Smythesdale has turned out to be one of the best free camps we've stayed at. I had the most divine hot shower this morning, I could have stayed in it for hours. There's also a large communal undercover picnic table with a log fire. We plan to go and eat dinner there tonight. The nights are quite chilly here!
We started this morning with a bit of a drive. That wasn't the original plan but when you drive the 20km from your campground into Ballarat and then realise you have left your purse behind, well... it adds a few kilometres. Oops!
After retrieving said purse and popping our clothes into the laundromat, we found a lovely spot beside a lake for breakfast. Tim finished eating quickly and decided to have a run around the lake.
Of course, the girls had to give it a go as well and soon it was time to pick up the washing.
With clean clothes once again packed in the car, we drove around the corner to Sovereign Hill. We had purchased our tickets earlier from the gold museum across the road and discovered that had been a very good idea as we avoided the three queues waiting to enter and went straight through.
The first shop was one of the hits of the day - the blacksmith. We returned there more than once throughout the day. Tim even made noises about learning the craft but I think woodturning is enough for now! The were quite a number of demonstrations we managed to attend throughout the day including wheelwrighting, sweet making, learning to dance, musket firing and gold pouring.
With clean clothes once again packed in the car, we drove around the corner to Sovereign Hill. We had purchased our tickets earlier from the gold museum across the road and discovered that had been a very good idea as we avoided the three queues waiting to enter and went straight through.
The first shop was one of the hits of the day - the blacksmith. We returned there more than once throughout the day. Tim even made noises about learning the craft but I think woodturning is enough for now! The were quite a number of demonstrations we managed to attend throughout the day including wheelwrighting, sweet making, learning to dance, musket firing and gold pouring.
Each demonstration included great information about the way things were done back during the gold rush days as well as the actual practical demonstration. The girls particularly liked seeing all the people dressed up in period costume, both behind the counters in the shops and walking around the streets.
We all tried our hand at panning for gold but didn't quite manage a find.
The tour of the mine was a bit crowded but walking down all the steps at the start made you appreciate how deep they were having to dig to find the gold.
We finished the day with a wander through the Chinese camp and the diggers camp and the kids couldn't quite get their heads around people really living under those conditions.
We finished the day with a wander through the Chinese camp and the diggers camp and the kids couldn't quite get their heads around people really living under those conditions.
The wooden cottages we had walked through earlier in the day were primitive enough for them.
We decided to get our ticket stamped to enable us to come back again tomorrow if that's what we decide to do. The kids were keen to return and we didn't have a long way to travel to Melbourne. We'll see how the morning pack up goes and decide then.
We decided to get our ticket stamped to enable us to come back again tomorrow if that's what we decide to do. The kids were keen to return and we didn't have a long way to travel to Melbourne. We'll see how the morning pack up goes and decide then.
There is a black smithing course at Cobb n co toowoomba... Just sayin'
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