THURSDAY 5 AUGUST     ALICE SPRINGS

This was a busy day. The rain was clearing, which pleased us.

We spent much of the  day packing and moving stuff between the van and Truck. I defrosted the van fridge, turned that off and we put the fridge things we are taking with us, into the Chescold.

Had to go out. for John to use the pre-booked Internet time at the Library. While he was doing that I went to the Post Office and collected a letter from H – another one! I had a print made of the photo of John and me collecting our Mildura bowls trophy, and mailed that off to our bowls club, along with a cheque for our ’99 subs.

Did what I thought was the final shopping for the trip, except that it turned out to be semi-final!

Though we worked all day, it did not seem as bad as when we went through this routine to go up the Cape, last year. But we will not be away for as long, this time. We are only taking the hike tent, as we probably will not be staying long in any one place.

So, instead of the weight of the big tent and its associated poles, we will have the weight of the water that we will need to carry for the desert section. There will also be two jerry cans of diesel, and the second spare wheel, up on the roof rack.

Planning meals has been an interesting exercise. We need food that will keep well, as we only have the Chescold fridge; fresh meat is not an option after the first day or so. I was conscious of trying to keep weight down, but also had to avoid things like pasta that use a lot of water for cooking. It was not easy.

We had prepared a proposed schedule. Took a copy of this to K at VKS base, also mailed a copy to K. Told VKS K that we would try to sched in every afternoon. As an experienced operator and traveller in these parts, he knows that conditions may not always allow us to make contact, though. Instructed K that if we had not phoned him by the 25th of this month, he was to sound the alarm with the Birdsville Police – contact number provided!

VKS K said that the Old Ghan Track to Finke was in pretty bad condition. He’d been down there yesterday, helping Variety Club Bash people through. However, these are usually conventional cars, not 4WD’s. K said he nearly rolled his vehicle in a sand/bulldust area – and he is a very experienced driver. We shall see, but I admit to some apprehension.

Topped up the fuel at the local servo – was 82cpl, but it was too late to drive out to the refinery.

We were very tired by the end of the day and bought fish and chips for tea. Slept very soundly!

TUESDAY 3 AUGUST     ALICE SPRINGS

The day was mostly cloudy, but quite warm. That figures – I buy winter gear and it warms up! But the washing got dry.

Drove into town, firstly to the specialist gem shop. The lady there said that all our biggest and best garnets were too dark to cut. I think they were the ones from the last hole we tried. She kept four of our zircons to show to her husband, who does the cutting. We go back tomorrow for his verdict.

We dropped off a wheel at a tyre place, to have a new tyre put on. One day, out at Gemtree, John had noticed a large split on the side of a tyre, and had changed the wheel. He thinks we probably slit it on a sharp rock on one of the rough tracks. It looks too bad to be repaired, and we do not want a suspect spare, at this stage.

We picked up new clear headlight covers, previously ordered, from the Landrover place.

To the Post Office. The girl behind the counter said there was no mail for us. When we queried this, she said there was only mail for J and W Stocey. She swore she could not have made a mistake and would not do a double check on this. So, apparently, there was no mail for us.

At the chemist, I had a script filled, and bought a couple of bandages to replace those I’d worn on my cut hand, fossicking – which had gone mouldy.

John booked at the Library for Internet access for Thursday.

I broke the buckle on my leather sandals. This leaves me without good sandals, but I think it can be fixed – if I can find a bootmaker.

Collected my photos – was very pleased with them. Lots of good Gemtree ones.

To Coles for food supplies.

Phoned K. He HAD sent the mail, as asked, on 27th. So we went back to the Post Office and asked to see a manager. He checked. Yes – our mail was there. And had been all along. The arrogant little snit we had dealt with earlier was a trainee, he said. I hope I was scathing enough about her unhelpful manner to ensure she got a very strong reprimand!

There was only business type mail, but some of it was tax relevant, so John was able to finish off his tax documentation, ready to send off to the accountant.

I picked in the washing and put it away, then started to put photos in the album, while John was working on the computer.

Tea was sausages, egg, bacon, potato, and – a special treat – icecream!

I phoned K to say we had received the mail.

John phoned R and had a talk with her, and sister H – it is her birthday.

We have decided that we are going to do the circuit trip I have planned, that takes in the Simpson Desert, on our own. We will set up some safeguards. like making sure people know our plans, and we will rely on the HF Radio for communications. I have already found out that the caravan park will store the van; we have looked at their storage area and are happy with its security.

