Our W.A.trip for 2014.

Cadian wrote:Hi Jen,
I notice you have your dog with you, but I haven't been game enough to take our dogs in the past because I have heard that dogs are not allowed on leases.
Have you experienced this in the past,I know the dog is wearing a muzzle because of baits, or is this a proviso for stock protection.

Cheers Dave  

Hi Dave

We haven't had problems yet.. With the pastoral leases.. They usually tell us to be careful if we have dogs..
We don't let them run a stray.. They are either in the car or caravan.. Or we take them for a toilet walk.. Then back in the van, or car..
Roxy wears a muzzle because of the baits.. One day my son felt sorry for her, about four years ago now.. I think   having to wear the muzzle all the time. He had taken her for a walk without her muzzle
By five in the morning she was screaming, she was inside the caravan..the guys put her on a chain.. Nick the pom was with us..
Between him and my son they had trouble holding her.. If she wasn't on a chain.. She would have taken off from the pain..
Her heart stopped three times.. After what seemed like hours.. But was about two, and she was still alive, and sort of coming good... She was a fighter.. We Took her to the vet.. Which was over 100ks away..They said they could do nothing for her, there is NO cure...
Well she was still alive, even after two hours of screaming.. Never heard a dog scream like that... Never want to hear it again either...
so we said put her on a drip or whatever you need to do..
When we came back late that day to pick her up.. She was all covered up in a blanket with a heater on in front of her.. They fell in love with her as well.. The vet also said she must have only recieved a mild dose of the bait.. Other wise she wouldn't have survived..
Anyway hard lesson learnt..
Don't feel sorry for them having to wear a muzzle.. Those baits are a cruel death!!
This is now her sixth trip over.. We can't leave her behind, she would fret for the young fellow.. Plus we have no one to look after her..
I have a foxie.. She wears her muzzle all the time when outside as well.. It's also her sixth trip.. As soon as she hears the car keys rattle, she knows we are going in the car, and doesn't want to miss out.. Same thing, no one to leave her with for 6 months..
We don't let them roam around camp without their muzzles either...
Just don't know where a bait may be laying..

Cams 4500 wrote:Looks like a hoot and the gold isn't hiding  
I assume you are not part of a tour and just a group that have gone over there.  That's what I would like to do next year.  Nearly went on a tour this year but didn't happen.

Hi Cams
No we aren't on a tour...
We did go on one for our very first trip over...
Had no idea of where to go, or what ground to look in..   

Thanks Jen. Very informative, we have two dogs as you may remember from the possum gully get together,we have a collie and a cavalier.I was not sure whether to take them over with us this trip.I see the weather is getting better where you are,We will be over there in about five weeks, will be starting just outside Kalgoorlie then moving on to Laverton so I am hoping the weather holds up.   
Cheers Dave.  

Hi Dave .
I sure do remember your dogs.. They were sooo fluffy and clean..

Just make sure you get muzzles for them.. And don't feel sorry for them when they are trying to get them off..
When they eat bait, it will make you wish you never came over, you feel that crappy!! You just want to go home.. We lost one of our dogs.. It was our first trip over... It's heart breaking..  
Even around camp.. There could be a bait laying about..
Don't know what they look like.. Been told different things...

Have a safe trip over...
The weather... Warm. Dry.. Just awesome.. Compared to back home.. Chills running through me just thinking about it.. Brrrr

Found "Monty's" lonely grave a couple of k's North of Eucalyptus last month, obviously a much loved pet, his owners must have returned this year because there was a freshly planted bottle brush next to his food and water bowls.

Thanks Jen, I think I will leave the dogs home this trip they will not like being tied up all day,they can stay home with our son.Thanks to everyone for your comments.
Cheers Dave. 

Cadian wrote:Thanks Jen, I think I will leave the dogs home this trip they  will not like being tied up all day,they can stay home with our son.Thanks to everyone for your comments.
Cheers Dave. 

Smart move Dave   

I know you will both miss them, but at least you can have a worry free time while over in W.A..
I am looking forward to seeing all those lovely nuggets you are going to find in the members find..   
Wish you all the best,

Well... I will keep   

Nightjar wrote:Found "Monty's" lonely grave a couple of k's North of Eucalyptus last month, obviously a much loved pet, his owners must have returned this year because there was a freshly planted bottle brush next to his food and water bowls.

We have found the odd graves on our travels as well.. It's really sad...  

