joy – getting lots of exercise.

Drove up the hill and got good phone reception so gave Jon a call. Unfortunately it started raining up the dam so they came home at lunch time today. He said they had fun any case. Jess bought him 4WD recovery gear for his trip in May to Marina Plains. We sent him some money so he can use that for fishing gear etc.

A text came through that we missed a call from Kev and Linda so we gave them a call back. Great to hear from them both and that they are enjoying their home. They put in a wood fireplace recently and tried it out the other night – worked well.

Tried Rick again but he and Kaylene were just finishing lunch with Steve and Sandra so we said we will catch him another time.

Back to the van for a late lunch, 26 degrees, no wind.

Tried another spot near our camp and Ray found a tiny speck but he was the only lucky one today.

Back to the van to get the fire going to cook dinner on it. The wind settled down which was lovely as we sat around the fire and chatted.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Sat, 27th Apr, 2019 Malcolm Dam, near Leonora to Bush camp near Wild Cat Mine, 60km north-east of Leonora, WA

7am 13 degrees, blue sky and light breeze.

Rang Mum and Dad for a quick chat in case we don’t have phone reception. Sent Daniel and Fran texts as they arrived home from their trip yesterday. Fran texted back that they had fun till the last 3 days when Daniel came down with a cold and he is still sick. At least he has Fran to care for him now.

As we got ready to head off a hawk flew down to beside Ray and Carol’s van. He just stood there and waited and still didn’t move when they got in the car and drove off. We then followed and he was still waiting. Maybe someone had previously camped here and fed him. Got a couple of nice photos of him as we passed.

Topped up the water again as I had a wonderful time using it all while I did the washing – usually I have to conserve so it was good to be able to refill the tub each time and give everything a good wash.

Headed up the Nambi Road. Rick rang as we drove along. He said friends were up the Palmer and found 3 ½ ounces of gold using their 2300 – well fancy that. Ran out of phone service while we were chatting so managed to wish him all the best for his nerve block injection soon for his back. Hope that helps with the pain.

Turned into Wild Cat Mine area and followed Ray and Carol to where they had camped when they were here a few years back. It was past where we had recently camped – on the other side of the mining area.

Set up camp – no phone reception at the moment. Might come during the night.

I baked some cookies and slice – need our yummies while we are detecting. Steve helped Ray sort out his caravan brakes.

Lunch, 25 degrees. I have opened the kitchen windows but have left the bedroom ones closed as we are still having 12-15 degree nights.

Gusty wind and it is warm in the sun so I put my shorts back on. We all headed off detecting from the vans and I walked 10 metres from the van and pinged a little piece. Sadly, again, it was the only one and no one else got any gold either. This is starting to wear thin!!

Steve and Ray collected wood and got the fire going so we sat around it with our drinks. A little bat is flying over the top of us and we heard a dingo howl in the distance.

The phone got reception for a moment then went again. At least it is enough if a text comes through.

Steve heated the shower water on the fire again so we can save on gas. Had a nice hot shower before dinner then settled in to watch our movies. Ray has a hard drive of movies too so will have to see what he has and give them some of ours.

Fri, 26th Apr, 2019 Niagara Dam, near Kookynie to Malcolm Dam, near Leonora, WA

7am 15 degrees, clear sky and windy.

Packed up and headed back into Leonora to top up with water then we drove out to Malcolm Dam again. The other van was still under ‘our tree’ so we parked on the other side so we could get good sun as Carol and I wanted to get our washing done today. Mark and Heidi’s van is still there but they are out – hopefully finding gold somewhere.

It was nice in the sun and the flies weren’t too bad. I got into shorts and singlet while I did my washing in my little twin tub. Good wind blowing so the sheets, towels and clothes didn’t take too long to dry. We had brought new flannelette sheets so gave them a quick wash as they will go onto the bed now we are having cold nights.

After lunch we all went back into town to submit our 40E permits with the Mines Dept so we can detect on some leases south of Laverton which is east of here. We still have current 40Es for Jungle Well and Wild Cat Mine so we will head to Wild Cat Mine tomorrow.

Picked up a few fresh vegies and fruit then filled up with fuel. Even at the 24hr self serve depot the price has been slowing creeping up but it is still 14 cents cheaper than the Coles Express Servo – go figure.

Mark and Heidi are back so we made a cuppa and wandered down for a chat. They have been having fun and Heidi found a 5g nugget for Easter so she was very happy.

Joined Ray and Carol for drinks beside our van where we have some protection from the wind.

I rang Margaret and Bob to let them know our plans as I have put them on the 40E permit with us so they can detect there too. She has picked up some 5 litre casks of wine for me so that will keep me going for a while.

Rang Jon for his birthday on Sunday in case we don’t have phone reception at Wild Cat this time. He was up the Dam with friends for a weekend of skiing and fun. Jess had to work so she will come up in the morning with the dogs as they love being in the water and in the boat. Glad he has a great bunch of friends to do things with like we had.

Inside for dinner and a movies.

Thurs, 25th Apr, 2019 Niagara Dam, near Kookynie, WA

7am 15 degrees, clear sky and strong wind which has blown all night.

