Monday, April 28, 2014

Dinner at Gladstone Gaol 26th October 2013

Before dinner, we had a bit of fun playing Cops and Robbers.  Some of the costumes were brilliant.

















After dinner, darkness descended on us literally and in the form of Hanging Judge Mortimer.  His fearsome appearance and stern manner shook each of us to the core as he related our crimes and passed judgment on each of us while wearing a lambswool seat cover on his head.



Well done Dean.  The research you did provided each of us with a criminal alter ego based on actual records from Gladstone Gaol.  I was called before you as James Francis Maunion to answer for my crime of Larceny.  You sentenced me to 6 months hard labour, but I escaped and was never heard of again.

By the end of the night, our reputations were ruined and our shame ran deep as we we were all convicted criminals.

However, one sentence was held over, to be carried out the following morning………



Day 25: E Smith Road to Curnow's Hut

Sunday 27th October 2013

The day began ominously overcast as our walk group tried to shake off that lingering shame of having been treated as convicted felons the previous evening.  (See the separate blog entry for commentary and photos of the Gladstone Gaol dinner)

But worse was yet to come.  Our senses were shocked and our disbelief was evident as the following extraordinary events unfolded.  One grisly sentence, handed down the previous evening, was held over to be carried out in the presence of the walk group this morning.

At precisely 8.00am, a masked executioner brought forth the gallows.  Under the grey morning sky,  the hushed crowd witnessed harsh justice, swiftly and mercilessly wrought upon the unfortunate prisoner, Morris Minus.






The full extent of the law had been implacably applied to the prisoner, but miraculously, Morris Minus appeared no different than before.  We soon recovered our senses and went about the business of the day.  Cathy Kelly was awarded care of Morris Minus.


We walked about 25km on the day, mostly in overcast but fine conditions.  The many and varied country landscapes were enjoyed by all.











A grim reminder of the events of the morning.



Not so enjoyable were the dust, grass seeds and flies.  Did I mention the flies….?  Check the passengers in some of these photos.







We had a very relaxed lunch in the grass by a dam.





Several hours after lunch, the Bundaleer Forest appeared and after a long re-route of about 9 km, our walk was finished.






Day 24: Lock's Ruin to E Smith Road

Saturday 26th October 2013


The theme for this weekend, 'Cops and Robbers' seemed innocuous enough, and many got into the spirit of some good-natured dress up.  Little did we imagine the terrors that would soon haunt us.



Note Dean's cryptic flag - it is a copse (trees).

Morris Minus was dressed in prison garb by Cathy Kelly.






Morris Minus had been dressed for the occasion by Cathy Kelly and was awarded to Margaret Schmidke.  Margaret won the award for her meritorious behaviour accompanying Eve Buckley in her search to find her missing Tilley Hat.  Eve told everyone who would listen that the hat cost $170, and was not going to be left behind without going back to the scene of the crime.



Being October, the countryside had turned dry and there was plenty of tall grass and an abundance of ripening crops about.


At this time of year, the water hazards are less than hazardous.





We had no problems navigating, just follow the signs ……. or the pipeline.



We did find a shady spot for morning tea and later had lunch at the Georgetown corner store.



The afternoon was quite warm and there was not much shade, so we helped provide some for future Heysen trail walkers.

Photo by Michael Middleton

We met Neil and Ann Nosworthy at Hiskey's Hut and helped water the young trees just recently planted by the FOHT greening group.


The day's walk was about 21km and we found many patches of wildflowers to admire along the way.


Then it was back to Georgetown for drinks and nibbles at the end of the day.