Friday, Apr 30, 2004 at 14:28
Sunseeker,
You are going to realise how ancient I am when I tell you that the first time I went in there was 30 years ago and in those days it was still called the
Mitchell River Mission. We had obtained written permission from the Govt Dept to report to the Mission where we would be taken down the river to a camping spot . In those days the missions were "dry"
and run like a big familly cattle property and the aboriginal people were all very friendly and we all went fishing together . This was sometimes a problem because they loved to spear the barra when we got them near the boat .
The next trip was eight years later and this time the running of the mission had been turned over to the locals . It had been re-named
Kowanyama (can't spell it !) and was really run down and neglected .
We were reluctantly given permission to
camp and fish and caught heaps of barra . We were in a 2wd this trip and were bogged for 6 days on the black soil plains on the way out to
Chillagoe . On the first trip , we had tried to get there from
Normanton , but the police would not let us go as they said the road was horrendous . So , being
young and energetic,we drove all the way across to
Chillagoe and then WNW back to the
Mitchell . The second trip we just used the same path .
I am not sure about how the road from
Normanton North is now . It's been a long time and there could be a good road there now .
It's great country up there , especially if you are interested in old mining areas , fishing and shooting . etc.
Have a great trip ,
Willie
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