January 15, 2024
Above: Granite Creek
After an extra day at Leonora to enjoy a “rest day” – (in 43 degree heat?) we ventured onwards to Lake Ballard.
After the first 30 minutes or so you cross Lake Raeside, another of the large expenses of mostly dry salt lakes this one has the roadway elevated to a causeway to provide more permanent crossing after rain events.
Granite Creek:
Site 18 on the Golden Quest Discovery Trail is Granite Creek. One of many water courses that feeds Lake Raeside and was popular with early explorers and prospectors including John Aspinall in 1895 as mentioned in his diaries (see reference to his grave).
Next stop is Copperfield where we stayed a while to have lunch at the picnic shelter. An active mine once again the old Timoni Mine can be seen from the lookout point where an old water tank base is all that remains; a new peg marking the claim can be seen nearby.
Snake Hill: Site 20 on the Golden Quest Discovery Trail is the lookout at Snake Hill. Just a few kms short of Lake Ballard this elevated spot gives broad panoramas across Lake Ballard which is over 60km long and 30km wide
