WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER     RUBYVALE

It is my birthday today. John totally forgot about it.

We were up early, and left Rubyvale at 8.30am, to go bowl in Emerald – again! We played pairs and I played against John. We lost badly, but his pair won, so we got lunch vouchers – to be used at the club – for two. Had fish and chips, which were good.

It was very hot out on the green, even in the morning – much dripping of sweat. It is definitely getting hotter, by the day.

After lunch, did some oddments of shopping. Refuelled in Emerald – 65cpl.  Then drove back to Rubyvale. On the highway, close to Anakie, we had to pull right off the road for yet another two wide loads – two halves of a building. It really helps if one meets such things where there is a nice wide shoulder to the road!

Exceedingly wide loads coming!

We drove 130kms today. Were very thankful for the air conditioning in Truck.

We did little for the rest of the day. It was too hot for activity. I did have a swim.

John had egg sandwiches for tea, I had leftover fish cakes.

I phoned K at night and he and P wished me a happy birthday and said they’d celebrate with some cake. At least, someone remembered.

I have had much better birthdays! Much, much better….

TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER     RUBYVALE

We got a reasonably early start and drove out to the Washpool fossicking area. We had cobbled together some gear – using our outside camp table and stand, the portable stove stand, and one of our plastic storage containers. We kind of “borrowed” a screen that was sitting unused on a dug area – but returned it after use!

We assumed this screening implement was left here to mark someone’s spot

At Washpool, we found a honeycomb of holes and diggings and tracks. There were some shacks and camps on claims out there too.

We dug and sieved as we went, rather than stockpiling a big heap. Used the big washup bowl for sieving in. Had taken a container of water out with us. Found a fat nothing.

Washing the finer gravel at the Washpool Fossicking Area

It was impossible for us novices to tell whether we were going over previously dug ground, or even looking where there was a chance of finding anything. It all looks the same! The recent rains have stimulated grass growth, which masks a lot.

We drove back to the van for lunch, then went out again. Still no luck. The only gain from the day was some exercise! It was exceedingly hot work, too.

Very makeshift gear. Very hot work. Very unproductive work.

That evening, the park owner told us to spend no more than one hour in one place, if nothing was found. Wish we’d known that this morning.

I made fish cakes for tea.

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER     RUBYVALE

We had to get up early, in order to be at bowls in Emerald for their 9.30am start. They play in the mornings, so as to avoid the heat later in the day. We miscalculated – it was further to Emerald than we’d thought, somehow – and had to really hurry. But they were late starting, anyway.

It actually seems a bit short sighted, to be heading back in to Emerald, just after moving out to Rubyvale – but never let common sense get in the way of a bowls game!

We were both happy with the games we played. My team drew its game. John’s team came in second, and he won an electrical power board – a practical prize. It was sweaty work, playing.

When we got back to camp, found that JJ had called in here during the morning and left a message to go out to his place tomorrow morning.  Good!

John watched cricket on TV through the afternoon. I read the Sunday paper I’d bought in Emerald.

Later in the afternoon, as it began to cool down, we went for a bike ride – out the Capella road, to the north east. That is the road that runs behind our site. It was a pleasant ride on a gravel road, with very little traffic. The claims, houses and shacks do not extend very far out that road. Rode out for just over 5.5kms, then turned and came back. Did 11.2kms altogether.

Tea was cold roast lamb, with salads.

I phoned K and asked him to send the mail express to here.

THURSDAY 10 DECEMBER     LAKE MARABOON

I finished P’s vest and think it looks good. Whilst in sewing mode, darned a torn shirt of John’s and sewed a button back on another.

R phoned to say she has decided to do an Articles course next year. John is pleased by this decision.

Later in the afternoon, we went for a 10km cycle along the lake edge, It included some rougher tracks. The man from the van next door came too.

There was a brief rain shower about 4.30pm. It was really just a few heavy drops, but enough to cool the air a bit.

Tea was satay chicken and rice.

John’s sister M phoned, in the evening. It is pleasing that some of John’s older siblings can relate to our travels and are interested in same.

TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER     LAKE MARABOON

It was quite hot today – but it is a fairly dry heat.

I spent most of the day doing Xmas cards and letters. Also worked on the knitted vest present.

We have lots of very “friendly” Rainbow Lorikeets visiting our camp

John went off in the Truck, in the afternoon, to try to catch some red claw yabbies in the lake. He managed to back into a tree, down there, and came back quite upset about it. There is a noticeable dent in the upper back on the driver’s side. He said he’d gotten out of Truck and checked to see if it was clear to back. Guess he didn’t look up!

He didn’t catch any yabbies, either.

In the late afternoon, we walked up to the lookout area, for some exercise.

Tea was steak and kidney, with dumplings.