Pt 2 - Day 67 - Kalgoorlie

Well, the rain has stopped over night but it is a cold day today.  It is so nice to be able to relax this morning knowing we are not moving, however, I am awake at 5:30 and the family is not far behind me.  I decide to go and do a grocery shop at 8am so when I get back everyone is ready to go and do the tourist thing.

First we head up to the Super pit.  It was going to cost us $275 to do a 2 hour tour so we decided against that.  What an enormous hole in the ground that is.  Not much is happening in the bottom of the hole due to the rain over night, however there is a lot of action at the top.  We learn that each truck is worth $4million  and it takes about 6 truck loads to produce about a golf ball size of gold.  This bucket that the kids are standing in is used to fill the trucks, just 4 scoops does the job.  The size of this machinery makes our farm equipment look small!!

Next we have a look at the Super Pit shop and across the road the pub which has part of the floor which has been panelled with glass.  It has an 11m mine shaft which goes under the pub.  Apparently, years ago, the miners used to smuggle some of their findings into the cellar under ground, then at the end of their shift go and have beer at the pub, where the publican would give them their gold, after taking his share of course.

Tori is loving being in Kal as she was here in November on her school camp, so it is like having our own personal tour guide.

What a responsible parent!!!

After this we head to the museum where we do half hour tour.  The museum is great.  They have replica houses and original buildings from years gone by.  It is amazing to think that during the gold rush so many people lived in the one spot with no water supply, no medical services and no food on hand.  However, it wasn't long before there were 92 pubs in this area and quite often water was worth more than beer.

Then it is time to eat again, one of our favourite passed times!!!  We decide to have one last meal out at a restaurant before we go home.  We go to DeBernales on the main drag.  Very strange to be here during the day with the family, last time I was here was nearly 20 years ago........a scary thought.......the band was pumping and it certainly wasn't lunch time!!!

Tori and I head to the shops for the afternoon, she still has some of her Diva voucher to spend from christmas and is dying to look in Supre again.  When we get home everyone is huddled in the van as it is so cold.  Soup for tea tonight as a barbi is out of the question in this "brass monkey" weather!!