dazjet 'n family: Basically Beechworth

On Thursday I drove the three of us and our bikes up to Beechworth... it is literally up... only 16 km's but uphill all the way. We then left the car in Beechworth by the old train station, the start of the bike trail back down to Everton. The ride was a simple one, just to coast down... but there were over 30 caches on the journey. We managed to get over 20 of them.

Once back in Everton we popped into the general store for a well earned milkshake.

The rest of the day we spent at the pool and hanging around the caravan. Around 4pm Jeanette and Zac arrived from home to join us for the rest of this trip. Zac had worked a shift yesterday and was now free to come away on holidays. That is how we were able to get the car back from Beechworth... because I wasn't riding back up!

Friday was a family day out with no bikes for a change... back up to Beechworth. We first went and bought tickets for the tour of the old jail which we had not done before. The jail was only closed in the early 2000's. It's history goes back to the 1800's and it's most famous inmate was Ned Kelly before he was sent to Melbourne to face trial. The guided tour lasted just over an hour and was choc full of interesting stories. For example - the reason Kelly was sent to Melbourne for trial - local police didn't think they would get a fair jury in Beechworth as he and his gang had not only stolen cash from local banks, but also mortgage papers, meaning many locals had their mortgages annulled!

Another of the interesting stories relate to Woodsy who painted the mural below that is still visible. Apparently he also painted murals while a prisoner right over in Perth as well as other jails in the Eastern states! The guide said he anonymously came on the tour recently to check on his murals - he only contacted them afterwards to tell them!

Ned Kelly was housed in cell #30 after his arrest following the seige of Glenrowan. The cell has had upgrades since, with toilet and electricity!

After the tour we had a picnic lunch in the Town Hall Park just opposite - full of wonderful pine trees, mindful of falling ones of course! It mustn't be the season for the Bunya pine cones to fall, as they are as big as a basketball.