Apr 21, Yorke Peninsula, Port Victoria to Wallaroos

We were parked at a lookout above Spencer Gulf and strong winds came up. The motorhome was moving really rocked by the wind bursts. We moved down about 2am and it was better. Then the rain came pounding down. We moved again about 6am into town where buildings could shield us. Much better.

We waited in Port Victoria for wind and rain to subside. Then we tried to do a geology walk along the shore, but the rains returned. So we drove inland to Maitland. We stopped at the bakery for coffee and information. We got a nut slice and found out where the Anglican Church was. That was closed, and only holding services a couple of Sundays a month.

Further north in Moonta, we went to the information center in the former railroad station. The tourist train was not running because the tracks were wet and the train couldn't grasp them. We went to the Moonta mines Uniting Church. It was built when the copper mines in the area were working, back in the 1860's. The mine owner insisted that the miners attend church or be docked pay. The next Sunday, miners were lined up around the church to get in. So the owner had a balcony installed and the church could hold 1250 people. The organ had the original paint on it and was beautiful, as was the church.

We tried walking around the mine site, but the rain came again and the tracks were muddy.So we drove out to Hughes Bay and Moonta Bay for a view of the whitecaps on the gulf.

On to Wallaroo. This town, with Moonta and Kadina are considered Little Cornwall because so many Cornish miners came to work here. The three towns hold a joint Cornish festival every 2 years. Some of the events scheduled for it are Furry Dancing, Pasty Making Workshops, and drinking Swank. Don't know what Swank and Furry Dancing are.

We stopped at the Information Centre at the local museum. There were 2 gentlemen in there. One working and providing tourist info, the other visiting him. Samson had on his "Really Old Navies" sweatshirt from the Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, GA. That attracted the attention of the second man who told us about more Confederate connections to Australia. A man from Wallaroo served in the Confederacy and when he returned and married, the first man's great great grandfather was his witness.

The weather still wasn't cooperating, so we decided to stay here and have pizza for supper. We opted for the vegetarian pizza at Best Pizza, but with only the olives, onions, mushroom and tomatoes. No pineapple.

Was talking with someone earlier about the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. She has a boyfriend who lives at Government House and travels with her on government trips, just recently to China. I guess he has spoken out of turn and is not universally liked. They call him The First Bloke. Cheeky Aussies.

Pictures - Moonta Railway Station, House in Moonta, Moonta Mines Uniting Church Exterior, Interior, Moonta Bay