Trip down Balladonia way in WA

Hi guys,

Just got back from a magic 8 day trip to the area south of Balladonia.

An old prospector took three of us to show various things on the way including rock holes, gnamma holes, breakaways, homestead ruins and other such things he found over the years.

What a character, he is 80 years old and is tough and wiry in build. You would think he was about 55; he still drives his 4Wd. No dottery speeds for him, at times he was doing 110 kph along the highway, and he is as sharp as a tack. He did some gold panning and just couldn’t pass any likely spot without having a go.

Around the camp fire he shared many stores. He told us about Pigweed Harry who when he was short of water would eat pig weed. And about the Charlie the Goose, who when he knew he was being followed back to his gold prospect, dismantled his cart at night at the start of a rocky patch carried it across and away from the rock, reassembled it again and continued leaving the followers scratching their heads in the morning. He also told us of numerous other characters that lived on the goldfields.

His meals consisted of a small can of fruit for breaky, a can of sardines for lunch and tea was a piece of steak. No vegies. One night I cooked a damper, all he ate was damper with a cuppa. Maybe this frugal diet has kept him fit and young at heart.

We came across one of his mates on the track, he is a dogger. The conversation and the places and the people they mentioned was just magic to listen to and enjoy.

Whilst I saw new places in the bush, I learnt much about being a bushie and how the old blokes thought.

He is a true blue Aussie, a character of the bush and may he live forever.

Cheers

Phil