Wed, 6th Mar, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

8.30am 22 degrees, cold easterly wind, blue sky with high thin cloud. Cool morning for a sleep in – needed to pull up the light blanket and close the windows as the wind was blowing strongly.

Relaxing morning. Did the washing then started a new 750 piece jigsaw of a scene with creek and mountains. I heard a commotion on the verandah and Charlie, the little goanna, had climbed up the screen door and was hanging there. I told him off and he scampered back down.

Rang Tuckshop to say hi to the girls – they are flat out as usual. Had a chat with Rochelle and passed on my hellos to the others. Rochelle said Dot had another car accident, again not her fault. A young drunk driver cleaned her up near Cairns High School and left her with broken ribs etc. I asked her to pass on my good wishes for a speedy recovery.

Just after I hung up I got a message from Lorraine to say Val isn’t good. She is suffering terrible pain with her legs and they have her on morphine and other painkillers. I said I think she has nearly used up her 9 lives. Mum had said how weak she was when she visited her. I hope she doesn’t suffer for too long. I rang Mum and Erica to make sure they know.

Steve fitted the fuel pump back onto the fuel pod. He then tried to see why the alternator is not charging on the old ute as it had just been fixed before we came. He thinks they have the wires connected incorrectly but will leave that to Rob to sort out. We just keep the battery on charge for when we want to use the ute.

The cattle have moved in under the trees near the yards. They have all sat down which is funny as it isn’t a hot day so they should be out grazing.

Lunch, 29 degrees with the sky clearing. The wind has stopped blowing.

Steve headed down to Glens Bore to check the pump and the cattle followed him down. They came for a drink so he had to stand for a while till they had their fill and moved on again – we hate disturbing them when they are drinking. Unfortunately the bore is dry again and the tank is nearly empty so we might have to start carting water to keep this trough full soon.

6pm 31 degrees, clear sky and a nice breeze blowing. Watched the cattle, birds and kangaroos come in for their evening drinks.

Lovely evening.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Tues, 5th Mar, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA (sightseeing)

8am 25 degrees, cool SE wind and overcast.

Headed into Leonora. Stopped at Station Creek to check out the history information and have a cuppa. Shame we had to share it with a thousand flies!!

Lovely big gums everywhere but they are known for dropping their limbs and can be quite dangerous to camp under. The gums indicate water whereas just up there slope there is only low bushes etc.

A branch of another big gum has fallen onto the info boards.

One board is about the gums and the other about the pumping station and wells that provided the water for Leonora since 1907. The trees have grown back well since this photo was taken.

This is one of the old wells with the base for the tank stand beside it.

Nearby is the modern version pumping station (one of 13) with a diesel generator to pump the water into town.

We continued along, passing Mt George where the town’s water tank is.

A new mountain is being created beside one of the mines.

Turned onto Nambi Road and headed north east for a while then turned off and drove 17km  to check out The Terraces. A long ‘break-away’.

Lots of good caves for animals to hide in. A kangaroo came out of the last one.

Checked out the two picnic areas – lots of ‘kaolin’ here.

Looks like some locals have been creating things here.

Continued along the track and up onto the top of the terrace. A creek runs down the side from here – nice looking tree.

Nice view from up here.

Drove back out to Nambi Road then stopped to check out information about a mine and township called Mertondale. All that remains of the town is an old Mulga tree and the bakery ruins.

Merton’s Reward was a very rich gold mine – check out the side of those gold bars on the table. Of course the mine has been reworked. I don’t think it is operational now but the mining signs are still up and it looks like there might be a drill rig over there.

There is a lot of dead cactus around too. Same as the stuff on Tarmoola. I spotted one still alive though the ‘cochineal’ bug is on the bottom so hopefully it will kill it off soon. The cactus is so hardy that if a small living bit hits the ground then it will reshoot.

We continued on past the north end of The Terraces. There were a couple of pending prospecting leases in the middle of a live exploration lease which Ray mentioned he was going to check out. We had a look around and it has lots of salt & pepper ground (quartz and ironstone) so it might be a good spot to detect once we get our 40E to be able to work on the exploration lease. The prospecting leases have heaps of small mine shafts on it so it must have been a fairly good area.

