Brian, James and I arrived back in Townsville mid-morning Sunday and drove into the caravan park closest to the airport. Brian was booked on a flight back home Monday. After setting up we went back to The Strand, had a lovely walk and revisited the Surf Club ordering the same lunch as the previous Sunday - a shared grazing plate with Pinot Gris. It was just as yummy as the first one.
Back at the van late Sunday the wind direction put us under the approach path of large RPT aircraft on short final. The sound and sight was amazing (to Brian and me as pilots) but exacerbated a developing issue with James. A few days prior he had freaked out for no apparent reason while we were fishing off the jetty at Balgal, started shaking and tried to clamber up on to my body. The only thing we noticed was that a large seabird had landed not far away. In the following few days the behaviour persisted and he seemed to feel vulnerable when outside. He insisted in being in the van or car most of the time which was so very unlike him. Well, the large, low and loud 'birds' overhead totally freaked him out. He was a mess. Fortunately it all stopped a bit after dark and he settled for the night tucked up in bed - but he sure didn't want to go outside in the morning.
If I thought the noise was loud Sunday....well guess what....the RAAF had heaps of jet operations happening all day Monday and Tuesday. OMG poor James was terrified, so much so that at one point he bolted in a blind panic while waiting for me to put the lead on. I couldn't find him and as we were beside a major road I absolutely shat myself. Luckily a couple of nearby campers had cornered him before he escaped the van park and I met them trying to find me with him in their arms trembling like I had never before seen. Poor baby. It was as though his personality had changed. That was it - off to the vet. He was almost due for his annual vaccine so I killed two birds with one stone and he had a very thorough check up. We walked out with a clean certificate of health and some doggy sedative.
Brian left Monday (which probably added to James level of insecurity), but before he went we did catch up with our friend Christine for breaky at The Rockpool on The Strand. What a beautiful spot! She invited James and me to come and spend a couple of nights with her and Bruce in their gorgeous apartment overlooking the sea to Magnetic Island. That turned out to be the best idea ever cos James instantly settled, made himself at home and pretty much returned to his normal, laid back old self. Thank God!
With the Jeep booked in at Ultra Tune for it's 110,000 km service on Wednesday, my plan was to leave Townsville Thursday so I could take my time getting to Winton by Monday for the Outback Festival, for which I had pre-booked. That gave Christine, Bruce and me time to do some really cool stuff.
We had leisurely mornings on their terrace:
Lovely strolls along the foreshore:
An absolutely stunning walk to Jezzine Barracks and surrounds on Kissing Point headland:
And a ferry ride across to Magnetic Island with a delicious lunch and Sav Blanc at the beautiful Peppers Resort while there:
It was a fantastic couple of days and actually quite nice to have a break from the van!
Bruce drove me to collect my car early Thursday. I was supposed to pick it up Wednesday arvo, but I drank too much wine at Magnetic so it had a sleepover at Ultra Tune. And, I must add, I was truly impressed with them. They had thoroughly checked everything, new air and oil filters, oil, coolant etc, replaced hard to access globes, given a full detailed report with nationwide warranty on the work, a roadside assist package and washed the car. All for $317. And my tyres had shiny black on them. Nice one! Back at the van park I was all hitched and ready to go by 10.30.
We had a short run west stopping for the night at Macrossan Park some 25 km before Charters Towers. It was a huge free camp area with toilets beside a very sad looking Burdekin River. Lots of the rivers in the area are completely dry and while the Burdekin had a bit of a flow it was way down. The whole space was a dust bowl, though I can imagine it would be lovely with a high river and green vegetation. It was also blowing a gale, as it had uncharacteristically been doing for most of my time in Queensland.
MACROSSAN PARK scores a 2.5 but if the river was up it could be a 4. Plenty of space, toilets, fire pits and tables. It's well off the highway but does sit below a railway bridge. I heard 4 trains go through in the night.
We were in Charters Towers before nine next morning with the aim of doing a bit of sight seeing. Our first stop was a rest area before town where the workings of an old gold mine were on display. While taking James for a wee wander I noticed a car with a van on tow displaying a pink number. Ahh, a fellow Roller. I introduced myself to Annette who was heading across to Exmouth for the Rolling Solo annual gathering, SITMEX. We had a chat and I grabbed a snap.
After a visit to the supermarket to stock up and a drive around the historic old town we walked up Towers Hill Lookout. CT has a fascinating history dating back to the 1800's when it became famous for it's gold mining. It also played a key role for Australia in WW11 when thousands of American Airforce personnel were stationed there. The history of CT is well covered on the hill with storyboards, original bomb shelters and the ruins of the Pyrites Works. There's also and interactive display about bomber aircraft. The view from the deck at the top takes in the township and surrounding countryside. It's very well done.
After a lot of research I decided to make my next stopover at the Prarie Pub a couple of hundred kilometers further West along the Flinders Highway. Camping out back was free if you went in for a drink and/or dinner. A bit of a one horse town so bugger all there except the pub, and it's an icon in it's own right. Tom, the owner, is an affable bloke, the bar and front verandah are full of character and the dinner is something else. Everyone sits together on one table and there is only one meal on the menu...steak (medium) mashed spud and four veg. It costs $18.50 and is served at 6.30. It's not the best meal I have ever had but it was plentiful and fun. With drinks (I had a few) I spent $51. Not exactly a cheap night but needs to go on your 'must do' list.
