Day 56 - Tennat Creek Bush Camp

04/06/11

Today we left the powred site in town and headed for a bush camp 10km east of town.  At first we wondered if it was still operational as it seemed deserted until we found a couple of caravans parked down the back and spoke to them.  We found this out of the way place, Juno Horse Centre, with only a couple of neighbours and decided to stay the night.  This is a working horse and cattle property and is a very relaxing place.



After lunch we went back into Tennant Creek to check some local spots.  First we went to have a look at "the pebbles" 10km north of town - a smaller version of the devil's marbles with naturally created rock formations sacred to the local aborigines.  A nice spot with bush camping available but had a walk around then back to the track.


Next stop the Telegraph Repeater Station - one of the 12 along the route from Adelaide to Darwin - the last one was at Alice Springs.  Similar to the others we'd seen it was established in early 1870s as the telegraph line was being built.  This one became a critical stop off point for graziers and stockmen as well as a hub for the local aborigines.   Then in 1932 one of the linesmen was digging a hole for a telegraph pole when he found an unusual rock and sent it away to be analysed - they found gold and the population went from 7 to 600 within days - this finally led to Tennant Creek becoming a town.

After this we stopped off at the Mary Ann Dam - a water source for the town based on Tennant Creek and a lovely spot to visit.


Then back to camp and had a lovely steak dinner cooked on this ready made camp oven arrangement on site.


Then some fellowship with the other campers including Harry and Topsy and their 3 dogs from WA - they live on the road and seem to be having a great time.

Then there is Jane and Ross Wood who it turns out live in Ramsay Street Toowoomba so we had lots to talk about.  During the conversation it came to light that as part of her work at National Bank Travel in Toowoomba in th 1980s she arranged the Europe trip for my father and mother along with other subsequent trips to Norfolk Island etc.  Jane rememberd them well and it was great to make the connection.

Chris and Marie from Vicrotoria were also there.  Marie had to ring the fire brigade at one point becasue we could see a reasonable bushfire burning about 15km away from us - fortunatley it died down within the hour and all was well.  A lovely night around the camp fire then off to bed.

The Campbells

Day 55 - Tennant Creek

03/06/11

After another glorious sunrise at the marbles, we packed up to move on.

Made it to Tennant Creek and booked inot the caravan park for the night.  Time to catch up on washing, recharging batteries and some more schoolwork.  Then we headed off to the main attraction in town - The Battery Hill Mining Centre.  We went on the 3pm tour and our guide Bob was great - an ex miner himself meant he knew his stuff.  Turns out the mine shaft at the centre was never a working mine but was constructed for training purposes.  It was resurrected in 2008 as a tourist attraction.  The tour allows us to see mining equipment from actual mines working.   Turns out the gold and other minerals mined around this area were not found within quartz, but rather within ironstone which made it much harder to extract.

Here Bob demonstrates a jackhammer used to drill blasting holes then Sean is able to pose for a picture.


Here Bob shows us a 3d model of the Warrego Mine 40km out of town (no longer operational) - this littel model shows all the mineral deposits and levels in the 850m deep mine.


Next we were shown a "bogger" machine used to move rack away from a blast area.  Bob tells us they are banned by law after many deaths from being crushed by the 4t machine or losing limbs etc from being caught in the exposed chains etc.  We were given a small demo of this one too and its easy to understand why these guys were paid big money.


Next we had a look at the explosives store (none there anymore), then the crib room.  This is where the shift boss would gather the men whenever a blast was due.  Only the shift boss would detonate after the driller who requested the blast was in the room along with all the men on that level.  A dangerous passtime indeed.  Luckily the toilets are nearby.  Bob explained that some tried to smuggle out the gold in the buckets when they were taken to teh surface to be emptied - it's just a matter of finding the right nugget!

Next we had a demo of a diamond headed saw - apparently the only one of its kind within Australia which still works.  These were used to drill exploratory holes within the mine.  It drills a 3m core of rock 50mm in diameter which is then tested for mineral deposits.  Bob told us after the mine closed one of the shift bosses purchased the drill, mounted it on his ute and hired out to people with new leases to assess their rock (much cheaper than digging a shaft).  After this guy died, the drill was donated to the centre by his widow.

After reaching the surface again the kids had to stick their head in the hole, then back to camp and settle for the night.


The Campbells

Day 54 - Lets Stay Another One

02/06/11

Woke up in this cool place, witnessed a loveley sunrise, and decided to stay another night.


Spent the day catching up on some schoolwork and relaxing with the locals.

 

Then finish the day with a gorgeous sunset and dinner on the fire again.

 

The Campbells

Day 53 - Devils Marbles

01/06/11

Travelled 140km north to The Devils Marbles .

On the way we stopped at Wycliffe Well.  This place has not attempted to cash in on their claim as the UFO capital of Australia, nor were we in any way condoning such conduct.


Nearly all the trucks that we pass out here are triple trailers - we saw a fuel tanker yesterday with 4 trailers!  This one parked at Wauchope Hotel which was the next stop on the way.

 

Then we make it ot the Devil's Marbles and get ourselves a spot.  Turns out that if you're not here by 1pm you may not get a spot.  We noticed that as we watched the hords arrived during the afternoon.  Had a walk arounf then watched a lovely sunset - cooked dinner on the fire - life is tuff.


The Campbells

Day 52 - Farewell Alice Finally

31/05/11

We packed up at the scout hall for the last time.  Curly was there to bid us farewell after cutting up some firewood for us - thank's Curly.  We are so thankful to the scouts for their hospitality.

Just north of Alice we stop at a survey marker identifying the highest point between Adelaide and Darwin.  As with just about everything along this toute - it was done as part of the telegraph line installation in 1970s.


Next stop the Tropic of Capricorn - we are OK about entering the tropics - the nights and especially early mornings have been brisk.


Then onwards to the first settlement Aileron which like most settlements consists of the roadhouse and a couple of buildings.  Interesting aboriginal staues and an unusual pet - a full grown eagle.


Ti Tree which is the roadhouse come store come pub come caravan park etc.


Next along the way is Barrow Creek where Sean found himself in the Sin Bin and we marvelled at the collection of paraphenalia that coats the walls.  This is also the spot where another Telegraph Repeater Station.


We stayed the night at a place called Taylors Creek after travelling approx 300km today.

The Campbells