MONDAY 2 AUGUST    ALICE SPRINGS

There were some minute drops of rain early in the morning. It stayed cloudy through the morning, but began to clear in the afternoon.

It was very much a day of odds and ends – which are surprisingly time consuming.

We had a bit of a buying spree in K Mart – mostly some more WINTER clothes! Browsed the newsagent. Put films in for processing.

We drove out of town about 10kms to the south, to the refinery, where we’d been told we could get cheap diesel. It was, too, 74cpl.

Back at camp, I did four loads of washing, which didn’t get dry, so it will have to be hung out again tomorrow. I had intended to start the washing earlier, but the machines were all in use then.

Tea was a chicken stir fry, with rice.

Phoned V. They are staying with friends in Port Hedland; they have needed new springs for the station wagon. They have been to Millstream/ Chichester and Karijini National Parks. They may stay on for a while and work in Hedland – she has been offered work at a roadhouse. They certainly have had no trouble finding work on their trip.

SATURDAY 31 JULY     GEMTREE

John revealed over breakfast that he really wanted to go back to the garnet valley and have a dig at the hole in the creek bed that he’d explored at the end of our last day out there. I was rather expecting this, as he’d seemed to have an attitude that it was unfinished business.

John chatted to the woodman, who said we could borrow a bin top for a sieve. He’d made a new one the other day, when he noticed one gone – and then it had turned up again. John ‘fessed up!

Took  lunch with us and drove out what, by now, is a familiar route.

We dug from 11am till 2.30pm and found several cutters. I looked only for bigger pieces and left chips and obvious non-cutter pieces alone. We have already found enough, so being fussy is a luxury.

The last, and best, area

An Englishman appeared in the gully. His only experience was having done the Gemtree tour. John offered him advice, encouraged him to dig near us. He found some pieces. We suggested that he move into “our” hole, when we finished.

It is hard work

We left mid afternoon, feeling that we really had done it all justice.

This local was curious about our digging activity

There was a surprising amount of traffic on the Plenty, coming towards us. We worked out that locals were heading into Harts Ranges settlement for Saturday night festivities.

Back at Gemtree, John packed up the mining gear and the back of Truck.

I sorted today’s garnets properly – a good haul, it seems.

I made soup – minestrone. Talked with assorted neighbours and visitors.

Tea was soup, then steak, potatoes, onions, pumpkin – all done on the BBQ plate or in the coals. All very nice.

We decided not to go to paddy melon bowls but just have a final quiet night, sitting at the fire, watching the stars and soaking in the bush surrounds for the last time for a while.

Our final Gemtree campfire

FRIDAY 30 JULY     GEMTREE

Last night was definitely much warmer.

Today was another camp-based day, resting the muscles and assorted sore bits.

John made potato bread, and rolls that we ate for lunch.

Bread making morning

I sorted garnets and discarded anything I wasn’t sure would cut. Again, a reject pile was put out into the mulga clumps.

I phoned Alice Springs and booked us in there again.

There was quite a lot of cloud in the afternoon, but it was one of the hottest days we’ve had here – shorts and T-shirt. Nice for a change.

We had pre-dinner drinks with an English couple who are camped near us. They are driving a Defender they have shipped from England. Last year, they drove it from south to north, through Africa. Very adventurous.

I was intending to make soup and had soaked beans for it, but ran out of time to do so, due to going to visit the English camp.

Tea was rissoles and pieces of potato, all cooked on the BBQ plate, and coleslaw. We ate out by the fire, talking with a couple who had arrived today and set up camp nearby – they are from Tasmania.

THURSDAY 29 JULY     GEMTREE

Took a packed lunch and drove back out to the FA9 garnet creek gully again. The track in there is really quite rough. There is a maze of tracks – following the mud map involves quite a bit of guesswork, and I’d find it very difficult to describe to someone else how to find that exact spot.

The track into our garnet fossicking area

We dug at the hole in the upper creek valley and found a few garnets.

As I was finishing off the last couple of sieve lots, John went down the creek a bit further and found a couple of good looking stones from a hole there.

By the time we headed back to camp, we were both really tired. My finger ends are sore and splitting, from dryness, dirt, and spending a lot of time wet. Fortunately, the thumb is healing.

This was not such a successful area

Drove 84kms.

Tea was soup, BBQ chops marinated in lemon juice, garlic and rosemary, potatoes and tomatoes in foil, cooked in the fire.

There was some cloud about today, and the night seems warmer.