Friday...18 July 2014

From Townsville to Greenvale we're building a line
Through the ranges and gorges to the great nickel mine
The long days are dusty and hotter than hell
And that's why we all worship Three Rivers Hotel
(Sung by Slim Dusty, Lyrics by Stan Coster)

Last night we had dinner at the Three Rivers Hotel. We met up with a lively mob of road workers who had just knocked off for the day and were washing the dust out of their throats. Much merriment and laughter listening to their descriptions of the traffic blunders they have seen on the job.
Out the back of the hotel is a sausage tree, it is one of only two known to be in this area.

The nuts look a bit like sausages. Fascinating to see.

Very pleased we stopped in Greenvale even if they do not have internet, mobile reception or television! What they are missing in technology they more than make up for in the warmth of the welcome.
And by the way, the nickel mine closed in 1993 and the town nearly became a ghost town but there are about 150 locals still keeping it going.