Fri, 23rd June, 2017 Bush camp, near Meekatharra, WA

7am 12.2 degrees, clear sky.

Still lovely days for detecting – 22 degrees.

Rang Leanne back as she had rung for a chat. They are in Birdsville and are going to volunteer with their friends at the Big Red Bash that is happening out on ‘Big Red’, the big sanddune. Should be about 7000 people coming to the concert etc. They are flying to Fremantle in November then catching a cruise up the coast and around the top and back to Brisbane. If we are in town we will catch up with them as they have two days before the cruise leaves.

Rang Mum and Dad then for a chat. All good there – temperature fine. Val had a fall but all ok – she is amazing.

Jon rang in the arvo – gas question for Steve.

Chilly evening but lovely around the fire. The few clouds in the arvo have gone again.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Thurs, 22nd June, 2017 Bush camp, near Meekatharra, WA

Shortest day of the year. Light rain at midnight – just enough to settle the dust.

7.30am 17 degrees, clear sky in the west but still cloudy in the east.

Windy day but it remained clear so their forecast was out.

Rang Rick and chatted about his surgery. 3 to 6 months recovery and a rethink about his job. Hope everything improves for him now he has had this disc fixed.

Erica rang – they are in Cloncurry again. They found some amethyst but not the deep purple colour. Heading to Normanton to do some fishing with their travelling friends then across to Mt Surprise for some topaz at O’Brien’s Creek. Hope we are still getting about like them when we are their age.

Cold wind came up as we sat around the fire for drinks reminding us of the forecast of chilly nights to come!!

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Wed, 21st June, 2017 Bush camp, near Meekatharra, WA (Anthony’s birthday)

Warmer night – strange as we thought we should be freezing by now!! They are forecasting rain and cold nights for the next week though they have forecast 26 top for today.

Kaylene texted that Rick is in surgery. The doctors decided they needed to take action so there was no time to think which is probably a good thing.

Put the genie on and I did the washing while Steve headed back to the scrapes. Nice strong dry wind which got the sheets and towels dried before I headed over to Steve for a late smoko and then to continue detecting.

David and Majella (we met at Lake Mason last year) texted they were in Sandstone heading to Marble Bar but they didn’t have time to stop and see us as they were meeting a friend up there. Will catch up somewhere.

Text from Kaylene that Rick was out of a long surgery and back in the ward. Will ring tomorrow after they have seen the surgeon. Sent them our love.

Few clouds came over in the afternoon but it was mostly clear again by sunset. Chatted with Sandy about having Anthony – amazing how the years fly by but the memory can bring back the moment as clear as a bell.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Tues, 20th June, 2017 Bush camp, near Meekatharra, WA

7am 12.9 degrees, clear sky. Rang Rick – he is doing ok with the drugs he is on. Looks like a disc is protruding so doctors are discussing what to do next – surgery or rehabilitation.

Steve was talking to Ross so I rang Tuckshop to wish the girls ‘happy holidays’ for next week and to wish Jenny and Rochelle happy birthdays for next week too.

Out detecting. Still lovely days with a top of 24 degrees though it feels a lot hotter with long pants and long sleeved shirt but it keeps the dirt off us. My new boots area great too for kicking the rocks around!!

Rang Dan – he is still waiting to get his new car.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Mon, 19th June, 2017 Bush camp, near Meekatharra, WA

7.30am 12 degrees, clear sky.

Back detecting.

Steve did some plumbing so I started detecting along the road and found a little one.

Perfect temperature for drinks around the fire and we even stayed out for dinner as it was so nice – no wind!!

Charles texted that Rick was in hospital so we rang Kaylene. Poor Rick – his back has had enough. They see the doctors in the morning.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Sun, 18th June, 2017 Bush camp, near Meekatharra, WA

7.30am 12.7 degrees and clear sky. Weigh in day!! Keeps us honest when we hop on the scales once a week though we feel we have lost weight but I think the fat is turning to muscle with all the digging we are doing.

V8s are racing in Darwin. Will have to go online when we are in town with better reception and look at the results etc.

Rang Jess for a chat. Bandit  or Lily had done ‘whoopsie’ on the floor so she was cleaning that up and Jon was washing the dogs as they had walked in it!! Joy!!

Back to camp for lunch. Rang Clive and Rebecca back. They are all set for their trip to the Cape in July in the Tardis.

Back detecting – lots of rubbish on these areas!!

Mel and Sandra (who we met at Marble Bar last year) texted as they are back in Marble Bar. I rang them back for a chat. They said the spinifex has grown so much they couldn’t get to where they were camped last year. Lucky we didn’t go up. They moved to the Port Hedland side of Marble Bar and found a few nice bits of gold. They will let us know if they are heading down this way otherwise we will try and see them in Geraldton later in the year.

Phil (friend of Ross’) arrived after his fishing trip. We met him in Perth in December. We all got a nice feed of fish from him which was so wonderful. Red Emperor and a cod.

Drinks and chat at Tom and Sandie’s tonight with everyone. Ross and Lara told us lots of stories about their roo shooting days.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Sat, 17th June, 2017 Bush camp, near Meekatharra, WA

7am 14.7 degrees, a few clouds about.

Continued detecting.

Clear sky as we enjoyed our drinks and chat around the camp fire. Even spotted three satellites.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.