July - Charter Towers

27/7

Left Greenvale bought 9. Stopped at Bluewater roadhouse – icecream. Road was good up to there – only 1 short narrow patch but after that about 40km of ‘development ‘road. Will be great when all finished. Very pleasant drive though and only 2 road trains. You sure need to move right off the seal for them – if they get their wheels in the grit they throw it for miles. Don’t slow down at all either!!!!

 

 

Parked at Fletcher free camp #285 beside a river. Heaps here and over the road on the other side. Can stay a month apparently. Nice cool breeze thank goodness – no power of course but have the solar panels out. No internet either although supposed to phone coverage – 1 bar! May be a bit close to the road though – an easy place to park with no backing.

Spent  3 hours down by the river chatting to lots of people. One couple were at Mt Surprise – parked beside me here.

28/7

Several roosters at the camp waking everyone up around 4.30!

Moved to Charters Towers Tourist park for 2 nights. Bush poets – very good.

29/7

Out to Texas Longhorns with wagon ride! $75 for 3 hours!!!! Took an hour to boil the billy, eat damper and listen to ‘humour’. Another hour to wander through the saddle shop to see how they are made – interesting. Also a gift shop, then another hour wandering out around the nearest paddock in a wagon with 2 Percheron horses to see JR – longest horns – Guinness Book of Records now. Also buffalo and a few roos in the distance. Very pleasant but certainly not ‘full on action’! Excellent set up though and very clever artistic couple with their leather work.

30/7

Macrossan free camp overnight beside Burdekin River/rail bridge. #283

Fuse blown – no 12v power. Finally found the box and swapped some around so I could charge the phone.

Drinks with Mt Surprise couple and some other couples around a camp fire. Cold at night though.

An old bloke with a great Dane – small van and car! Also another bloke in a wheelchair – travelling in a panel van with a big dog. Put up his TV aerial etc.:)

Emailed Jayco re shower door latch, cupboard hinge etc.

Several people camped at the Burdekin Duck where I stayed last time.

31/7

In to Townsville to get parts, plus 3 latches for bed ends. $85. Mad house trying to park near Jayco and they are really busy but at least had all the parts. Suggested a mobile mechanic if I needed help to change the bits as they are too busy. Lots of nice new vans there.

Fuel at Home Hill then to Guthalungra free camp. #52 Got packets of fuses!!!! Generator running for power for a while to charge computer mostly. Need a shower – better fire up the gas in the morning! Had a fish burger for dinner again – yum. Camp full again plus people down near the road – very popular. The septic toilets are in now and everything grassed so much nicer. Still a big area out the back where I'm sure they must be going to extend the parking. Can't believe the shop doesn’t do meals after 6pm though – big dining room too!

A young couple pulled up in a small hatchback – had a very young baby and 2 dogs!!!! Rotty and a little mutt! Poor kid!

Skinny bridge at Ayr – got through before they stopped the traffic for a wide load.

Lovely river flowing – has been a lot higher. Good fishing – catching redclaw etc.