Hi Jen & Mike, Love reading about your trip!!  I would love to be over that way!!  Good luck out there and stay safe.

Annie 

Thankyou Annie... We will.. 

Hi all.  

Not a lot to report..
We are on the move..
Time to do a top up..
Then we plan to go even further in to the never never's   

At a guess.. And there are six of us all up.. There was about 8ounces found.. Roughly...  
Not bad huh?

Hopefully the next place might have more...  Then again it might not. 

Hello to you folk from Rome (Mike, Mike and Jen),   

Yes that's that place in Italy.

Sorry Jen for no photos from UK yet, but have been a bit under the pump and only have phone for camera. Problem is I have not been able to operate my laptop on net from where I've been but should be OK when head back up to the North Sea area near Aberdeen in Scotland next week. Just a brief message to wish you all well on your continuing escapade over there and hope Mike is on the mend.

Stuck here for a few more days as the dreaded gypsies made off with my wallet including cards, drivers licence etc. Luckily not my passport.

Took a photo of the equivalent Nullabor fuel stop in Rome which reminded me of where I'm headed in a few weeks as soon as I get back home. I will try to upload it for you ASAP.

Regards to all,

Bernie
Determined1

Passed a temp sign today which said 41 degrees C. Reckon it was more like 38 in reality, but still pretty warm

Oh Bernie
That's not good to hear about your wallet and things   

Hope the rest of your holiday goes much better..  
No pressure for the pictures..

Ok all..
Not much to report on the gold finds.... NO gold   

Spent a night not far from this sign. Due to the rain.. And no we didn't go and have a play..   



Finally found a camp spot



Our meat pie, which John helped with.. Made on the open fire in our big black camp oven   

Jen and Mike,you are living the dream   Great story and pics,with some nice gold too   

Thank you Jen for your kind comments on my finds   

That pic of your meat pie looks suspiciously like a "Fray Bentos" Steak & Kidney? They are bloody amazing aren't they? Only wish they were twice as big!   

Good luck on the rest of your trip,and hope there's lots more gold comin' your way   

Cheers..Dave

Hi Sharkbait.. Yes that's what sort of pie it's is..  
They need more meat for sure..

Hi everyone..
Not a lot to report..
Gold is a bit thin where we are..

Home made handle..


It's amazing what our son can make up when he has too..
It happened while away from camp as well..

Our group has shrunk to just four of us now..

Narrawa and Rainbow have moved on now.. Good luck guys..

Hi Jen , Mike and Mick ,

Thanks for putting up the pics - I just gaze at them and think to myself - ahhh the memories   
As for Mick .... not just a boilermaker obviously , impressive bit of wood crafting skills there bro !!   Definitely someone you would want by your side if you were stuck out bush ,,,

The ole fella is still in Tibooburra and has only found one small piece - but we know why don't we ...           

Good luck guys and gal ...

Regards
Glen

Thanks All for your great comments and replies. Well we have moved camp again today, after spending yesterday in Kalgoorlie restocking with supplies, water and washing clothes. The gold has been pretty slow coming the last few days and that's why we decided to move camp. We will have to take some pics of this area and then post them here as it is a very nice spot. We are on a largish hill and overlooking some very nice looking country.

G'day Glen, yes young Mick had a text message from him the other day he said he also has found an old coin    a German coin I think. Young Mick is pretty handy to have around that's for sure.

Thanks again All and will try to keep you all updated as we go.

Hi Gullyhunter

Wish you could be here with us..

Yep the young fella can be mighty handy at times..
Always willing to help out where he can as well..

He has a new handle, brought one without the green button..
Boy the handles with the green button runs into a few $$$$.

He hears from the ole fella now and again..
Know what you mean   
Thought he might make his way over to us..  

We have a great view of the country side.
Very high up, that's why the Internet works a treat   
Also beautiful blue sky's, with a hint of cloud.

Jen and Mike thanks for all your posts loving everything about the trip. Sounds like muzzles should become SOP wherever you are in Australia.

Ian

Thanks Ian.. Yep dogs need to wear their muzzles over here while out doing their nature walk   

Also been told to be careful, there are a few wild dogs about..
So the baits are still being laid.. Station manager told us..

Well not much was happening in the way of gold in that great camp spot...
Oh what a view we had there.. Ah well.. It's the gold we are after I guess..   

So it was decided to move on..   

So off we went.. Gee these roads are rough! Big rocks everywhere..  

Traveled a fair way along the dirt road, leader yells out on the radio, going to pull over for a break..

