In search of warmth!

Saturday July 25th

We had planned to be away earlier in the month but a couple of issues delayed us, as a result we’ve used more firewood this year than for a long time.

So, we eventually got away on Wednesday, had a good run round Perth and up onto the Great Northern Hwy with the intention of getting north and, hopefully warmer, without hanging around too much. We work on the principal of getting as far as we can before Roger’s had enough driving and this afternoon we decided on turning off to Piawaning, a place we’ve stayed at before, a free camp in a small township twenty odd ks off the highway. We arrived about 1430 and had time to sit in the sun with a cup of tea before going inside, shutting the door and later turning the diesel heater on.

The nighttime temperatures are still pretty low out in the wheatbelt so we were expecting a chilly night. In fact it wasn’t too bad but we did need the heater on again in the morning.

After a leisurely start we set off with no real idea where we were going to stop that night. We’ve a plan to seek out some of the dams that were constructed to provide water for the iron ore trains that criss crossed this area in the first half of the 20th century. We found one very nice one last year and will go back probably sometime on this trip. One we’ve looked at is called Caron Dam Reserve and we decide to go and look at it even though it’s not on the direct route north. It is easy to find and we have a look round. It is probably popular for accessing the wildflowers. There’s not really room for a caravan overnight but we decide to stop for lunch.

The dam was dug manually using horse drays to cart the soil dug out by hand. The water was / is used locally and the dam was modified by digging down to a rock base and a concrete seal cast round the bottom. It has also been covered in corrugated iron. However, some of the original work on the inflow can still be seen.

Roger’s finger was not part of the original construction!

After lunch we decided that we would go back to Wararga Dam, the one we found last year because we would be late getting to the next camping spot. There was still a lot of water around but we had the place to ourselves and picked a nice spot out of the wind. After a cup of tea Roger decided to try putting the yabby net in although we realised it might be a bit cold. Another van turned up later but there was plenty of room. In the morning the yabby net had a very good catch, much better than last time. Now they need cooking, cleaning and eating.

Roger was still not 100% happy with the caravan battery so we stopped in Mount Magnet to see if there was any support but nothing of real use.

We decided on a caravan park so that we could plug into to check everything out. We rang the caravan park in Cue, where we’ve stayed before and they had a space for us. So, Friday night found us happily ensconced in Cue. This is an old mining town with a lot of history with the mines initially Day Dawn and then Big Bell. One of our BT travelling companion’s father used to work at Big Bell many years ago and Barry was born and went to school there until he was nine.

The town is proud of its history and has tried to restore some of the more prestigious buildings.

The Old Gaol and artifacts. Also a typical steel silhouette scene.

Sadly, although some of the buildings have been restored many of them have died. There are only around 200 residents in Cue now as opposed to some 10,000 around the turn of the 20th century. Some of the shop fronts have been kept up but most are pretty sad. Last time we visited there was a grocer’s shop but alas no more.

As you can see the original use for these shops represented the very varied requirements of this mining town.

These little ‘cottages’ were recovered from Big Bell where they were used to house nurses and other service people. They were removed to town (currently on the caravan park) originally for the use of mine retirees.

They are currently for hire at $90 per night!

Monday 27^th July

We had a leisurely departure from Cue this morning and a very easy run up to Meekatharra.   We had been warned that there were roadworks for the full 100ks but there was only a short section being worked on although they clearly intend to do all the way.

We have been here many times and did a bit of shopping in town before heading out to one of our favourite camping sites at Peace Gorge.     We will probably stay here for a few days.

We had only just arrive when we were accosted by a loud claxon noise which took us by surprise even though we had been warned that is was going to happen.   The idea is that it’s a official warning transmitted to everyone’s mobile for us in an Emergency, such as bush fires, floods, etc.    Of course, it doesn’t currently work with land lines!!

Anyway, we got settled in and after lunch got to sit out in the sun, Roger actually put his shorts on!

We have had a restful couple of days here and will move on tomorrow and will take a look at an old favourite Bilyuin Pool and hope that it has some water in it this time.

This is a lovely spot and is usually pretty quiet as it has been this time.

Thursday 30th July

Moved off this morning. Topped up with water in Meekatharra before heading further up the highway.

We decided to drop in and take a look at Bilyuin Pool a place we used to stay at quite often but for the past two or three years there has been virtually no water in the pool. We’re not sure whether this is due to low rainfalls or the mine sites water bore a kilometre away.

Anyway, yes, there is water in the pool at the moment so we decided to stay for a couple of nights. Bilyuin is only about 80ks from Meekatharra, so it was a fairly leisurely drive.

We will now stay here for a couple of nights. The days are nice but the nights are still cold and the wind chill factor is still having an effect.

We’ve just been lazing around here really, going for walks, doing crosswords, sudoku, etc.

Sunday 2nd August

Yesterday we were in contact with friends who we have travelled with in the past and have provisionally set up a meeting up at the end of the month. We will also meet two other friends at the same point so there may be three vans travelling back to Perth, hopefully down through the Murchison.

Yesterday we arrived a place called Hidden Gem, no idea how it got this name, it’s not hidden and so far we’ve not seen any gems! We need to go into Newman to do some shopping tomorrow and then think about where we’ll head for next!