Monday, 27 May 2013

Balladonia, Home of the Skylab Crash

Balladonia has some interesting history. The name comes from the Aboriginal people and means big rock by itself. We didn't find the big rock, but didn't really look either. From 1897 to 1929, there was a telegraph station here, which was part of the Perth to Adelaide line. The telegraph line to the south along the coast was having problems because the sea spray from the Southern Ocean kept shorting it. Therefore, the Aussies built a line a bit further to the north.

The town was unable to grow because the climate was too arid and water sources were scarce. Even today they haul all the water in from Norseman.

In more recent times, the area made the news (in 1979) when the Skylab space station re-entered our atmosphere and left its debris all over the Balladonia area. They even have a piece if it in their little museum at the roadhouse.

And…first thing in this morning, Hectie and I went out to try the Skylab golf hole, par 3, 175 meters. Balladonia is very small, so we didn't have a running option (we probably could have found somewhere to run, but golf seems to be our focused now). We decided golf was the next best thing, so we thought… Three lost balls later we finished the “saltbush ball-eating hole” with horrific scores, 8 hits for the both of us. We decided that cappuccinos would lift our spirits and then got back to the road. The cappuccinos were very awesome!

 

 

Fraser Station

Then, our spirits were lifted more when we arrived at the Fraser Range Sheep Station, a very tranquil location in the middle of the world's largest eucalyptus hardwood forest. First stop was at the historic stone shearers quarters to get the clubs. Then, we went off to the tee. Gorgeous! The Sheep's Back hole is par 3, 141 meters. Although I lost again: Hector' 7 to my 8…I just was too happy to care. It was a true oasis paradise!

Fraser Station was very peaceful.

 

Norseman

 

Norseman, where we were suppose to reach last night, is a historical gold mining town. Funny legend: one night a long time ago, Prospector Sinclair's horse, Hardy Norseman, dug up a nugget of gold by pawing at the ground. So, the town got named after the horse.

Hector and Hardy Norseman

It is now the home to the tin camels and a statute of Hardy.

 

While we were at the post office and the Caltex station, we heard stories about the mine laying off most of its employees. The town was quiet and those remaining are packing up to move on. If another mine doesn't takeover then Norseman's fate might be a ghost town.

Gold mine at the edge of Norseman.

We located the two golf holes at an abandoned golf course left to dissolve back to dirt and salt brush. It was sad and scary at the same time. It felt as if at any moment a man in a terrifying mask would jump out and attack! But the eeriness did not keep us from playing. The Ngadju hole was par 4, 354 meters and the Golden Horse hole is par 4, 436 meters. Neither of us were close to par; I will just leave it at the fact that Hectie beat me on both holes, no balls were lost, we actually gained a ball, and we were not killed by a madman.

At the golf course….where is everyone?

A kiss to Hardy for keeping us safe at the abandoned golf course.

 

Kalgoorlie

Happy to not have stayed in Norseman the previous night, we drove on to Kalgoorlie. After we checked in to The View on Hannans (www.theviewonhannahs.com), we walked to dinner. On walk to the restaurant we found out our room was located right next door to Australia's oldest working brothel, Questa Casa. I tried to peek in and found out they have daily tours at 3 pm each day. Not really interested…

Dinner at Lemongrass, a Thai place, was good, especially since I was very hungry.

Drove 406 kilometers.

Ran 0 kilometers.