18-24 deg C,
overcast all day, with light drizzle in the afternoon and evening
We were on the road a smidge before 8am despite not having far to travel today. Our only stop en- route was at Georgetown, for mornos and a leg stretch. We had travelled through Georgetown in 2018 with Gunther and Yvonne but had not walked the streets. After coffee in Greens Park, we wandered the big block and took in the Tourist Infor Centre, and several historical buildings on the Georgetown Pioneer Walk.
We refuelled at Georgetown, not because we had to, but because we could at $2.43 per litre; we thought it wasn’t too bad. Onwards we travelled towards our planned free camp at Gilbert River West rest stop, until we stumbled upon Cumberland Chimney. We only pulled off to view it and carry on. However, we decided to stay the night as it looked like a nice place to stay. Whilst it has toilets, it has no internet (hence this being a day late) (Gilbert River has internet but no toilets!) Can’t have everything. About 50 other people with their RVs thought it was pretty good too, eventually it was standing room only.
After setting up, the boys went for a ride along the highway for about 7km until Greg got service on his phone; he needed to make a text. Lunch was had on their return, then a little rest. Greg, Wendy and Bob then went for a walk around the mine dam, a popular hangout for water birds, before Wendy did some more crocheting and Greg went for another ride. This dam and the chimney are the only remaining substantial elements of the Cumberland Mine that was one of the largest and most successful gold mines on the Etheridge Field. Gold production reached a peak of 11 500 ounces just before the mine was listed on the London Market in 1886. Alas it fell rapidly after that. The company abandoned the site in 1897, although spasmodic attempts to use the battery continued until 1934.
After
pre-dinner drinks, dinner was cooked and eaten in our respective vans. Steady
light rain started to fall not long after we had finished dinner.