After a cuppa was headed back to Leonora to top up the water tanks etc. Rebecca had tried ringing again but we didn’t have any reception so the message just came through. I rang her back and she was just getting dinner ready. We had a nice chat then we headed up to the Homestead. It is still overcast and windy.

Picked up the fuel pump so Steve can put it back on the fuel pod for the generator. The Main Roads surveyor was there saying goodbye as he is nearly finished marking the new fence line for either side of the Goldfields Highway. It is further away from the road than the original fence. He was told it had to be 100m from the centre line of the road. The government is helping pastoralists to fence main roads to stop the stock wandering onto main roads – big problem around here. The musterers have finished one section.

Headed home. The mine has just graded their haul road – nice and smooth. Here’s an example of cattle on the road – a herd just wandered across in front of us. Will be much safer when the fence goes up though we have seen the cattle jump over the fence when frightened.

Further along we spotted two ‘wild dogs’ by the side of the road. One was the sandy colour of a dingo while the other was a black and white colouring. We are seeing more of them since we haven’t had any rain.

Home again by 6.30pm. Got the BBQ going and Steve cooked up pork chops and vegies on it – yum.

Early showers now as there was no sun to warm the water in the hose and it is a little ‘fresh’ since we only use the cold water.

Nice breeze blowing, 8pm 31 degrees in the van.

Mon, 4th Mar, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

Great sleeping temperature so enjoying some sleep-ins. 8am 29 degrees, blue sky and high thin cloud with gusty SE wind which has just started blowing. There was no wind during the night.

Headed off to do our bore run. Spotted a herd of donkeys and cattle at various water points.

A dingo was near Bulldog Well but dashed off as we approached. He didn’t have any black colouring like the wild dog we saw at St Patricks.

As we drove along the boundary fence we spotted the bright blue wren again – so pretty. This track hasn’t been pushed by the dozer so Steve decided it was time to do some fixing up so a few bushes lost some limbs and he tried to smooth out the creek crossing with his pick – a little smoother!

Steve was cleaning out the trough when I saw the wild dog again but this time in the windmill enclosure – maybe he had rabbit for dinner. He wasn’t worried about Steve at all.

Back home for lunch at 1pm, 36 degrees in van. Nice temperature with the wind blowing.

Gavin arrived, he is heading home from a job in Mt Magnet and decided to drive in and see us. Was nice of him to call and great to be able to catch up again.

We drove back to Glens Bore to redo the wiring for the solar pump there as Steve found some better cable. There was just enough sun to make sure the pump was working again. The cattle are using this water point a lot more but there isn’t enough water in the bore unfortunately – we need some good rain.

I worked on my blog while Steve pottered about. Nice afternoon and evening. Enjoying the drop in temperature.

Sun, 3rd Mar, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

7am 25 degrees, blue sky with fluffy clouds and cool northerly wind. Had to pull the sheet up this morning. What a change!!

The mustering crew arrived to collect some fence panels from the yard and to fix the windmill at Holding Paddock. They came back with news that the cups were worn out which they replaced and it is connected and pumping again. Yeah.

They will start mustering west of us around an old mine dam where cattle have been drinking.

Nice cool morning with the wind changing to a south-easterly. Played a few games of Skipbo before lunch. 33 degrees at midday and the sky is clear now.

Drove out to Holding Paddock to see how the windmill was going – all good but it will take a long time to refill that big tank. The two emus are here again.

Around to St Patricks to collect the trailer pod. Saw the rabbit – not looking very healthy.

Back home and Steve pumped the 2000 litres into our well as it was on low well again. We are trying to keep the two tanks full now ready for when the musterers come.

Steve noticed the trailer has a broken spring so he got to work to repair as best he can – had experience with that. Also the tailgate has broken on the old ute so he is making a new bit to repair that too. He is always fixing something – like to be busy.

Took the pod back to St Patricks. Clouds are building in the west and blocking the sun.

Back home again. Watered the ‘grass’ – well it is looking a bit greener in spots.

Lovely twilight listening to the cattle and galahs around the water trough and watching the kangaroos come in for a drink. The little bats are zooming around too. I had roast chicken and vegies in the cottage oven. A kangaroo came to drink from the goanna bath and he took forever. We didn’t want to move as it would frighten him off. Eventually he had his full and jumped away. I got our dinner out – cooked perfectly – obviously I need a kangaroo timer when I do roasts!!

