Sun, 6th July, 2025 Bush camp near Sunset Well (pending lease), near Leonora to Peter Denny Lookout rest area, east of Sandstone, WA

6.7 degrees, clear sky and breeze this morning.

Packed up and headed into Leonora then around to the historic township of Gwalia. Lots of other travellers wandering around the old ‘homes’ of the miners. We have been here a few times so just took a few more photos as we wandered.

Drove up the hill to the free camp area near the Museum and parked. Free to visit this museum but donations appreciated. It is very good and definitely worth the visit if travelling through this area. Checked out the open gold mine pit first - they are underground mining now and are down 2km with more gold further down. Amazing.

We headed up to Hoover House for morning tea. Group photo in front of the big headframe.

Beautiful rose as we headed into the house which was the Mine Manager’s home - Herbert Hoover who went on to be come President of USA.

Found some comfortable chairs and ordered our morning tea, coffee and scones for us. Wandered around inside - beautifully presented. I took lots of photos last time. You can book one of the bedrooms too - very luxurious in old world style. Rick found a nice hunk of gold!

Very efficient service too considering the amount of people here. Perfect coffee and hot too and the scones were yummy.

Wandered through the other two buildings checking out all the displays. Can’t remember if I took photos of this info about the horses in the mine.

The mine shut in 1963 then reopened again in 1983.

In the Assay Office there is a great video presentation by St Barbaras showing the computer drawings of the gold beneath us and the drill holes and results shown so there is still plenty of gold down there. St Barbaras has now been taken over by Genesis in 2023. I got a couple of photos off it to show the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie and the mine here in comparison.

This is where the gold was melted into ingots.

Wandered through all the old machinery etc then the winch room. Passed the old train etc and back into the museum. Lots of read in here which we did previously. The others are enjoying all the history too. I love the artwork done on this old pianola.

Brains overloaded with history we headed back to the cars and headed back into Leonora. Topped up the diesel tanks then headed north into a strong head wind!!

Stopped for a cuppa near the Leinster turn off then continued westward onto the road towards Sandstone. At least we aren’t pushing into the head wind any more.

Pulled into the Peter Denny Lookout rest area and set up near the edge of the escarpment.

Sun starting to drop so we wandered about taking photos.

The boys got the fire going and we chatted over drinks. The wind has settled so it was comfortable by the fire. Spotted satellites and watched the stars come out. Had dinner by the fire too. I was looking west and saw a bright light which then disappeared. I realised I was looking left of the sunset halo like we saw at Nullagine. It was the ‘lights’ again. More appeared so I was able to show the others. Very bright lights here for a few seconds going in a few different directions. So it isn’t just a Pilbara thing. Just needed clear view from a bit of elevation to see them. We watched them for about half hour from 8pm.

Back into the camper, 15 degrees so on with the heater for our showers then a movie.

 

 

 

 

Sat, 5th July, 2025 Bush camp on pending lease, east of Leonora to Bush camp near Sunset Well on pending lease, near Leonora, WA

5.45am I woke up freezing even with the thick Pjs and blankets. The vinyl pop-top allows the cold to seep in. It was 4.7 degrees but felt colder. Forecast said 3 feels like 1.9 at 7.30am. I put the heater on and stayed in bed till it got to 20 degrees to have breakfast.

Clear blue sky so far and no wind as we went wandering.

After a cuppa we packed up and headed back to Leonora. Turned off onto the gravel and into Malcolm Dam for lunch. Cold in the shade but in the sun it is ok as there is no breeze.

Continued along the track then around to Sunset Well area where we have detected before. Has been worked over but you never know. Set up near some shafts.

Rick got his gear out ready to find his first bit.

Only got to 19 degrees today in the camper and it feels colder outside.

We all wandered picking up lots of rubbish - which means no one else has walked over that rubbish so there is hope that some ground hasn’t been detected. I went up the slope where the couple we met last time here had found a nice patch. I found all their dig holes and managed to find one tiny bit. Nothing for anyone else sadly.

Drinks and dinner by the fire as the temp dropped - glad we have our thick Bathurst coats. Mostly clear sky with a band of cloud in the south.

