Maldon

Hello All,
Things have settled down a bit here, Mother has moved into a Nursing Home after her stroke, she still needs help doing most things but is settling in ok. 
This has allowed me a little "me" time, so it was on with the camper and away for a couple of days.
The forecast was terrible, but I needed a break, so it was "go no matter what"
My sister will be away for six weeks overseas, so in between, dog minding, house sitting, mum minding it was my last chance for a while.......
With a howling head wind and rain forecast it was off to Maldon in The Goldfields region of Victoria.
About half way up the Calder Highway from Melbourne the rain started and stayed.
Overnight was Castlemaine, the rain did not let up until late evening, so setting up was done under umbrella. A constant stream of revelers coming from the Pub across the road continued well into the early hours. Note to self.........don't stay there again.
It was only 14K to Maldon the next morning.

Maldon from Mt Tarrangower Lookout

  I don't think the weather got into double figures all day, snow was forecast down to 900 metres and it felt like it.

A different view of my camper

Quartz kilns at North British Mine site

Ruins at North British Mine

Maldon is a very pretty place with a lot of historical buildings and mining relics, there is plenty to see close by, if only the weather was better................
Just out of Maldon is a Porcupine Flat, where one of two Floating Gold Dredges (that I know of) still remains, although looking pretty neglected. the other one at Eldorado, near Wodonga is not only much larger but also in a bit better condition.

old dredge at Porcupine Flat

old dredge

George Heywood commenced working the site at Porcupine Flat in 1958 where he developed the dredge operation on Porcupine Creek. He purchased the dredge sometime after 1958, and it may not have been fully operational until after 1973. Operations ceased in 1984, after moderate success.
The dragline standing on the bank of the dam was brought from the Yallourn Coal Mine to assist in creating the initial dam and the ongoing operation. It proved to be of little value and was abandoned in it's present position early in the operation.
Both sit forlornly abandoned with nature taking it's toll.

old dragline

 

old Dragline

With bad weather and more forecast it was time to head back home all too soon, with things starting to settle down a bit here, winter two thirds over, when sis gets back from O/S
I have thoughts of the York and Eyre Peninsula's in South Australia running around in my head. 
Here's hoping.........
till then....bye for now.