June 6, Murrunrundi, Muswellbrook, Maitland

We drove to Murrunrundi to see a park called the Eye of the Needle. An ambulance driver was nice enough to lead us in the direction of the road. But when we got to the last turn, we found road construction that prevented us from continuing. So we looked at the local Catholic Church and RR Station instead.

Down the road was a coal vein that has been burning for over 5000 years. We found the turnoff, but it would have taken over 2 hours to hike to it. We opted not to take the hike.

At Muswellbrook we went to St Alban's Church of England. It was closed but the secretary in the church office let us in. Another beautiful church. This one had painted wood ceilings and lovely stained glass windows. The town was also the home of the Blue Heeler, a cattle dog, a cross of dingoes with Northumberland Blue Merle's.

We spent the majority of the day driving. Outside of Tamworth we went through vast grasslands and cattle country. Then we drove through Scone, the premiere horse country in Australia, and past miles of horse farms. As we got closer to the coast, we went up and down long mountain roads and into an area of coal mining around Muswellbrook. Closer to Maitland, it was more built up and industrial.

At Maitland we took a tour of Maitland Gaol. It was a prison for over 154 years. It was an audio tour that took us all around the prison, through old cell blocks and newer ones. In addition to the narrator telling about the different sections, former prisoners talked about life there. Today was chilly and overcast and that added to the truly depressing atmosphere. I was happy to leave. However, it was late when we left, so we parked in a lot not too far away.

Jeanne with big Golden Guitar, Cattle country, Murrunrundi RR Station, St Alban's, Interior, Interior, Blue Heeler figurine, Maitland Gaol, Cellblock (note the locks on the doors, this was in use until the 1970s), Samson in gaol yard