Rubyvale

Today we visited the gem town of Rubyvale.   With thanks to our friend Andrew Steele, who recommended we visit a chap at a place called Moniques Mine.  We did, and had a very enjoyable morning chatting to him about his venture and doing some fossicking of our own.   We bought a bucket of spoils (sand/rock) for $15 and then had a lesson in how to sift & wash this stuff to find those precious stones.   As sapphires are not only blue but are also green & yellow and other colours it was amazing the number of "precious stones" we thought we found.   We came away with a bag of stones.  Dont even know if they were any good or not, wasnt really all that interested by then, just enjoyed the experience and the challenge.   I think one was a black garnet which may make a nice stone, if cut, but we would never bother anyway.   Precious stones for Bella and Cooper to play with when we visit them in Bali.     They can sift some sand and look for the treasure just like us.

Rick with his pan of stones, giving them that wash to loosen up the sand and display the rocks more easily.    It was fun but the day was warm and we were glad when we had finished the task.

Ros & Tony sorting out their rocks.  Not sure if they got some good ones or not.   We werent all that serious, we were just having a good time.

This is how people live out here.   Its pretty feral for the most part, but every now and then you see a house that actually looks like a house, with gardens etc. and not a collection of stuffed cars/machinery and generally a tip site.    Andrew told us that people can be very touchy about their claims and not to wander around on too many dirt roads, in case, you are viewed as being trespassing.    We decided to just go out for a quick drive to see how the other half live and to find this thong tree that I wanted to take a photo of.    I guess it sums up the place.

 But we did find the time to have coffee, scones with jam & cream, so its not that backward.

Once again, there were cows everywhere, even in the lovely park filled with playground equipment.   We have enjoyed the time out here, its not our cup of tea, but we have been there done that now, and thats what matters. Too many places selling gems & jewellery and offering mine tours and bags & buckets of spoils. Signs everywhere, from the general store to outside private homes.   Next stop is Emerald.  I think its a little more town like than where we have been the last few days.