Sunday 10^th June – Charters Towers

We went to 9am mass at Charters Towers then headed off to Townsville.It was a lovely mass. Lots more people then usual because it was a celebration -120years I think. The priest chose to explain his sermon using McDonalds food[across the road from the church]. He said we are what we eat and this was the analogy he used  for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Charters Towers has boarding schools and he said he did not use the food at the mass for the boarders as they may have fought him for the food. They had a big school reunion so there were lots of extra people at church. They had a big dinner on the Sat night and the venue had to be changed at the last minute because a possum ate thru the electrics of the original venue! As we were driving   once again the topography surprised with the rate of change of the landscape. Just outside of Charters Towers there was a large free camp site on the Burdekin river.There were a lot of vans there and we were surprised at how high river bank was .It must have been at least 15-16 metres high. We stopped along the way at another free camp site for morning tea. This was also on the river and very well set up.

We were shocked coming into Townsville. Traffic lights! Haven’t seen any since Canberra.

Where to stay in Townsville? Fortunately we had been told about a park at Rowes Bay, so with Fay armed with a not-very-detailed map, we threaded our way through the outskirts of Townsville and, after stopping at a shopping centre to do a bit of shopping, we arrived directly as per the instructions from Fay. What a navigator!! There are quite a few caravan parks in Townsville, as you can imagine, so we looked at the one recommended and it was right on the water. We walk across the road and there you are. They are all more expensive then inland but I (Fay)need to be near water!

Monday 11^th June - Townsville

This morning it was 16 degrees! So warm. I said to Adrian we may just stay here!

Across from us is the beach and a cycleway that goes for 4kms out to headland. We rode along there this afternoon. Lots of beach access and signs very emphatic about no camping or motorhomes.

The first foot in the water

This morning we drove into town - only a couple of kms. The water front stretches for about 3kms. This is beach, playgrounds, eateries, cycle track etc. It is called the Strand and it is lovely. There are 2 patrolled beaches and heaps of other areas to swim. They have a big fenced area that is stinger free that is also lovely. People have always swam at that spot and it has gone thru regular transformations.

Vinegar for the Stingers - They are all along the beach

The giant sand bags for the reclamation prpject

The Red Baron Float plan doing joy flights - we didn't.

Our Riding path with bridges over the Moreton Bay Fig roots

We enjoyed walking along here and I had to have a paddle. It wasn’t cold! This is s lovely park but no arranged camp dinners as in the country. We have chatted to lots of people. One lady came and checked out the van as they are thinking of changing theirs. We are amazed by the variety of vans and how you rarely see two the same. We are eating outside because it is much warmer.

Tomorrow we are off to Magnetic Island for the day! We can see the island from where we are 8km away!  Life is good!