Nice breeze still blowing when we went to bed so didn’t need a fan. Will need to shower earlier though as the water is not as hot anymore from the hot days, we have only been using the cold water tap.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Sat, 2nd Mar, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

8am 25 degrees, sunny with high clouds about though there are dark clouds to the west.

Rob called in after he checked Holding Paddock’s windmill. He has to get some parts so will come back later and Steve can give him a hand. He said the cattle had water so we don’t have to go out there this morning. He also said he had some rain fall in the way up – I thought I heard thunder.

Steve removed another dead roo from the cattle yard. I heard something banging into the fence rails in the middle of the night – poor thing.

I did an ‘Autumn’ clean of the van and rearranged things in cupboards etc.

Had lunch – very pleasant day, don’t even need a fan as there is a lovely breeze blowing.

Steve got our 1kva generator out and gave it a run – hasn’t been used in a long while. Packed up the truck and headed to Holding Paddock. There was still water in the main trough though the concrete ones were empty. Steve drove the ute pod and I followed, to St Patricks where we hooked up the trailer pod and then left the ute pod there to get some more water from the windmill.

Took the 2000L trailer pod back to Holding Paddock and with the pump we picked up yesterday and our generator we pumped the water into the tank. Hopefully that will keep the cattle happy for a couple of days.

Back to St Patrick’s where Steve spotted another rabbit – we thought there must have only been the one we found dead.

The ‘wild dog’ dingo is back though I think it is a different one to yesterdays – should have brought my camera. He wasn’t worried about us at all. Was trying to get something that was up in one of the trees – must be hungry. As we swapped the ute and trailer he wandered closer and came within a few metres as we hopped in the cars to head back.

4pm 34 degrees, back home. Put the 900L of water from the ute pod down the well as it was showing low well again on the solar pump. The pump has been working more efficiently since Steve changed the impeller.

Ian messaged about watching the Supercars racing in Adelaide so we rang him back. Chatted while the last 10 laps were being run. Steve keeping up to date on the tablet as we don’t have any TV reception here.

Lovely cooler afternoon. Drinks outside watching the cattle and kangaroos come in for drinks too. Dinner etc with nice breeze blowing into the van.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Fri, 1st Mar, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

Turned off the air conditioner in the early hours as it got too cold but then realised how hot was still outside. Kept the windows closed but by 3am had to open the van up and put a fan on.

7.30am 31 degrees, strong south westerly wind and heavy clouds in the west. A couple of drops of rain fell!

Mum and Dad rang to check we were ok as the news said WA was suffering from a terrible heat wave. All good here as today is supposed to only get to 39 which is cool compared to the 45 degrees! They are enjoying a bit cooler weather there with showers of rain so looks like Autumn will be nicer. They had lunch with Val the other day – looking a lot frailer.

Drove back to Holding Paddock to fill up the four troughs – all dry again with cattle standing around waiting for a drink. 10 donkeys ran off as we drove up. A dark cloud passed over us and sprinkled us with a few drops – it had dried off the windscreen before I could put the wipers on.

Brought the ute pod back and Steve filled it using the top tank as there is no sun to be able to pump the water up from the well.

Lost phone reception again for a few hours. It happened the other day too. Maybe there is some maintenance going on with the mines repeater towers.

Washed the sheets – need it after that week of hot weather.

Steve pottered about. I finished my 750 piece jigsaw. 35 degrees, nice south westerly breeze and the sun is shining now.

Kym sent me two of the lightning photos from last Sunday – fabulous.

After lunch we took the pod back to Holding Paddock and topped up the troughs again. Hopefully they won’t be as thirsty now we are in for cooler weather.

Drove down to Leonora and topped up the water tanks in the truck after Steve transferred the water into the caravan. Chatted with a chap who was a cray fisherman near Strahan in Tassie.

Around to the homestead to look for a 240v water pump so we can use our little generator to pump the water directly into the tank so we don’t have to keep going backwards and forwards. Chatted with Rob about what has been happening at 10 Mile. The musterers should be up on Sunday to set up yards and hopefully start the muster as they think there is good rain coming by the end of next week.

Kym and Glen arrived back with the groceries from Kalgoorlie. Loaded ours then joined them for a drink and chat.

