Day 75: Meandering around Glen Innes...

...this is a good way to describe our day. There are not a whole lot of whizz-bang things to do here and one really has to enjoy the slower pace of life to appreciate this place.

The Australian Standing Stones

Our first stop was to the Australian Standing Stones. As Glen Innes is Celtic country, this is rather fitting. The Standing Stones were created in recognition, and as a celebration of, the Celtic history of this area. The stones are each 3.7m above ground and a minimum of 5.5m high altogether. It was interesting to read up about the significance of the positioning of the stones and is amazing to think of how clever humans are to come up with a calendar (for all intents and purposes) of this magnitude.

Perhaps we should have named him Arthur...

The Beardies Museum was next on the agenda, but rather quaintly is only open between 10-12 and 2-4. As it was 11.55 by this time, we had to give that a skip and go 'home' for lunch. The Beardies Museum (and river and a number of other things) are named for the bearded gentlemen who poineered their way in this direction and settled. They even have a Beardies Festival at some time in the year, complete with beard judging competitions, etc.

A drive in the countryside after lunch took us to Emmaville and Deepwater, both set in picturesque settings, but leaving us wondering why anyone would want to live out in the boondocks like this. Our type of 'rural' in Launceston has nothing on this. Emmaville has a mining museum and it cost us a whopping $4 to go in (for all of us). Their gem, crystal and fossil collection is quite astounding and Andrew made a beeline for anything with a price tag on it. He eventually bought himself a cluster of Agate crystals of which he is very proud.

Between Emmaville and Deepwater is an arsenic mine, the name of which escapes me at the moment. (And as I am currently sipping champagne, I probably won't remember it later either!) This is an interesting site, not least of which because it warns you off touching anything or helping yourself to the drinking water...which is not drinkable. The fallen down walls are positively encrusted with arsenic crystals and are very well fenced off. You can get a really good look, but from a polite 'ooh' 'aah' kind of distance. We had a jolly good look at everything, learnt about how arsenic can kill you off if you are careless (or someone else is careless around you), and that no deaths occurred amongst the people who helped to mine and refine the stuff.

And now for a lesson in following instructions...at the arsenic mine.

It was a slow and relaxing kind of day. Tomorrow will see us head off to Hastings Point, to a five star holiday park and a bit of luxury, I should think. I know the boys will be thrilled to have a pool to swim in and a variety of other activies to keep them busy. But more about that tomorrow...