Yeah right!  I thought.  
Smoke break.. ( sorry to those who smoke )

Anyway once we pulled in off the dirt road, onto more dirt.

Get out walk to the caravan, something looks funny, it's leaning over a bit too far, has Mike parked the wheel in a ditch..
Nope!! And then I see it   

Crap!!! Yet another flat tyre...  

With the help of the other two..
Mike started to... Well try and remove the tyre.
Boy it took all three of them over an hour to get the damn tyre off the van.. Stuck on good it was!!
Twisted the extension bar socket... From trying to loosen the wheel nuts..

Thanks John.. You didn't know your own strength..  

So it was well after lunch time...by the time they finally had the spare tyre on..

I guess it's all part of the adventure over here..

Then after lunch we had a look about and thought why not have a swing, ground looks good..
 
The three guys came back with some gold. Between them they had seven bits for just over 29 grams in a very short time..
Might stay a spell    

Sorry no pics yet..

Hi everyone  

They sure had a lot of rain over here this year..
This is one of the roads that is still closed,  the pastoral manager reckons it will still be closed until Christmas...




Mike went Down a very interesting creek, came back with this Crucible..
Was Washed up on the side of the creek..
He said "wish I had found all the gold that had been in it as well"   

It sure is a beauty.. Would have held a fair amount of gold in it..


Come across a lot of this as we traveled through..



Reminded Mike of his first car..  


Oh!    Gold.. Guess that's what you all want to know about  
Before we moved camp, everyone found gold..  Just over an ounce, or more..  
It was hard work..
Find a lot of this stuff..

So
We then decided to moved camp yesterday, so far our son has found half an ounce in bits..
Mike found five bits, 2.97 grams.
Also a few more tektites as well..   

A nice warm fire to heat you all up...

Thanks for the update Jen, very interesting as always. cheers Pete.  

Great report and great photo's Jen, thanks for the up date. With all the rain over there and roads closed, you haven't got your selves closed in because of the conditions of the roads.??? I see there is lots of junk around. Are they from old times camps?? Love the country that you are detecting in, but you can see that it would be very easy to get lost out there. Anyway guys stay safe and have fun.
Wombat.  

All that water was from the last lot of rain they received before we arrived..

No we aren't stuck in here,   we asked at the station if it was possible to get out to a certain place on the station.
And we were given the go ahead.. They have pushed tracks in to go around the lakes, that have taken over some of the tracks.. The main entrance to the public road is still blocked off.. So really no big trucks can get through..
JUNK!  Junk! Hmmmm well it's a bit of both... New and old junk!  It's always nice to find gold where there isn't a lot of trash    so you know every signal is gunna be gold..   
But that's not always the way   

Yes! Very easy to get lost out here.. Must have a radio and gps before going walk about..
It's funny country.. Walk through a few bushes, zig and zag, then you think   

Where's camp? Can't see it any more..  What's more funny is... You really know in which direction camp is, but then you start to doubt yourself.. But knowing camp has been marked on the gps, you feel fine, and walk straight back..
So we always make sure we have our gps's with us, even when we aren't going out for a detect..

Curiosity always makes us walk further than we plan to..   

It's a beautiful sunny day today..   Top of 22c... Ahhhh lovely.. The sun on ones back.. 

P.s forgot to mention......the gold is coming out of the ground as well..   
Young fella has a good ounce from here now.

Jen58 wrote:  ..

It's a beautiful sunny day today..   Top of 22c... Ahhhh lovely.. The sun on ones back..  

Geeez Jen, rub it in why don't ya!      

Hi Jen & Mike,  I like reading about your trip.  It does look very wet over there.  

With the flat tyre on the van, we find we have to watch them when they rotate the tyres as the put the nuts back on with a rattle gun ... on really tight and then torque them !! We have had to get them to 'back' the nuts off then torque them correctly.  One friend had the van wheels nuts put on so tight they had stretched the bolt and it snapped off!!

Hope you have good luck out there.


Cheers
Annie

Great adventures there Mike and Jen, sure love reading about them....would sure love to be part of them too one day...
Best wishes

shiraz wrote:

Jen58 wrote:  ..

It's a beautiful sunny day today..   Top of 22c... Ahhhh lovely.. The sun on ones back..  

Geeez Jen, rub it in why don't ya!      

Hey Shiraz! Is that you whacking me on the back of the head in the picture..
I don't blame you
     

Hehe.   That's why we come over here.  
Not a grey cloud in the sky...

