Day 21 - heading to Victoria

Today we left the Adelaide Hills. Our first stop at Birdwood was only a few Km's down the road from Gumeracha. The National Motor Museum at Birdwood proved impressive and interesting. The main focus seemed to be vehicles that have been important in Australia's development or history, or were manufactured or assembled in Australia. Surprisingly, a large number of different types and brands of vehicles were manufactured here over the last 100 years. Geoff, however, didn't expect to find any Alfa Romeos on display. There was one surprise. The vehicle that Diane is admiring was built in Australia (sort of) and is an Alfa (sort of). 

On to some nostalgia. Geoff is standing in front of a stylish Holden Special FC station wagon. This was the same type of car owned by Geoff's grandparents in the late 50's / early 60's. Geoff's parents borrowed this car to take the family (only 3 kids at this stage - no Lyn as yet) on a holiday to the Gold Coast sometime in the early 60's. still fondly remembered in 2013

Geoff's own motoring career began as a learner driver in 1967 or 68. The first car he drove was a HR Holden similar to the one in the left of the photo below.

The fun really began when he was allowed to drive his father's Holden Brougham, similar to the white car on the right. This late 60's model boasted a 5 litre V8 and two speed auto. It could really move and easily did 100 mph (yes, that's miles per hour) on a straight stretch between Canberra and Cooma during a family holidays trip to the snow in 1968. It was so smooth and quiet Mum didn't notice.

From the Adelaide hills its a long drive to Melbourne. Today we reached Murray Bridge for lunch and arrived in Horsham where we are spending the night. Tomorrow Melbourne.

Day 20 - Adelaide Hill

Today we to spent exploring the Adelaide hills area. First attraction was the Steam Ranger steamfest at their Mt Barker depot. Contrary to the views expressed by some of our more cynical blogees, advertising of this event was only discovered by accident in a shop window in the Barossa about a week ago.

We headed over to Mt Barker in time to admire locomotive 621, which was built in 1936 and once hauled express passenger locos. Geoff was very impressed with the big Pacific.

We waited to view the departure of the train. Notice the semi- streamlined appearance and the 2 metre drivers. A beautiful machine. Pity the departure was on a downhill grade, so it was a bit of an anticlimax.

We then went for a section car ride which went several kilometres out from the depot and return (in the opposite direction to the steam service!!)

We enjoyed views along the track that would not have been possible from the steam hauled service

From Mt Barker, we headed over to Lobethal markets, held in the old Onkaparinga factory, which used to make blankets and other woollen goods. Next door to the markets, still in the old factory is the Lobethal Bierhaus micro brewery and restaurant. Fortunately they had local ciders which we taste tested while we waited for lunch.

From Lobethal it was back to Gumeracha for the antique fair held in the local hall. It was now getting a bit cold, so back to our suite at Randells Mill. The slow combustion heater has now warmed things up considerably.

Day 19 - Copper Triangle

Today we reluctantly leave Redwing, but not before saying farewell to Lucky. Did I mention that Lucky was once the runt of the litter? This is the best way to say farewell to pig!

We headed into Moonta, checked out the art and craft sale in the local church hall, purchased some pasties for dinner, had a coffee, then headed over to Kadina, where the main Kernewek Lowender events for today were scheduled. Kadina is a much larger and more developed town than Moonta, and as the events were mostly a repeat of the day before, we only stayed to watch the maypole.

As this was a second time around for Maypole Geoff took a video of the last dance, which braids the maypole. One or two of our blogees may be interested, so go to YouTube http://youtu.be/C-UeB9VXPF0

We then had a leisurely drive (average 4.5 litres per 100 Km's) to our next accommodation  in the Adelaide Hills at Gumeracha. Randell's Mill, which is now a B & B, was built in 1848 as a steam powered Flour mill, later becoming a dairy produce factory among other things. 

The outside of our very comfy apartment from the front.

And from the rear.

As can be seen from the photos, the split level interior is very luxurious - bedroom above, kitchen below

This is the lounge looking down from the bedroom

After an evening walk around Gumeracha, we enjoyed dinner, consisting of possibly the best pasties in Australia (the ones we bought from the Cornish Kitchen in Moonta earlier in the day). 

Day 18 - Kernewek Lowender

Today is the big day for Kernewek Lowender in Moonta, beginning with a street parade. This seemed to involve a large proportion of the town's population, representing various groups and ages and interests. Most were dressed in period Cornish costume, as we're many of the several thousand bystanders. 

There were even some riders from the local equestrian group (this photo for Neo)

There were various street performances including the Floral or harvest dance, which is of Cornish derivation, performed along the main street by local school kids. 

