|
One of the best winter days we had ever had, and quite productive
too. Five explorers: Benjamin, Chris, Frederik, Jan Hendrik
and Thomas, with six helpers, Andrew, Becky, John Dove, Sheila
W., Pamela and Sam W. with Bruce and Ellie protecting us from
wild animals.
Our first stop was just past the church, where we parked and
walked up the road to look at the river. The team then moved
up to the Ariundle turn-off to look at a tree which might
have had a tree house in it at one time. Then back into the
cars and up the hill to have a quick look at the site of the
old hat factory.
From then on it was mining all the way. We stopped above Bellsgrove
and heard a bit about the old house and Thomas found a magnificent
galena crystal among the spoil heaps. Then I explained the
significance of the adit and the Grand Level, which was once
used to drain the mine workings. The boys went a short way
into the adit, clearly the most exciting part of the trip
for them.
Then it was back in the cars and up to the top of the hill
where we got a good view of the mine workings. We walked up
to the top of the hill to see one of the old reservoirs, but
the ground was too wet to wander too far from the path so
we came back down, finding some nice club mosses on the way.
Finally we all took a stroll around the spoil heaps at the
top of the mine and several of the explorers staggered away
with quite impressive mineral specimens. The heavily loaded
cars then drove down to Ariundle Centre and a very welcome
break.
John
Dye
|
