
Group of Miners wives and Willie and Neil chatting with tea and pumpkin scones.
June 14 Wednesday morning, we used our little shower in the camper, and cleaned up a bit. Our plan was to see a few miners today as well. Pulling up to the yard, were 3 miners and one wife heading off to their mines for a days work. Steve knew them from last year, and we made plans for a 1:00PM rendezvous at their camp…they promised us wood fired homemade scones. Meanwhile, we looked at parcels that miners brought over. Some phone calls had been made the day before for this arrangement. Dar checked e-mails and then a walk about to the P.O. and the airport. Lunch was fixed in the camper. One o’clock came and we followed Willie and Neil over to the miner’s camp. And, as promised, hot buttered pumpkin scones were served, off of the wood fired stove in the middle of the camp. I took some pictures of the primitive and yet so efficiently run camp, along with the birds that delighted me. Soon the ladies of the camp (not of the evening), offered a walk about tour of the area, complete with a photo-op of kangaroos resting (as daytime is their resting time) on old mullock heaps (mine dumps). However, they did stand up for us, pose a bit, and then hopped off to a less disturbed area to complete their rest. I really think they were noodling for opal. While we hiked around exploring old mining sites and holes, we came upon another resident who had been given (some time ago) a little piglet to fatten up for Christmas. Well, since that time, Christmas (now the hog’s name and a thankful pet) has grown up and hangs out at the mud hole just outside the camp, on a leash. We took some photos of the nearby historic Richards Hill opal mining field and talked a bit…the wild boar showed us his tusks and we enjoyed our time with the resident “pet”? We understand from the story that one-day when Christmas was a bit younger, and resting in the mud hole, the two neighborhood goats came along, one of whom thought the best resting spot for her, was on top of Christmas. Christmas did not evidently mind too much and the goats and pig are best mates.
Upon returning to camp, Steve looked at opals, while Dar enjoyed watching the 3 different kinds of green parrots as they came in and fed, as well as the mature and juvenile honeyeaters. Soon a top crested pigeon joined the group…and lastly the large galahs arrived. Peter needed a guitar turned, and Dar took care of that for him. We had thought about going out to eat, the group of 9. But there are 3 places that might have a meal….none of them could accommodate us tonight. So, Lorraine and Joan kicked it in high gear and began fixing a meal…some in the campfire, and the balance on the wood stove. As it cooked, the ladies, all 4, began a rebel rousing game of cards, “Ping”. Nightfall was creeping up on us, the card table was getting dark, so the guys got the lights going (via the generator…the genny) so cards and loud giggling could continue. Before we knew it, dinner was ready…campfire roasted corned beef, accompanied by potatoes, white sauce, pumpkin, green beans, and cabbage/peanut dish. Dessert of baked apples/custard/and ice cream followed the scrumptious meal. There is not a restaurant that could hold a candle to this feast. Good conversation, friends from another camp, and the campfire kept us there for a couple more hours. Occasionally, we would hear a trumpet sound (a neighbor was announcing a score from a Queensland/New South Wales rugby game that was been announced over his radio). Each time a trumpet sounded, Queensland had scored. We went home to the camper, tired, well fed, and happy!