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Published: June 29th 2014
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Glen Innes Showgrounds
It was so cold last night that we had a frost all across the arena this morning. There’s frost on the ground this morning, all across the arena. It looks lovely but feels very nippy! By the time we’d had breakfast and stowed everything to leave the sun had melted most of it but it was still a five-layers-of-clothes kind of morning.
Before we left Glen Innes, we dropped into the Information Centre to ask the jeweller if any of the stones we’d found were worth cutting. I wasn’t surprised when he said no. We haven’t made our fortune.
It was a straight forward drive to Tenterfield and we were lucky enough to have a tail wind to help us along. We did see one highly surprising letter box, which I couldn’t photograph as we were moving too fast (and you can’t pull a heavy vehicle to a screeching halt on a highway to take photos, unfortunately). It was a full-sized beautifully kept black Dalek complete with Death Ray arm. It was marvellous and so unexpected, sitting menacingly by the gate, gleaming in the sun.
In Tenterfield, we set up at Craig’s Caravan Park, which is rather small but is kept immaculate (it has the cleanest loos I’ve ever seen in a site and there’s
Tenterfield "Granite Tour"
There were huge rocks all across the landscape and many were worn smooth on one side. Some were balancing, like this one, on another stone even a pot of silk flowers decorating the sinks) and has a gorgeous view of the mountains right outside our door.
They also have a really cheap laundry ($2.40 a wash, cold only) so I did this week’s washing after lunch and got it out to dry in the sun. Our hosts had recommended Scenic Tour No 9, the Granite Tour, so we set out about 3pm, hoping we’d get it done before dark. It took us through part of the town and then up into the mountains past a tree covered cone, called the Doctor’s Nose; the small Bald Rock, a large clear rock face sticking out of the trees; a nice view into Mole Valley; and Draining Rock, a huge monolith with a lovely coloured face that looked as if it had water flow marks all over it. This rock is 2nd in size to the well known Bald Rock, the largest exposed granite monolith in Australia, and looks very impressive.
Next we saw the Wallagara Lookout, which had lovely views. All through the drive we’d been seeing huge rocks scattered across the area, even stacked on one another and balancing precariously. I wouldn’t want to
Tenterfield "Granite Tour"
It looked as if a giant or the Devil had been playing building or marbles and got bored. The rock on top is enormous. be driving through the area if they ever have a tremor! Many of them were worn round by weathering so it looked as if a giant had been playing marbles and got bored and left them like that. Amazing!
The next lookout showed Tenterfield, between two hills. It was hard to see so we parked on the side and got out to see if it would be a better view further up the hill. Almost immediately, a flock of sheep some distance away started bleating loudly and moving towards us. Soon they were all running flat out and heading straight for me. Barry was still near the ute and they ignored him but quickly surrounded me and then stopped and waited expectantly and silently. They were so funny. One had a good sniff around the back of my legs but the rest just stood looking at me. I thought perhaps they were used to being hand fed and had come running for the fodder but Barry believes they would have gone to the ute if that was the case (we’ve previously seen cattle following a ute from which the farmer was throwing out feed). He thinks they were just
Draining Rock, Tenterfield "Granite Tour"
This is the 2nd largest exposed granite monolith in Australia (Bald Rock is the first). I loved the flowing colours across its face. curious and when one decided to check us out the rest followed, as is their wont. Barry called me the Pied Piper of Tenterfield, for sheep!
After a while I continued walking up the hill to the high spot and they let me, just standing and watching me go. Barry followed me past the sheep - that basically ignored him. When we’d finished looking at the view, which was better up there, we headed back to the ute, towards the flock that was still standing where we’d left them. We got halfway back, being watched all the way, and they suddenly broke into a run, bleating as they went, and fled back up the hill to where they’d originally come from. It looked hilarious. Dopey creatures!
The final stop on the tour was at the top of Mt McKenzie for another lookout. The view was amazing but it was getting really cold up there and the sun was rapidly falling so we didn’t stay long. On the whole it had been an interesting drive.
Back at the van, the washing was nearly dry, and as we were expecting a frost, I brought it in and spread it
Tenterfield "Granite Tour"
At the Tenterfield Lookout, this flock of sheep ran flat out, bleating madly, from the top of the hill to see and surround me. They started to follow me up the hill to take a photo but decided to watch me instead. around to finish off. There aren’t too many places inside a van to hang things to dry without falling over them so we had clothes on hangers balancing from every pelmet and cupboard door and underwear on every knob. There was hardly room for us! Still, as we had the heater on, most of it was dry enough to put away before we went to bed.
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