8pm 11 degrees in the camper so on with the heater.

 

 

Fri, 4th July, 2025 Bush camp on pending lease, east of Leonora, WA (Mum’s birthday)

10.2 degrees again. We have our heater to warm us - Rick is in the back of his truck but he says he is comfortable as he likes the cold. Overcast again but it is starting to clear.

Thinking of Mum today on her day of birth.

The wind is cold and blowing as we wandering - we all got exercise.

After a cuppa I rang Margaret as she had sent two photos that didn’t come through. Their neighbours, Cliff & Lorraine are selling so she had heaps of books. They will miss not having them next door. All well at home except it is cold.

Gavin is on the board with a little bit of gold and he found it all by himself. We all have radios but we were back at camp and no one heard him call to say he found it. I gave him a display container to put it in as it is his first piece. No one else has found anything.

Still cold and windy but the sun is shining. It got to 20 degrees in the camper but outside in the wind it feels like 10!

Got the fire going for drinks. The sky is mostly clear so we spotted lots of satellites. There is a half moon at the moment.

The wind settled at 8pm when we headed inside for a shower etc.

 

 

Thurs, 3rd July, 2025 Bush camp on pending lease, east of Leonora to Bush camp on pending lease, east of Leonora, WA

10.3 degrees min, thin cloud. Slept in so it was 14 degrees when we got up so we braved it and didn’t put the heater on!!

Meandered with the others showing Gavin & Donna how to detect. Got a target but it was a lead shot but at least they learnt how to detect then dig it out. I left them to meander and they got another target - another lead shot but at least they have got the idea - just have to find some gold to put the detector over!

Grey clouds are moving across us in a thick band so we packed up after lunch and headed back out to the bitumen then back towards Leonora a bit then into the area we looked at. The rain was light and we made it in to the spot we chose and set up as the rain got a bit heavier. Stayed inside for an hour or so with the wind buffeting then the rain stopped and the sun came out by 3pm. Still a few clouds about when I took our camp photo.

I put dinner in the Ecopot and did our baking - handy to warm up the camper too. The guys went wandering for firewood.

Drinks then dinner by the fire spotting satellites between the clouds.

8pm we headed inside as it was getting a bit nippy! Only 13 degrees in the camper so on with the heater and the HWS for a nice hot shower to warm us up.

 

 

Wed, 2nd July, 2025 Malcolm Dam Reserve, east of Leonora to Bush camp on pending lease, east of Leonora, WA

8.7 degrees min as I got up and noticed the lovely sunrise colours over the water. I put the heater on then I went outside. It wasn’t too bad as there was no wind. Got the camera and watched the ducks and swans on the water as the colours changed and then the sun peeked up on the horizon.

The info board about the dam.

Back inside where it was nice and warm. The chill had just started to get to me outside.

Kaylene is having a nice holiday with her friend Janet - travelling down the coast to Bowen then into the Whitsundays. Glad she is having fun - lots of lovely photos too.

After breakfast we left and continued east to check out a couple of pending leases to take Rick and Co to. They are nearing Laverton so we will meet them on the road somewhere.

Mr and Mrs Bustard were out for a walk today.

Along the main road a bit to the Minara Road turn off and along to another lease which will be ok for Gavin’s van. Back out to the turn off to wait for them to arrive. We had lunch and were just packing up when we saw Rick go by. We called them up and they turned around and came in. Great to see Rick again. Met Rick’s sister, Donna and her husband, Gavin then showed them the way onto the pending lease. Chose our camp spot and set up.

Rick took his detector for a walk - in thongs and shorts but unfortunately only found rubbish.

Warmer afternoon in the sun as there is no wind. Camper got to 27 degrees with windows open.

Chatted the afternoon away then Steve built his fireplace and we chatted more over drinks by the fire. I brought out the laptop and played Len Beadell’s interview about building the road across the inland SA/WA deserts. They were all very interested and will try and get his books to read.

Cooked dinner on the fire and spotted a few stars appearing as the clouds thinned out.

Late night outside for a change, 10pm. It was down to 15 in the camper so it was chillier outside! Hot shower and into bed.