The other distinctively Cornish activity was the maypole dance performed simultaneously by groups from all the local schools along the length of the Main Street.

This performance provided the potential for major confusion and embarrassment as it would only take one careless performer to ruin the whole thing. As you can see from the photos below, the kids we watched knew what they were doing. There are several different maypole dances, the one in the photos being the most complex. Notice the ribbon pattern progress down the maypole

After the performances we wandered around for a while, then had lunch, courtesy of Cousin Jack's Kitchen. A better pasty than you would find in NSW, but not as good as yesterday. Still the ideal lunch on a chilly day

After lunch we headed out to explore some of the old mining ruins, such as the unrestored Richmans Engine house, built in 1869, and in operation till 1923.

One old building still in use is the Moonta Mines Methodist church, built in 1865, to serve the spiritual needs of the Cornish population. It doesn't look much from outside, but the interior is very impressive - it could hold about 1,200 worshipers. 

I was thinking about my Cornish great grandfather John Dunstan, who was not only a mayor of Burra, but also a lay preacher. I can imagine he would have preached in Wesleyan chapels in Burra and Broken Hill similar to this. Interestingly, there don't seem to be any blind spots in this building, as it seems the preacher can see each seat. No dozing away during a long sermon.

On our return to Redwing, we were greeted by Lucky the pig. No need for the story, the name says it all. This is what Charlotte would have eventually become. Some (big) pig!!! Charlottes Web could never have a sequel.

 

Day 17 - Moonta

Our accommodation for our time at the Yorke Peninsular is 'Redwing Cottage', which is on a 3000 acre farm 20 Km's south of Moonta. Our accommodation is a restored, renovated and extended stone room built in the 1860s. It is now a cosy cottage adjacent to the main farm buildings. This is premium wheat growing country and apparently sowing Starts tomorrow for this particular property.

In the photo below, the original section of the cottage, which is now the bedroom / lounge, is immediately behind Diane. The kitchen / dining area is to the left. A bathroom has been added at the back. The cottage has its own fenced rose garden. 

This is the bedroom. Diane enjoys a wine while Geoff has sampled some of the port (seen on mantelpiece)

Moonta is one of the three towns of the 'Copper Triangle', and for the next few days is also a focus for 'Kernewek Lownder', which means 'Cornish happiness'. KL is a festival to celebrate Cornish culture and heritage and is held at the Copper Triangle every two years. This year is the 40th anniversary of the festival. Many people in town are dressed in period costume for the occasion.

Our first stop after coffee is the amazing quilting expo - Geoff had never seen this 'art form' before and both he and Diane were very impressed with the artistic design and craftsmanship. 

We then spent some time exploring the town, especially a couple of large antique shops. SA is definitely the place to find reasonably priced antiques and curios.

As Moonta is a town with a strong Cornish heritage, we were planning to try and find the perfect Cornish pasty. Today we were not disappointed, with a couple of very tasty examples sampled in the Cornish Kitchen. Notice the size and shape - very yummy.

After lunch we went and checked out a miners cottage dating from the time when the Copper mines started in Moonta, about 1870. It almost felt like a scale model, except it once housed a miner's large family. 

From the miners cottage, off to the Mines Museum. It is housed in a building that was once the school - the enrolment in its heyday was over 1000 children!

Plenty of interesting displays inside 

We are just about 'museumed out' so back to Redwing for a quiet evening

Day 16 - heading to the Yorke Peninsular

We left Adelaide early and headed north. Our base for the next three nights will be at Redwing Farmstay, which is about 10 Kim's south of Moonta. However, we took a diversion to Port Pirie. This was based on Diane's curiosity in finding out what happens to the ore that is mined in Broken Hill. Port Pirie is home to the world's largest lead smelter and third largest silver smelter. It also refines large quantities of zinc and other metals. A bus tour of the plant enabled us to find out some answers. The tour does not permit photos, and because of safety restrictions, you are not permitted to leave the bus. Despite this, the tour was excellent, conducted by a very knowledgeable retired worker. the photo below gives you some idea of the scale of the place. the tour itself took about 90 mins, plus a video before we started.

The photo below was taken be Geoff alongside the dock looking toward the plant. Notice the 205 metre chimney

After our tour we checked out the local museum, which is housed in the old railway station, which is on the Main Street in the town. Yes, that's right, the trains, both freight and passenger services, ran up and down the Main Street!

Notice the central tower with the round window. Geoff climbed up several ladders and took the photo below, looking toward the smelter

There was a preserved shunting steam loco from the smelter in the museum yard. See Geoff pretending he is a steam train driver.

From Port Pirie, we headed south to Moonta, then on to Redwing.