11 July

Cam and I were up at sunrise to try and find the platypus, but, we think they had a sleep in.

A short drive this morning north (approx 120kms) brought us to tonight's camp at Lake Maraboon, a man made irrigation lake, very much like Lake Eildon and Lake Argile. The caravan park is filled with "Mexicans" who come here for months of the year. We are told, they pull into the park and announce they are home. So many roof top tinnies here, my lot are very envious.

As the water levels are very low, we are able to choose the bush camp option and stay on what would normally be submerged when the lake is full.

Red Claw, a relative of the yabby inhibits this lake. We invest in even more fishing paraphernalia, some opera houses, as you can only use these. Lach walks out the traps.

We are told Barra are currently being caught on sunset, however, none are caught in our camp tonight.

Another relaxing night is spent around the campfire. With the sky so clear and no lights around, or glow from towns, there are so many stars to be found.

12 July

Lach braves the water to collect the traps soon after first light. From 4 traps, we catch 2 red claw, we'll get a taste.

A short drive takes us into Emerald. After fuelling up and getting some fresh supplies, we head west into the Gem Fields, where people come to fossick for sapphires.

We are able to secure a camp spot in the RSL in Sapphire, who offer accommodation at a very reasonable rate for current and ex-military personal and emergency services workers. It's only a small camp, so we are lucky to get in. Within minutes Cam finds some Vets to chat with. They teach him and Lach how to wash the rocks, sort thru them and what to look for, and shows them some of their finds.

We are told at the information centre, there's 5 ways to mine for sapphires: 1. You can go out into the mine areas and dig. 2. Go on a guided fossick (so you also learn what to do and they provide the gear). 3. Buy bags of wash (which is rocks and dirt from a mine) and sieve it. 4. Keep your head down after rain and see if you find any treasures - evidently some luck few have found some big ones like this over the years. 5. You open your wallet!

The boys are keen to buy the wash, the Vets will let them borrow their washing and sieving gear. They tell us the best mines to buy the wash. We head out and explore the townships of Sapphire and Ruby, and to buy some wash. Unfortunately the better mine's wash is already sold by the time we get there, but chatting to the owner of Moniques, we are offered to go into his mine. His mine, is an 18ft hole in the ground, that's less than a meter off his house. The mine goes quite a few meters in a square pattern under his house.

Wild camels and cattle wonder the streets of this town, we need to be on regular watch for them whilst driving.

We enjoy happy hour with the fellow campers, there's people here who are almost neighbours from home, suburbs away and one has a son that lives a couple of streets away from us!

Brad is entertained with the banter and baffle between Army, Navy and Airforce. I've heard it all before, and Lach is starting to hear it from his time with the army cadets.

13 July

Up early to explore the Ruby market and buy some buckets of wash. The market was very small, but the boys bargained to buy 37 4wding DVD's for $15, plus a set of walkie talkies.

Back at the RSL the day flew with gem hunting. The bags of wash produce a few potential treasures for the boys. They had a local jeweller assess them. Cam had four decent finds (Zircons) that were considered cuttable, whilst Lach found 7. We are informed, that many people send their not so valuable gems to Thailand for cutting and polishing. The boys are keen to do this with theirs.