BARBARA'S KIMBERLEY ADVENTURE - THE FINAL LEG PART 2

We packed up and left Moora to a rather damp grey morning.  It had hardly rained through the night so it wasn't too bad, but it was quite a lot colder than the previous morning.......a taste of things to come!!!!

We were heading to Kalgoorlie using the back roads after deciding to bypass Perth......we've already been there :-)

The roads are in such good condition in WA, even the gravel ones :-)

We pulled up at the Wongan Hills Lookout to the most spectacular views :-)  probably something not a lot would do as you can't tow a caravan up there due to the steep incline and narrowness, but Barbara can go anywhere because that,s what she's made for :-), so that's what we did!!!!!

Wongan Hills Lookout

Barbara enjoying the views

360 of spectacular views

Wongan Hills

 The setup there is wonderful, except no loos!!!!  They have tables & chairs and bbq's with 360 views.  We took a few happy snaps and then we were on the road again :-) and onto the main Highway that would take us to Kalgoorlie, and eventually, home :-/

We drove into Cunderdin

and discovered an Ettamoggah pub :-) it didn't open until 11........it was 3 minutes to eleven :-D so after figuring it would be after midday somewhere in the world, we stopped for a beer :-). It wasn't the best as far as other Ettamoggah pubs go, but it was still good :-).  We had our beer in the company of a couple of young fellas who were doing work in the area.  One of them was originally from Warnambool and the other was from Birmingham in England and was (quote) never going back after discovering Australia
:-) he was having a grand old time living and working here....you could sort of tell just by the look of pure joy on his face when he spotted the pub :-)

We headed up the road and stopped for a Subway lunch.....Subway seem to be the more accepted franchise over here, as they are in an awful lot of the small towns, but very few Macca's or KFC, which was fine by us :-) coz they don't sell the white chic chip macadamia cookies ;-)

We drove through another fairly good patch of rain and then we were on the "Golden Mile" and heading into Kalgoorlie.  What a big busy bustling place!!!  And with a really laid back country feel and the most glorious old buildings and pubs :-)  I think it was love at first sight
:-)

The golden dome is in pure gold leaf :-)  it's very shiny when the sun's out!!

Pat Hannan water fountain....the first one disappeared but was later found in the men's room in the pub across the road
 :-)

They decorate their rubbish bins in gold......

......and even their outdoor seating!!!!

We went to the visitor information centre where we booked in for our golf game across the nullarbor....should be interesting, as neither of us are golfers.....and we booked a  Superpit tour for the following Afternoon.  We stayed at the Discovery Holiday park where I managed to catch up on the washing while GM cooked dinner.  We were up early and after a lazy breaky we toodled into town and had a look around.  Then found the golf club (pretty damn flash joint, this one!!!) and played the first two holes of our Nullarbor links which we have chosen to do as part of our adventure across the Nullarbor.

Kalgoorlie Golf Club - Hannan Street & The Golden Mile

We went and had Hungry Jacks for lunch :-) and then we were off for our Superpit tour.  We discovered St. Barbara, much to our delight...just a pity we couldn't get a picture of Barbara with St. Barb!!!  Ray was our Superpit guide who has worked in all areas of the gold mining industry for the past 35 years and was pretty clued up on what was going on. 

It's pretty mind blowing when you see the scale of the place, the machines, and all the drilling rigs.  Makes the mine where I work look like a cow pond!!!.....which is quite a good analogy since it's filled up with water since I've been gone!!!

The Overburden

$40k a pop!!  and I thought my car tyres were expensive :-O

and this is only a little one ;-)

a wee bit bigger than a puddle :-)

Getting ready for the next blast

A D10 dozer left front......looks like a matchbox toy!!!

Trend Setters ;-)

After learning about all the stuff and leaving without a gold nugget or sample......a wee bit tight of them I reckon......we went and had a beer at the Exchange Hotel where they had skimpies.......again.....they should supply bibs in places like this for dirty old men like my GM......he seemed to have trouble tucking his tongue back in his mouth ;-)

We had an early night, then up early, Macca's for breaky and we hit the road......destination Nullarbor :-)

We played another hysterically bad 3 holes of golf at Kambalda and Norseman. 

Kambalda Golf Club - Silver Lake

Norseman Golf Club - Ngadju & Golden Horse

What Style!!!! ;-)

We arrived at the Eyre Highway around midday.....only 1986 km to Adelaide across the Nullarbor......we were on another adventure!!!!

HISTORY OF SAINT BARBARA

Legend has it that St. Barbara was the christian daughter of a heathen nobleman who had promised her hand in marriage to a non christian suitor.  She fled to hide in mines underground.  The miners protected her and in return she passed on her christian teachings.  For two years she remained underground until shepherds informed her father of her whereabouts.  Getting water, she was captured, sentenced to death and beheaded by her father......what a dad!! Poor St. Babs!!!