Day 34: LOST rain and the Hatfield's and McCoy's

Today learned about Ned Kelly.  Apparently 150 + years ago there was this cop who hit on a farmer’s daughter.  Her brother shot at the cop and grazed his wrist, her Mother hit the cop over the head with a shovel.    Mom was arrested and sentenced to 3 years hard labor.  Ned became an outlaw and a bunch of his friends joined him in the woods panning for gold.

The cops came to hunt him down and set up shop in the woods.  They spread rumors that there were more groups coming to help flush them out which frightened Ned and his buddies.  Eventually Ned and his buddies stormed the cop’s camp site and ended up killing 3 of them earning them the name “The Kelly Gang”.  A year and a half later they were caught and all of them killed but Ned who stood trial and then he was killed. 

It was fabulous.  We saw the tree that was hit by a stray bullet.  Only it wasn’t the real tree.  The real tree was chopped down.  So they named a second tree that had been shot by a bullet “The Kelly Tree”.  Only that wasn’t the real tree either, that one died from rot.  The tree that we saw was the third “Kelly Tree”.  It’s never actually been shot by a bullet, but it looked like a good healthy tree that  they could post a plaque on to honor the fallen police men who died in the shoot out that was ‘not far from’ where that tree is.  Only that tree didn’t like the plaque so it tried to eat it.  So they put this other plaque next to the tree and that’s where it stands today.

When we finally had stopped laughing long enough to start walking again, we walked to where the shoot out actually occurred.  The area has been mined over repeatedly (there’s gold in them there hills!) so there were these all around. 

On our way back to the car park (that’s where the cars play while you do your fun activity) it started hailing.  It was just like in the TV show LOST.  One minute, clear skys.  The next, pouring rain turning quickly to hail.  And it would pour for a minute, then let up, then you’d hear the rain pelting the canopy above before you could actually feel the rain.  It was really incredible.  I forgot about being cold because I was just enjoying the wonder of it all.  The kids were still laughing and giggling.  It was great fun! 

X² asked me to take this picture of him and say, “This is what buddies are for!”

We got back in the car and continued along our way.  We learned about the explorers Burke and Willi--basically Oz’s Lewis and Clarke—at our next stop.  There’s this great little museum started in 1863 in the shire of Beechworth.  They have Ned Kelly’s homemade armour and a copy of his death mask.  It was really cool. 

Location

We stopped at a gas station and next to the bottles of oil and power steering fluid--of all things--was a pot of local honey.  π couldn't resist so he bought a tub.  I'm so glad he did!  I don't love honey, actually the only honey I've ever eaten and enjoyed was from my sister's back yard.  Until now.  This area was full of grape vines.  You can taste the grapes in the honey!  It's absolutely heavenly!

We have now finally made our way to Wagga Wagga.  It’s the nicest caravan park we’ve stayed at yet.  Yay for a bed and a shower and a good hot breakfast!