Tag: Mitchell

Around Mitchell

17th September 2024

Distance: 96 Km

Fuel: 57 L

Was up at my usual time. After a shower decided to wash my dirty clothes as the day promised to be quite warm. In fact by 9am the day was already warm despite the night being near freezing.

Drove the 7km to Arrest Creek where the Kenniff brothers were arrested are killing two policemen. They are claimed to be the last Australian Bushrangers.

Arrest Creek Kenniff Brothers MemorialArrest Creek Kenniff Brothers MemorialArrest Creek Kenniff Brothers MemorialArrest Creek Kenniff Brothers Memorial

On the way back noticed a single bushranger in the same style as the sculpture at Arrest Creek.

Bushanger Sculpture

Next drove to the camp site of Thomas Mitchell the surveyor trying to find an overland route to the Gulf of Carpentaria. It was actually about 35 km outside town along a mostly single lane road with a  couple of kilometres of dirt road to the actual site.

Enroute to Thomas Mitchell CampGRMN0026

Thomas Mitchell Camp SiteThomas Mitchell Camp SiteThomas Mitchell Camp SiteThomas Mitchell Camp Site

Filled up with fuel for tomorrow once back in town, then called into the local bakery for their s lunch special of a “pork and gravy roll with chips”. I quite enjoyed it.

Mitchell Bakery

Mitchell is a nice little town though the number of vacant shops along the main street show that it is not experiencing the best of times.

MitchellMitchellMitchellMitchellMitchellMitchell Musucal GridMitchell

The river reached a record level in 2012 flooding the town.

Mitchell

Mitchell

16th September 2024

Distance: 461 Km

The blustery winds that I feared would keep me awake last night subsided by 8pm so while it was a cold night it was a quiet night. I made a hot water bottle because it was so cold. It is not that my bed is too cold but the hot water bottle warms it up quickly.

This morning had my shower at 6am and my porridge just after 7am, it doesn’t take long to pack up so I was on the road by a few minutes after 8am.

I had planned to stop several times on the way but some times plans just don’t work out, for example in St George every vacant spot seemed to have a caravan parked in it.

Moree to St GeorgeMoree to St GeorgeMoree to St GeorgeMoree to St George

Did stop at Thallon for a decent break and chance to look at their Silo Mural.

Thallon Silo MuralThallon

The road between St George is a “B” road and rest areas are few and far between, it wasn’t a bad road for probably three quarters of its length but toward the Mitchell end there were a lot of single lane sections where passing traffic has to put near side wheels in the dirt.

St George to MitchellSt George to Mitchell

The Major Mitchell Caravan Park was easy to find on the outskirts of town and I soon had my spot, initially she offered me a ensuite site which I knocked back, it retrospect I should have taken it as it was only $5 more than an ordinary site.

Major Mitchell Caravan Park

Once set up I wandered down to the river.

Major Mitchell Caravan ParkMajor Mitchell Caravan Park

As it was still only mid afternoon drove into town, noticed a tyre place so went in and asked if they could balance the front wheels today as it happened they could so I left the car and walked down to the spa centre for coffee and cake. These hot spas are common over the Great Artesian Basin.

Mitchell

Back at the caravan park  tried to plan my next move, was somewhat shocked to find that parks in Cunnamulla are charging $61 a night, I think that is ridiculous so am still not sure where to go next.

I read my book for a while before making myself some dinner, might watch a movie tonight, still haven’t bothered to set up the aerial so TV News is out.