8.6
degrees in van and only 4.5 degrees outside at 8am. Rain all night but the sun
is now out and shining. Hopefully it will be a lovely day considering the
weather forecast of freezing conditions to hit us. Mum and Dad rang to see if
we are frozen.
Heaps
of mountain bikers have arrived to do the downhill track from the top of Mt
Tarrengower.
Had
a cuppa and we headed up to check out the tower on the mountain but the top was
still covered in cloud (571m). Sadly our lovely sunshine has now disappeared.
Headed back down a bit (510m) to just under the cloud layer to look over Cairn
Curran Reservoir which is part of the Loddon River. Our camp is at 410m
elevation.
As
it is reasonably clear we headed down to check out the mine sites. Turned up a
road where Lisle Reef sign was but not sure exactly where the reef was but
there was heaps of diggings and mullock heaps in among the houses. Drove
further up and found the WW1 Victory Sign on the hill.
Pulled
up in a clearing where they had been lots of diggings etc.
Across
the road was the Grand Junction Quartz Kilns.
Headed
up the hillside following the narrow zigzag track where there was heaps of
mullock heaps but the shafts have been filled in.
We
ended up on the other side of Mt Tarrengower and the summit was still hidden by
the clouds.
Drove
back down to site of the North British Mine. In the 1880s this mine was
described as one of the richest in the world and it was owned by one man –
Robert Oswald. Between 1885-89 the Oswald mines produced almost 50,000 ounces
of gold. After Oswald’s death, the trustees of his estate continued to operate
the mine till 1913. By 1926 it had produced well over 242,000 ounces of gold.
Walked
around the site reading the info signs.
Cyanide
tanks.
The
deep shaft is here.
Old battery area.
Around
to the crusher pit and quartz kilns.
Even
the drainage area was brick lined.
Followed
the path around through the mine site.
The
settling tanks.
Back
into town to find the Beehive Mine. The shaft is all overgrown. The total known
gold yield was 210,000 ounces.
The
chimney still stands tall even though it was built in 1863.
Steve
found where someone had been detecting – they only found a steel pipe.
Not
much left of the furnace, boilers and cyanide vats.
Lovely
tree in bloom.
Went
for a drive to check out the site of the German Mine and Dam. Looking back to
the chimney.
Mt
Tarrengower summit is still covered in cloud.
The
steam train has just come back after taking the children on their holiday ride.
Lots of activity at the train station.
Back
to the van for the V8s. At 1pm it was 7.2 degrees outside so glad to be inside
with the heater on.
Steve
put the rain catcher on hoping to stop the rain but it is now getting a wash
out.
Enjoyed
the race – Go FORD. Lou rang for a chat after the race.
House
Rules semi-finals are on so settled in for the night.
More
rain and a few strong gusts of wind but nothing too bad.
No comments:
Post a Comment