Back to the pending leases again and we explored other areas. I got out of the truck and was detecting before the others has put on their gear and pinged a little bit. Seem to do that a bit lately but unfortunately there was no more gold to be found. One hit wonder I am or is it the gold fairies having a laugh as with that little bit of gold I get a spring in my step and I am off to find more. Unfortunately when no more comes I get very weary from swinging my detector for no reward!! It is like when we are fishing, we have to be catching fish or I want to shift. Luckily Steve has more patience than me, hence I say he has to find the patch and I will pick up all the little bits after he gets the big bits. Hasn’t been working like that lately though.

Ray managed to find two little bits then Steve got one little ball at the next spot. Tried another spot but it was full of rubbish.

Back to the vans for lunch inside away from the flies. 26 degrees in the van, feels hotter in the sun when we were detecting. The wind has stopped too.

We went back to the pushings area. I found so many bird shot pellets and was about to give up when I said ‘just one bit of gold and I will be happy to go home’. I turned around and got a light signal. I was amazed to find a tiny slither of gold – well at least I was happy to finish.

More vans have pulled in and set up camp around the dam area. We had our drinks again as the sun was setting. I heard the phone ring and it was Erica so we had a lovely chat. Jodie had rung her to say that Bryan had proposed to her while they were camping at the Undarra Lava Tubes. Not planning to marry though for a couple of years – seems to be the trend as that is the same as Jakob and Anna. Jodie is the first of the Geck grandchildren to get engaged. I sent off a text to Jodie and will have to ring her another time as they are still camping. David and Amanda went to Brisbane for the Anzac Day march and he marched with his old Air Force group. Erica and Terry are heading to Barcaldine to join 799 other caravanners in breaking a record for the longest moving line of caravans and motorhomes and also at night they have arranged for everyone to have a string of LED lights for the longest continuous line of lights. They should have fun.

Got dinner ready then watched some movies.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Wed, 24th Apr, 2019 Bush camp near Yerilla, east of Menzies to Niagara Dam, near Kookynie, WA

7am 24 degrees, clear sky and no wind.

Packed up and continued north to Kookynie. Stopped at the Hotel but it wasn’t open yet for Ray and Carol to check out the aboriginal spear with a telescope sight lens on it hanging over the bar.

Headed west along the road to Niagara Dam – all bitumen now. Parked on the top side this time as we aren’t looking for shade like we were when we were here with Bob and Margaret.

There is no water in the dam – maybe they let it all out as we heard the dam was weak.

Good cave over there.

Got phone reception here so sent Susan a belated birthday message. Kym texted that she and Glen are now caretaking at 10 Mile where we were – Rob and family are at the main homestead.

Went detecting on some pending leases on the other side of the railway line. Tried around some old shafts where we noticed someone else had recently been digging holes. Carol called up to say she found a bit as Steve headed back to the truck from his big walk so he slowed down and managed to find two bits near each other. We found out Carol’s was over the other side of the shafts so Steve figures he has to slow down more! Unfortunately they were the only two there as I went over the area well with my detector too.

Headed back for lunch. Drove down to the dam wall and went for a walk along it. View of the dam from the wall.

Chatted with a couple from Canberra doing a quick trip. Heading across the Great Central Road to Alice so they can cross the Simpson Desert back to Birdsville. She said the rivers are rising again over there from the rain from the cyclone that was in the Gulf so they aren’t sure if they will get to do the Simpson yet.

After lunch headed back to the pending leases. Steve went around the hill from where we were and found a bit so we moved around there. There was a lot of work carried out here near some shafts – rows of pushings with a dozer. That other person has been here too and there are holes everywhere. We got a lot of bird shot pellets so hopefully he got just as much. I managed to find two little bits on the rise but that was it. Not making wages at this rate!!

Home for drinks as the sun started to set – the flies aren’t as bad then so you can keep them off with a fly swat flicking around.

I rang Mum and Dad – all good there. They attended Bev’s funeral today. Dennis visited them which was lovely. He is doing well even though he misses Rhonda so much.

Closed up the van as it is cooling off now the sun as gone down. The wind is picking up again. 11pm 20 degrees with the van closed up.

Tues, 23rd Apr, 2019 Bush camp near Yerilla, east of Menzies, WA

7.30am 14 degrees, clear sky and no wind.

Susan’s birthday today – will have to send her a belated message when I get phone service again.

Drove across the creek to more shafts and salt & pepper ground. Better photo of the old shafts on either side of the modern trench dug in the middle to see if there is any more gold. The shafts aren’t deep.

Steve found this hunk of quartz with crystals in it. Will had it to our collection – no wonder the van is getting heavy!! I gave it a wash and scrub with the brush.

He found it near this shaft. The soil is soft so they had to reinforce it with whatever timber was available.

Across from the shafts was where they camped going by the pile of old tins and bottles.

This one was nearly intact – Whyte & Mackay, Glasgow. Will have to google it to see what it contained.

Steve found the old timer’s gold pan – I wonder how many ounces of gold was panned in it.

Back to the van for a cuppa. 28 degrees on the sunny side of the van and 20 degrees in the shade. Finished off the last of the hot cross buns – lovely treat.

Carol has Ray’s cold now so she was resting up while Ray went off exploring.

I wrote up my blog while Steve kept searching for that elusive gold. The wind is picking up again.

Ray came back with a little bit so after lunch we all headed back to his spot. Ray was on the money again – he found 10 cents. I wandered over to a tree and got a target straight away which was a little bit of gold. Unfortunately that was the only bit that was found.

Back to the van for drinks. Will move on tomorrow.

Not as cold tonight.