PRAIRIE PUB gets a 4. The area out back is not huge and has a tin she'd and hose for a shower. It's flat and dusty but the pub is a gem and the hosts are great. Pub camping may be free but by the time you've had dinner and drinks you're quite a few buck lighter. It's a good way to meet people.
Back at the van late Sunday the wind direction put us under the approach path of large RPT aircraft on short final. The sound and sight was amazing (to Brian and me as pilots) but exacerbated a developing issue with James. A few days prior he had freaked out for no apparent reason while we were fishing off the jetty at Balgal, started shaking and tried to clamber up on to my body. The only thing we noticed was that a large seabird had landed not far away. In the following few days the behaviour persisted and he seemed to feel vulnerable when outside. He insisted in being in the van or car most of the time which was so very unlike him. Well, the large, low and loud 'birds' overhead totally freaked him out. He was a mess. Fortunately it all stopped a bit after dark and he settled for the night tucked up in bed - but he sure didn't want to go outside in the morning.
If I thought the noise was loud Sunday....well guess what....the RAAF had heaps of jet operations happening all day Monday and Tuesday. OMG poor James was terrified, so much so that at one point he bolted in a blind panic while waiting for me to put the lead on. I couldn't find him and as we were beside a major road I absolutely shat myself. Luckily a couple of nearby campers had cornered him before he escaped the van park and I met them trying to find me with him in their arms trembling like I had never before seen. Poor baby. It was as though his personality had changed. That was it - off to the vet. He was almost due for his annual vaccine so I killed two birds with one stone and he had a very thorough check up. We walked out with a clean certificate of health and some doggy sedative.
Brian left Monday (which probably added to James level of insecurity), but before he went we did catch up with our friend Christine for breaky at The Rockpool on The Strand. What a beautiful spot! She invited James and me to come and spend a couple of nights with her and Bruce in their gorgeous apartment overlooking the sea to Magnetic Island. That turned out to be the best idea ever cos James instantly settled, made himself at home and pretty much returned to his normal, laid back old self. Thank God!
With the Jeep booked in at Ultra Tune for it's 110,000 km service on Wednesday, my plan was to leave Townsville Thursday so I could take my time getting to Winton by Monday for the Outback Festival, for which I had pre-booked. That gave Christine, Bruce and me time to do some really cool stuff.
We had leisurely mornings on their terrace:
Lovely strolls along the foreshore:
And a ferry ride across to Magnetic Island with a delicious lunch and Sav Blanc at the beautiful Peppers Resort while there:
It was a fantastic couple of days and actually quite nice to have a break from the van!
Bruce drove me to collect my car early Thursday. I was supposed to pick it up Wednesday arvo, but I drank too much wine at Magnetic so it had a sleepover at Ultra Tune. And, I must add, I was truly impressed with them. They had thoroughly checked everything, new air and oil filters, oil, coolant etc, replaced hard to access globes, given a full detailed report with nationwide warranty on the work, a roadside assist package and washed the car. All for $317. And my tyres had shiny black on them. Nice one! Back at the van park I was all hitched and ready to go by 10.30.
We had a short run west stopping for the night at Macrossan Park some 25 km before Charters Towers. It was a huge free camp area with toilets beside a very sad looking Burdekin River. Lots of the rivers in the area are completely dry and while the Burdekin had a bit of a flow it was way down. The whole space was a dust bowl, though I can imagine it would be lovely with a high river and green vegetation. It was also blowing a gale, as it had uncharacteristically been doing for most of my time in Queensland.
MACROSSAN PARK scores a 2.5 but if the river was up it could be a 4. Plenty of space, toilets, fire pits and tables. It's well off the highway but does sit below a railway bridge. I heard 4 trains go through in the night.
We were in Charters Towers before nine next morning with the aim of doing a bit of sight seeing. Our first stop was a rest area before town where the workings of an old gold mine were on display. While taking James for a wee wander I noticed a car with a van on tow displaying a pink number. Ahh, a fellow Roller. I introduced myself to Annette who was heading across to Exmouth for the Rolling Solo annual gathering, SITMEX. We had a chat and I grabbed a snap.
After a visit to the supermarket to stock up and a drive around the historic old town we walked up Towers Hill Lookout. CT has a fascinating history dating back to the 1800's when it became famous for it's gold mining. It also played a key role for Australia in WW11 when thousands of American Airforce personnel were stationed there. The history of CT is well covered on the hill with storyboards, original bomb shelters and the ruins of the Pyrites Works. There's also and interactive display about bomber aircraft. The view from the deck at the top takes in the township and surrounding countryside. It's very well done.
After a lot of research I decided to make my next stopover at the Prarie Pub a couple of hundred kilometers further West along the Flinders Highway. Camping out back was free if you went in for a drink and/or dinner. A bit of a one horse town so bugger all there except the pub, and it's an icon in it's own right. Tom, the owner, is an affable bloke, the bar and front verandah are full of character and the dinner is something else. Everyone sits together on one table and there is only one meal on the menu...steak (medium) mashed spud and four veg. It costs $18.50 and is served at 6.30. It's not the best meal I have ever had but it was plentiful and fun. With drinks (I had a few) I spent $51. Not exactly a cheap night but needs to go on your 'must do' list.
PRAIRIE PUB gets a 4. The area out back is not huge and has a tin she'd and hose for a shower. It's flat and dusty but the pub is a gem and the hosts are great. Pub camping may be free but by the time you've had dinner and drinks you're quite a few buck lighter. It's a good way to meet people.
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