Headed home as the sun was setting – lots of heavy clouds about but no more rain.

As we headed down our track we saw a fire just off the road. Someone had driven in as I could see the tyre tracks in the torch light and lit a fire near a bush. Steve cleared around it so it could just burn out. Probably a ‘local’ but no signs of any roo kill or any rubbish left behind so who knows. As long as they don’t venture further down the track to our camp!

All good back home, thank goodness. 8pm 35 degrees. Steve unloaded the truck while I got dinner underway.

After dinner we drove back out the Holding Paddock to check the troughs. Dodged a heap of dump roos who are determined to get run over.

Back home for a cuppa and movie. Much nicer temperature, just needed a fan on low speed to stir the air.

Thurs, 28th Feb, 2019 10 Mile Outcamp, Tarmoola Station, 60km north of Leonora, WA

8am 33 degrees, hot northerly wind and clear sky. Put the air con back on again.

The ute pod filled so we took it back to Holding Paddock and filled the troughs. Continued on to do the bore run – all good, more cattle hanging around the water points. Back to HP where we refilled the empty trough and filled all three concrete troughs. Steve drove the ute around to St Patricks where we pulled the trailer pod out and back the ute in so the windmill could fill it while we take St Patricks pod to Glens Bore to try and fill that bore hole as that tank is only a third full now. More cattle have been using it recently. Boy we could do with some rain. Noticed fresh camel tracks and poo as we headed back to Glens Bore.

Puffy clouds are coming across so Steve can’t get enough power in the solar panels to check if the pump is bringing the water up to the tank. It was playing up before. We left the pod there slowly putting the water down the pipe and headed back home for lunch. Another dead roo in the home yard which Steve removed. Poor things must come in the gate but then can’t figure out how to get out again – not the brightest of animals.

1pm 33 degrees in the van with a/c on and 45 degrees outside. Checked out some more of Sarah’s amazing photos on Facebook. She has having another fabulous experience in Canada, USA and South America. Such a wonderful opportunity for her and she knows how to get the most out of it.

Back to Glens Bore to get the trailer pod (2000 litres) – all the water is down the bore hole. Now to get some sunshine to see if the pump is working – no luck, the clouds are blocking the sun.

Took pod back to St Patricks where the windmill had filled the ute pod (1000 litres). A few cattle were hanging around waiting for a drink. This one only has a small trough so we hope the wind keeps blowing to refill the pod again so the trough stays full. Heaps of little finches and galahs also enjoying the water.

A black, white and brown dingo, which would be called a wild dog now since it is a mixed breed, wandered around from the other side of the old water tank. He stood and looked at us then wandered off. Probably the one who brought down the roos recently.

Back to Holding Paddock with the ute pod full of water. Only a bit of one concrete trough has been drunk so we refilled it and left the ute there.

I have decided roos are definitely dumb animals. If I heard a noise I would hide or run away from it – no roos just run straight towards to the sound. As I was driving back one bounded over the fence in front of me but got hooked up on the wire and smashed to the ground. Luckily it got back up ok then turned around and bounded straight back over the same fence – cleared it safely this time. If it had just turned away from us in the first place it wouldn’t have been hurt.

Back home as the sun disappears behind dark clouds in the west. We have a flock of plovers arrive and they have taken over the verandah – leaving lots of presents too!! Even some 28s have dropped in for a drink from the bird/goanna bath. Everyone is thirsty with this heat. Even the flies are hanging of anything that is cool or moist.

Nice in the van as I worked on my blog.

Steve found the problem with the newer generator. A long skinny bolt that holds the air cleaner onto the engine had worked its way out and went down past the inlet valve and it has broken the cam lifter so that is the end of that generator.

Steve heard some thunder as the dark clouds pass to the south of us. Had our drinks inside in the cool. Tomorrow should be a bit cooler – 39 degree maximum.

7pm we heard drops of rain hit the van roof but it was over before we could go outside and dance in it!

The storm headed south east and we saw some amazing lightning strikes as it left us. Some fabulous ones with big rolls of thunder. Went on for ages. Summer has ended on a high.

It was still so hot outside at bedtime we decided to leave the air conditioner going – a first for us!

NO PHOTOS TODAY.