Macraes Oceana Gold Mine

Today had a great outing with my son and younger grandson. Main blip is as we went past the gold mine up at Macraes we stopped and watched this massive machinery at work, My older grandson works their as a diesel mechanic on the big machines and loves it. That big excavator can load that dump truck in two minutes  with the ore from which the gold is extracted. The dump truck when fully loaded weighs 400 tons
800 men work up there and my grandson is one of 53 mechanics and he loves his job. Works seven days on seven days off and then seven nights on and they are 12 hour shifts so he is away from home around 14 hours
We also visited the tiny settlement of Macraes . In extras you will see the hotel built around 1880 for the gold rush. we had a drink by the fire.
Younger grandson who was with us is a carpenter and at the moment restoring an old billiard room all with T& G. It is by the hotel and the mine are paying for the restoration. I was proud of the work he showed us that he had done. That sort of work is what he enjoys. Nice when they have jobs that they really enjoy
Today would have been the coldest and bleakest day of the winter so far but when inside here it sure is warm with massive open fire going as well as a log fire
Time for bed another big day to morrow. Sorry I have not time or internet for much commenting