After stopping at Newman for some shopping we had another overnight stop on the Gascoyne River and then travelled into Meekatharra, As the caravan park didn't look to good Brian asked at the fuel station for a free camp and we were directed out of town about 2ks to Peace Gorge and found a great spot by the rocks, very quiet only one other van came in. We were now in gold country!! The next morning we went back into town to the Mines Office and got a Miners Right, $25, which allows us to prospect on crown land as long as no one is currently mining there, he was very helpful and sent us out of town about 30ks to an old mine site and town site. We had the van on the back but the road was ok and we spent the day fossicking around, didn't find anything of interest but enjoyed our day, we headed back into town and back out to Peace Gorge for the night. The weather changed and we had some rain overnight the first rain we have had since we left Atherton Tablelands in June.
The next day Tuesday we drove to Cue and booked in the caravan park, our first night of power since we left Broome about a week ago, good caravan park, very tidy and clean $25 @ night. I hit the laundry with two big loads of washing, haven't done any washing since we left Derby!!
We got info on where to prospect and yesterday travelled out to Big Bell ghost town, only the remains of the Hotel and a few buildings left, it was a town and gold mine in 1936 until 1955. We mostly looked for relics or old coins around the town but mostly found old rusty nails and tin cans, it was lovely out there, lots of wildflowers and we got chatting to another couple who were doing similar to us and they were planning to camp out there, seems there is a ghost or two around the hotel, and they wanted to see if that was true..........
Cue is a very well kept town, green grass in the middle of the highway, the buildings have been well looked after but only the basic services, fuel, supermarket and government office, still a couple of active mines around. Friendly people
Took the van out to an old gold mine out of Meekatharra
Lots of holes in the ground and very unstable
This is the Masonic lodge, built of corrugated iron and timber in 1899
Remains of the Hotel at Big Bell
How it looked in the early years
Had a walk around and this is the front verandah
Inside still some lovely arches left standing
I enjoyed all the wildflowers that were around the town, lovely, must pick up a book and find out all there names
Bentley got a little tired by the end of the day
We will move on tomorrow towards Mt Magnet and Sandstone
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