Today marks a week that we’ve spent in Townsville, and we’ve enjoyed the break it has given us. The chance to do a bit of sight seeing, as well as having a few days relaxing, and doing not much at all, has reinvigorated us to the point that we are getting itchy feet and are eager to move onwards. We are kind of stuck here for at least another night however, as we are still anticipating the delivery of some spare parts for ‘The Beast’ which I had dispatched from Sydney at the start of the week. I had hoped that we would be on the road again today, but it was not to be the case.

My enquiries have revealed that the parts are sitting somewhere in Townsville, waiting to be delivered to their final address, hopefully during the day today, so rather than stress, we marked today down as another day of rest.

I started the day off by sitting beneath our annex reading, giving Bec a chance to have a decent sleep in. I didn’t see her until after 11:00AM, when she poked her head groggily out of the door to ask if I knew what time it was? And why did I let her sleep so long? I don’t think that there was a correct answer to either question.

Judging by the bellowing grey clouds forming in the sky, there was a feeling of more rain in the air again today, so our first job was to deconstruct the annex. Being made out of canvas, storing it away whilst damp encourages the onset of mould, so we wanted it all stowed before it got wet again. Considering that we are fully expecting to be on our way again tomorrow, it was a job that had to be completed today in any case. I certainly didn’t want to be messing around with it first thing in the morning before we leave.

As I wrestled with the great sheets of heavy canvas, Bec got stuck into her chores. Namely the washing. I have promised that I won’t make her out to be neurotic about the laundry, by reporting upon every load of washing, but when she takes one big load over to the caravan park laundry, so she can syphon smaller loads through our own machine, I think it’s worthy of a mention.

With our outdoor room now nothing more than a memory and a yellow square of dying grass, and the van pretty well packed for travel tomorrow, we herded the dogs into ‘The Beast’ for a trip up to a nearby lookout. We had seen a photo online last night of what appeared to be a marvelous view of the coast line. Shazza had the point plotted as being only a matter of a few kilometres up the road, so who would we be to disbelieve her? As we got closer, Shazzas final word of instruction to us went along the lines of: “In 800 metres, navigate off road”. She then promptly went to sleep I think, as we couldn’t get another word out of her.

As it turned out, all we could see 800m down the road was a thick scrubby brush of gum trees, with no indication that anything more scenic might be observed by ‘navigating off road’. So we continued along the road we were on, heading away from Townsville, but at least ascending the flank of a small range of hillocks. We figured at the top would be as good a location as any for a lookout, and a much better site than in the middle of a dense forest.

Towards the top of the ranges, we did indeed come across a small parking area, which wasn’t signposted as the vantage point we were seeking, but provided a decent view across the lower forest area to Townsville. The view was assuredly not what we had expected, given the online advert we seen. As such, we continued on our way, to see if there was another lookout, but 20km later, as we started to descend the opposite side of the mountains, we eventually came to the conclusion that what we had seen was about all we were going to see. Goes to show, you can’t believe everything you see on the Internet. Who would have guessed it?

The advertised view from Pipers Lookout.

The actual view from Pipers Lookout. Not quite the same.

The view just got two times better!!!

Driving back towards the caravan park, we stopped to take the dogs for a walk along the banks of the Black River. Actually, considering the meager volume of water trickling between the wide spread levees, we were able to walk the dogs in the river. It was such a shame that the weather wasn’t quite so warm as to make paddling in the cool waters enjoyable. Despite the thermometer topping out at nearly 30^oC each day, it has felt much cooler.

The raging Black River.

Back at the caravan park, we gave the dogs a further run about the grounds, in an effort to shed them of the sand that had collected in their fur, before admitting them entry into the van.

It was just past 4:00PM by this stage, so I made some calls about my delivery, to check on where it might be. By 4:30PM, I found out that it was apparently still sitting at the local courier depot, but could be picked up in person rather than being delivered to our nominated address. The only snag was that the depot was due to close at 5:00PM and it was at least a 30 minute drive to get there. I didn’t want to risk arriving late and missing them tonight, so I arranged to collect it first thing in the morning. I can get that, then be back at the van with plenty of time to hitch up and hit the road still.

After a bit of an afternoon nap, we secured the dogs in the confines of the van, to head into town for dinner. We had discovered a $30.00 a head, all you can eat buffet at the casino and were excited to try it out.

We arrived a little bit too early to head straight for the restaurant, so Bec signed up to the casino membership scheme. As a welcoming bonus, she received a coupon for a free meal at the café. Pity it wasn’t for the venue we were booked in to dine at. As I watched the first few disappointing minutes of the Melbourne Storm rugby game, Bec prodded a few bills into the pokies. As we headed for dinner, Bec was as much a loser as the Storm seemed to be.

At the restaurant, we hadn’t even taken to our seats, before we turned and rushed back through the dining room to where the salad bar sat tantalisingly. With our first round plates piled high with prawns, and cold salads, the feasting began in earnest. As plate after plate of food was devoured, the bare crockery cast aside, the waitress struggled to maintain an equal pace in keeping our table tidy.

By the time we’d worked our way to the dessert bar, I was beginning to feel physically ill. I was doing so well, and then all of a sudden it went downhill. I described it to Bec like turning a corner from Madison Avenue into the Bronx. I’d gone straight from a good, happy neighbourhood to a real bad place. I could feel the beads of perspiration forming on my brow, a sheen of sweat dripping down my face, as I fought for control of my gag reflex to maintain power over my innards. What can be better than a culinary splurge to invoke a self induced bout of nauseous dry wretching. And that was the signal that dinner was done. Yep, that’s my kind of dinner!

Returning to the gaming floor, Bec lost us a few more dollars, as I watched the Storm make a gallant attempt to finalise their game in a draw. They finished much like we did. Dollar wise we were down, but I reckon we took them to the cleaners at dinner. If only we had the fortitude to allow us to gorge that one little bit more, we could have utilized our free dinner coupon and come out true winners, but it had to go begging unfortunately. So yep, like the rugby, we’ll call it a 10 all draw.

What happens when two dogs want one couch.

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.