With Rocky fully repaired and ready for action, we were keen to return to Armidale and get camping. It was time to also get fossicking again. Before the week was out, I learnt a much easier way to fossick...
But some things are more important, like friends and nice beaches. So after a short stopover with Jo's parents in Caloundra (thank you again for your wonderful hospitality), we diverted to the magical town of Byron Bay. We were all looking forward to catching up with some dear friends - and a dip in the beautiful water was a bonus.
The weather was absolutely perfect, and we spent ages splashing about in the waves. You can see why this is such a popular place with tourists, and jealously guarded by the locals.
We came back to Armidale to a repaired Amarok. The dealer in Tamworth had replaced the CV boot and the air conditioner compressor. Shane from Opposite Lock had picked up Rocky to replace our broken shock absorber. Mum and Dad had then picked up Rocky and brought it back to their place. I was really impressed with the team from Opposite Lock in Tamworth - who were extremely easy to deal with over the phone, and would happily recommend them.
Our only outstanding issue was the Matilda's trailer brakes. I had picked up a new set of shoes on our way south - so it was now time to fit them... and this time I hardly got my hands dirty with two keen apprentices!
I figured it was also a good time to replace the wheel bearings and before long everything seemed to be back in its right place.
Both apprentices had a go - and it was much more pleasant doing it in the comfort of Dad's carport than on the side of the Tanami Track in 35+ degree sunshine!
With the shoes installed and tested - it was now time to rearrange all our camping gear and repack. Having lived out of bags for the past few weeks, it felt like home, unpacking into our wire baskets that lived under the bed! The Little Fisherman filled Matilda's tank with 120 litres of pure rain water. We filled the pantry, fridges and before long, we were ready in all respects to commence camping. We just had to work out where to go.
Our original plan had been to head from Mackay to Sapphire to fossick for Sapphires. This went out the window with Rocky's little hiccup. But just down the road from Armidale is Inverell, where you can also fossick for the beautiful gem. So away we went.
It turns out October is Inverell's Gem Festival month, and we stopped at the Inverell Lapidary Club Open Day as we came into town. David from the Lapidary club was a wealth of information, not only on where to find the gems, but also how to tumble and cut stones and crystals of all types.
It was all good information - but first we had to check out the Transport Museum... and there Jo found the ride of her dreams!
The old AEC double decker bus was restored in fine running order - just the thing to convert into a motor home! My darling wife has the idea that the top deck could be converted into a bedroom and sunset cocktail deck. Indeed we have come close to purchasing the odd double decker bus in the past... thankfully coming to our senses before committing to buy. Perhaps the only redeeming feature of this bus is that the driver sits in their own compartment, blissfully ignorant of the passenger's complaints or directions... hmmmm.
Before long we had caught up with my parents who had decided to join us for a couple of nights. We chose to camp at a private property - 7 Oaks, a short distance out of town. We arrived to find the camping brilliant and the fossicking even better!
Peter from 7 Oaks made us feel right at home. Or was that Jo was able to find the comfy moon chair again?
Peter had made the fossicking as easy as possible. Normally I dig buckets of dirt for the kids to wash and sieve. Jo has the sharp eyes that find our precious gems. There is a fair amount of pressure in keeping dirt up to the eager washer boys... But Peter had solved this problem.
With all the washing and sieving equipment located near the camp ground, Peter used an excavator to dig the gravel and bring it to the one central location. It meat that he could manage which dirt was being overturned on his property, and I was ecstatic that all I had to do was scoop dirt from the pile into buckets for the kids to wash. In fact, they could do it all by themselves, meaning I could go and sit next to Jo by the fire.
And it was wonderful. The Little Fisherman in particular got right into it, and at one point he had several buckets and sieves on the go at once. We found many small sapphire fragments, and one or two lumps big enough to cut. But it was great fun, and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
We then decided to try out a couple of the other places recommended by locals, only to find that not all hot tips work out. But some do, and standing near the waste discharge chute at Tingha Sands, we were extremely pleased with a nice lump of smokey quartz that landed at our feet. If this was fossicking, then it was working out nicely for me!
Our final camp in Inverell was at Copeton Dam. We followed another hot tip, and found a ridge of quartz crystal. The boys suddenly worked out that digging is hard work, and decided after a short amount of effort that they would much rather a swim at camp. I agreed.
This massive dam was at a low 22%, but there was plenty of water for a refreshing swim.
The following morning we split up, my parents returning home, whilst we continued our journey west. We really enjoyed their company - even teaching them a few new games like Bananagrams, But we were also looking forward to spending a bit of time just as a family - and the next few days didn't disappoint.
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