1143: Gander at Goslar

Tuesday 23rd April 2019

Once all the laundry was suspended wherever it could be (trouser hangers are VERY useful), we set off for the permitted parking in Goslar.  We parked opposite a Czech chap and his elderly father, who were in a tiny ancient caravan.  Seriously, it was stuck together with gaffer tape and cellotape.  No way could it have been towed any where.  Talking the the younger, both of us in school German, he told me he worked here and that the young dog came from Czech, but her papers were German!

The day ended with a short walk around the pleasant town, with market square.  Much more charming than Hahnenklee and much larger, and ice cream and supper in Jez.

 

Goslar.

1144: Rammelsberger Bergbau Mine

Wednesday 24th April

Short drive to the Rammelsberger Bergbau Mine and Museum.  I’d emailed and pre-booked an English speaking tour.  When we arrived, there were actually 3 tours we could have done, but the one we’d been booked onto was fortunately the most interesting.  We got to follow the water course into the bowels of the mine inside the mountain. Herr Rammels, a mine manager 200 years ago, had engineered 4 giant water wheels to be built into caverns inside the mountain.  Each using the water from the previous.  Two were reverse wheels … by changing the gate from a header tank, they could lower and pull opposing baskets up and down the shaft  The other two ran the water pumping to keep the mine from flooding.  Three wheels had been replaced more recently, but we could still see the original long beams running down tunnels and walked along water courses.  It really was an excellent tour.  

Lunch in the cafe and then J retuned to walk CO2 and nap, whilst I spent another 2 hrs + wandering museums in the processing plants.  Everything from the geology of how the metal ores got to be there, to processing, machinery and local history.  The ore deposited been extremely concentrated but was exhausted by 1988 when the mine closed.  EUR16 each for the one tour and museums but really good value.  

After walking CO2 around the reservoir that fed the mine, we overnighted in a wild spot along another set of reservoirs near Oker.

Theis does not do the scale of the enterprise justice, especially when you think so much of was underground.

The Changing Room was the start point for the tour.  Hoisting clothes meant people’s personal clothes were secure and at night, work clothes were high up to dry.

Hard hats were essential … everyone on the tour banged their head at some point.

The water course.

Lots of colourful mineral deposits.

One of the large reverse wheels.

A smaller drain wheel.

Inside one of the many processing drums that ground the ore to a fine powder.  Water and air were then used to extract the metals.

Sorry, lots of industrial kit pix, now … I just love the metal, rust of near recent industry.

The ladders were formerly used to get up and down the mines. 

The header reservoir that I walked CO2 around.

 

A Dutch family had adopted this Spanish puppy … they had no idea how big she was until she arrived … and she’s only 9 months now!  Check out the frilly knickers … they could get proper ‘in season’ pants in big girl size!