Couple of short trip

Well it is amost to start the next trip to SA the only set date we have is the Quorn Brushtracker Muster and we would like to do lake Erye while it is full of water. Since being back at work we have managed to do two trips out prospecting and a day trip with the kids. On the first trip to the Yalgo area which was my first with my new metal detector(mine lab 4500) .After 4 days out there there was no gold but it was great being back out in the bush after a long time. The winter has be very kind to the west with plenty of flowers and bird life.On the second trip me met up with Daral & Juile (bilabong bonkers) and Mick & Vickie (Niknoff) a great 4 days we had even in the rian with a couple nights at the old Big Bell township then onto Lake Nallan But gues who forgot the camera lucky Mick took some realy good shots which can be see on his site (www.niknoff.blogspot.com).

                                                 now theres got to be gold at the end of that rainbow

                              day trip with the grandkids Ellendale Pool

still looking

a hard day back at work

Home from 2010 trip.

We had ten great days catching up with kids and after five months away it was time to head home to our new house which before leaving we had only be in for a month. It was good see the other family members and find out whats been happening around town. We had plenty to keep us busy putting in gardens,building shade houses and catching up with friends.
 After Christmas we did a small trip to visit Vickie's sister Julie and partner Daryl at Broom Hill and then a few weeks traveling though the south west forests.

all the grand kids and nan forsaking through the bags of dirt we brought back from Sapphire.

                                           camped at Julie & Daryl's

relaxing at Lake Poorrarecup

one of the giant Kari trees

don't know what they are but there pretty

                                             sun set on Lake Poorrarecup
Returning home I was asked to skipper the supply boat the Iruss 2 being familiar with the job it was to good to refuse. The run is from Geraldton to Little Rat Island which is part of the Abrolhos group and runs from March until August which suits our travel plans. Having fished for lobster on Little Rat for 24years it was easy to slip back in .

                                           Sun rise at Little Rat fond memories

                                               Little Rat Island

some of the under water neighbours

                                            From the lounge window in the morning

Darwin to Karijini (2010)

Having caught up with every one and having a good look around it was time to start heading home.  I
think if we had to live in a major city Darwin would be my pick.With a stop at Victoria River and then two nights at Lake Argyle it was on to Gibb River Road, where we decided to go into El Questro and one of there private camp sites where we have stayed before.

                                                  Victoria River

                                                  tree marked by the explorer Gregory in 1856

                                                  pool at Lake Argyle Village

                                 some small caves with aboriginal art in side

                                               Zebedee Springs at El Questro

                                                        some where on the Gibb
We had arranged to meet our daughter ,son in law and the four grand kids at Karijini or as it was call when we live in the Pilbara Wittnoom Gorge. It had been a lot of years since we had been to Karijini
and we were amazed how well they have catered for all the tourists . We all had a great time showing the grand kids all the falls as well as a camp over at Millstream then a stay at Samson.

                                            the mob in nan &pops bed

                                                      enjoying Circular pool

   Millstream the first time I was here it was still a working station fond memories of hot scones at morning tea.

                                                      will they let me out??

                                            Crossing Pool

Crossing Pool Camp

Kingfisher to Darwin.

Back on the road and the first stop was Hells gate roadhouse and then just before the Qld NT border we came across a pommy cyclist who was doing it real hard. Why someone would pull that road on on a road racing bike is beyond me but each to his own. We topped up his water and gave him a cold can of coke but his biggest fear was crossing the rivers in case of crocs. So we left him to it and moved on to Borroloola and then Cape Crawford for the night.While at Cape Crawford we met a couple who also had a Bushtracker caravan ,they had been prospecting in WA and showed us their gold there where some nice nuggets which would add up to a tidy sum .

                                                  just out of Hells gate

                                                     crossing the border

                                                 someone who did not make it

Next stop for lunch was the very famous Daly Waters pub where we were served by very friendly euro barmaids its amazing just about every road house and pub has the back packers working and doing a great job. Having one of the best steak sandwiches it was of to Katherine for the night.

                                                          Daly Waters

                                                all the bras at the Daly pub.

                                                     Daly Waters pub

We decided to do Darwin as we had a couple of lots of friends to catch up with.We plan to come to the NT on a future trip and do Mataranka,Kakadu etc. Darwin has the most interesting WW2 history with cyclone Tracy and the multi cultural population there is plenty to see and do.

                                                  Mindle Beach sunset

one of the WW2 canons made of plywood as the original was sold to the Japs for scrap metal!!!!!

what our boys used at the air strips to make it look like we had a lot of guns from the air.

                                           one wing of the B52 bomber well worth a look.

                                  Berry Springs a great place to have a swim.

Karumba to Kingfisher 2010

After Karumba it was time to check out some Aussie history one of my favorite pass times. The story of Burke and Wills is one of the most incredible achievement of its time.

                                                 Burke and Wills monument.

                                                      one of the trees that they left marks on.
We had arranged to meet Vick & Mick (niknoff) long time friends at Gregory River and what a fantastic time we had catching up in such a lovely spot.There was lots of laughs in between floating down the river and lunch at the pub.One little mishap on the way was our first tyre blowout it was all my fault going a little to fast though a river crossing not only a tyre but a rim as well ($400) when we got home.

                                                                    

the camp at Gregory River

the only way to watch Fremantle win a first final(that as far as they went)

                                               the girls enjoying the fast flowing river

It was time to move on the next place being the Adels Grove and Lawn Hill area and on Micks recommendation we stay at Lawn Hill camp ground. It was really starting to warm up by now so we had plenty of swims and a canoe up to the water falls.

                                                      Lawn Hill Gorge

                                                       our own private water hole.

The road to Kingfisher camp is one of the most interesting only 120ks but it took four hours though and along rivers also plenty of things to check out. On arriving at Kingfisher we were told that they were closed for the season but we could take our pick of sites for free. It was a beautifully place with plenty of grass, shady trees and not a sole around ,until about 5oclock and two lots of campers came in and out of the whole camp it was right near us that they stopped .Not only did they kill the moment but had the hide to come of to make sure we where not going run a gen set that night.

                                                        see what I mean.