MOT Tour Day 49 - Richmond

We weren't disappointed to leave our digs at Mount Field. Far less than satisfactory in modern caravanning terms, painted as rustic or quirky. Nope, crap is crap.

Thanks to a recommendation from Sue's cousin Beverly, we managed our itinerary - as planned as it is - so that we could spend most of the day at the historic town of Richmond, on our way to Triabunna. So glad we did. Richmond's white history has been delightfully retained with many of the buildings from the 1800's along the main street, refurbished and kept young. Lots of cafes and interesting places to visit.

We started at the Old Richmond Gaol, where in 1825 a plentiful supply of convict labour was sent to Richmond to first build a gaol and then a number of public infrastructure projects. One of those is the outstanding bridge which crosses the Coal River at the north end of the town.

Old Richmond Gaol

The gaol was originally a one story, single building, with a room for women prisoners and one for men. This was extended owing to overcrowding, until it ended as four buildings flanking a central courtyard. By the completion of the buildings, there were two types of prisoners: convicts and debtors. The latter were low risk prisoners who couldn't pay their bills and their incarceration was a lot lighter that the former.

Being mid morning, we had a cuppa in the back garden of a nice cafe. Of note was the lovely tea cup and saucer had.

After our cuppa we walked further down the main drag, disappointed to find that a period house under the care of the National Trust was shut owing to a lack of volunteers. However, near to next door was the Pooseum: yes, a museum dedicated to the study of poo! It was absolutely fascinating. Did you know that birds wee and poo at the same time from the same orifice? Did you know that birds don't fart because they poo every fifteen minutes so gases don't build up. I could go on. Brilliant little place and the lady who runs it is so passionate and knowledgeable. 

Probably our highlight was a visit to Old Hobart Town. It is what it is, a scale model of Hobart of the 1820's. Everything is 1/16th of the original and it really is superb. A clever addition was a challenge to find four figures somewhere in the display, set for children but it had all of the adults on their toes. In an act of détente, I ended up trading trading information with a German tourist, who needed information I had. It was a lot of fun. Its easily the best of these type of attractions in Australia we have seen.

We had lunch and Sue went off to look at an Arts shop while I posted some cards to the grandsons. Writing and sending these cards to the three little boys who are checking their postboxes every day, is one of life's pleasures.

Once rejoined, we walked down to the river and along to the famed Richmond Bridge. What a wonderful construction it is.

Click here for today's photos

We used the next hour to get to our digs at Triabunna and then went for a drive which ended at the pub and escalated into fish and chips.

Its a hard life.

Sailing to Maria Island tomorrow. Fingers crossed for a the motion of the boat.

TOD Tour 2.0 Day 21 - Hughenden to Richmond

Long range touring is so much easier
than it once was

Hughenden to Richmond, Flinders Highway 120km (2745km)

West along the Flinders Highway today to Richmond.

The last act in Hughenden was an expensive one. With unleaded 95 octane unavailable, it was 98 at $1.79/L instead. Ouch!

For most of the 120km, the pavement gave us a rough ride. As the straightest connection between Mt Isa and the coast - at Townsville - the Flinders or A6, gets a hiding from trucks. We were buffeted by several big rigs with two equally big trailers attached and the road surface reflected in. Highlight of the trip was Sue waving to passing trains and having the driver toot his klaxon and the variety of greetings Peter gave oncoming drivers as he experiments with different forms of wave in order to settle on a signature style.

Because of the short distance, we arrived mid morning and headed to the highest rated cafe. It was a different experience. Located in someone's house, you entered through a side door to a room which held only three tables. Excess seating, which it was hardly surprising that we were, was back out the door, around the side of the house to the front and up the front steps to the narrow verandah which held another two tables. Despite this, the pies and cakes and slices, all home made on the premises, look delicious. We had very cheap tea - when was the last time you paid $2.50 for a big mug of tea?

The caravan park is a real treat. We are on a grassed site so level I don't have to unhitch the car, as we are just a walk into town. The amenities are first rate and the park borders on Fred Tritton Lake, a pleasant man-made expanse of water with sandy shores, a walking track which circumnavigates it and several bbq stations. It was built in 2004 and is named after a former long serving mayor.

We walked into town and followed the very informative signage which told us about the sites of historic buildings. I say sites, because apart from the Federal Palace Hotel which was rebuilt in 1924, everything else of any note or anything listed on the many signage spot, has been burnt down. The other pub, The Mud Hut Hotel, is one of many of them to burn repeatedly. One of its razings happened after a confrontation between men playing two up in the bag room while the local reverend led prayers and hymn singing in the front. The Federal itself was a rebuild after the original, built in 1904, was gutted by fire. It would seem the most in demand occupations in Richmond for more than 130 years have been fireman and builder. Of special note are the newer signs which are back lit at night, each one powered by its own solar cell.

Click for today's photos

As usual in these country towns, right across Australia, the most expansive and expensive building in town is the Council Chambers.

Sundowners were taken down by Fred Tritton Lake. We suffer on.