         

--------------------------
Hi Annie

It's only wet where the land has turned into lakes.. Well where the lakes expanded.. Never seen the salt lakes this full.. Must be a sight to see in their wet season over here.
Also the low lying areas of some parts of the roads are still damp..

Since we have been over here, it has only rained/drizzled one day.
The rest of the ground is dry..
Only one thing though.

   if it was to rain fairly heavy, we would be stuck for a while..
So it's another must have items.. Plenty of food and water!

Your so right there Annie
They did the studs up way to tight..
It took all three guys to get that flat off our van..    

---------------------------------------------
CostaDee!
Thankyou, glad you are enjoying our adventure..
Yes... You will have to come on over..
Just hook up your van and jump in your car and your on your wayyyyyy 

There's room in our camp for you ..Con..

Hi there Jen and Mike,

Seems like you have been going along quite nicely whilst I was away.

Got back Wednesday morning and leave for Perth tomorrow. Should be back to Kalgoorlie by Wednesday week to try my luck. Hope you have left a just a little bit for the late arrivals.     

Sorry did not upload any pics while away    , but here is a couple to give you an idea of life a long way up North. They don't give you any idea of just how busy it is over there with the exception of Pennan where life is very quiet indeed.

View across the Thames from base of the London Eye.



Some of the reading material for co pilot of Concorde.



Fuel Stop in Rome.



A home in Pennan Scotland where the movie  Local Hero was filmed. North Sea in background.



A older house in the village in England where we were based.

Thankyou for the pictures..
They are great..

Plenty of gold left for you.   if you can find it..  
That's the hard part..

Have a safe trip over..

Hi everyone
Well we are sitting on a very big hill.. to get the net working..

Not finding a lot of gold, just the odd bit..

Sad to say John ( nuggettseeker ) has had to head back home..  
He might even make it back home today..he left a few days ago..
Hope you had a safe trip John..

The camp is very quiet without you now..   
It was great having you with us.. Always helping out.. Getting plenty of wood for the camp cooking..  

The campfire was always going by the time we got out of bed   ( Mike and I )   
And boy! what a great cook you are..
It was a real pleasure having you with us.. We are going to miss your sense of humor as well..   

John hasn't worked out how to upload pics yet, so he asked us to do it..
John's gold
58 pieces plus a specie .. On his last day he managed to find two more small bits.. Which aren't in the picture



Well done John    you worked very hard for those bits!

   silly me forgot to put total weight..
Just over 3 ounces..

Hi all.  Arrived home this morning from W.A where i spent an awesome 8 weeks detecting drinking and eating with some great people. Even managed to find 95.4gms in nuggets and a 13.2 and 88.3grm species.
Will do a s.g test when cleaned up.Keep you posted.
I left camp at 6.45 Friday morning, was going Thursday morning but was a bit grumpy cause i had a **** day Wednesday and didn't feel ready to go. That's partly because of the day before and partly Mike,Jenn and Mike Jnr's fault cause they made me so welcome and part of the crew that i found it hard to leave. I have got to say that Mike jnr's skills with the detector and reading the ground is very, very good and does not mind giving tips and help with fine tuning settings. Thanks heaps mate.Just as well i stayed as i picked up 4 nugs for 11 gms and a 13.5 specie. Drove on to Kal about 90 Ks fueled up a quick shop and off, topped up fuel at Norseman, can drive through to Ceduna without a top up for the Troopy. Drove to Border Village arrived about 6.30 cooked some tea,changed the time to Victorian time 7.30 turned to 9.30 of to sleep. Bugger 1.30 awake toss and turn for 1/2 hr, get up make coffee, bloody hell strong brew. Ready to hit the road 2.30
Arrive at Murray Bridge 8.30pm. Have a cuppa, tea not coffee, watch a episode of Mrs. Browns boy's. Thank's Jenn. go to sleep. Awake at bloody midnight make a cup coffee hit the road arrive in Terang at 10.15am. I had plenty of breaks and snoozes along the way. I don't try to push through that tired period, as soon as i start feeling tired i start looking for spot to pull up for a break or a snooze. No good having a great trip and arriving d.o.a.
Anyway all's good and once again THANK'S to Jenn,Mike and Mike jnr. for letting me tag along when my own plans went up the creek. Look forward to catching up when you get back.Wishing you all the luck a prospector and a sleeper in could wish for.

Cheer's John