March 26-April 13 Richmond to Townsville

     The last few days of March we spent in Richmond. A visit from the owners of Essex Downs proved they were very pleased with the way we looked after the property, all is well. It was very hot, we had many swims in Lake Fred Tritton. Dilligaf has passed inspection for registration which meant we departed Richmond on 31st, making our way to Prairie for a couple of days via Hughenden to stock the larder on the way.

Sunset at Prairie

   
       Friday 1st April
     Parked up behind the pub at Prairie, the sunsets are magic, as this shows with our car in the fore.

Buffalo at Prairie enjoying
the evening

     The old buffalo is still there too, we gave her a few tit-bits to munch on and she loves an ear scratch.

     the publican set a few Yabbie traps in Prairie creek with a good result, giving us a dozen for dinner which was a lovely treat for us, I cooked them in ginger butter, Yummy!!
   
     Sunday 3rd

Torrens Creek ( is that water?)

   
 Getting away fairly early we only travelled as far as Pentland to spend the night in the van park.  Driving through Torrens Creek I spied water in the creek, I don't think I have ever seen the sight. Pentland is another small out back town with friendly locals struggling to survive. The creek behind the town had enough water in it to give the dogs a paddle. We are no longer in the dry desert outback, all is very green and we have a few mosquito's to contend with this night, haven't had them for some time.

               Monday 4th

Dot and Yip at Campaspe river

    A bit cool this morning, needed an extra T-shirt to keep out the cool air for a while.  We drove a long way today, all of 15km to Campaspe river rest area. There is a little water in this river too, enough for the pups to have a splash as this picture shows with Dot and Yip checking it out.
     A bit of drama while here, a fellow camper had a fire in his unit, turned out to be the battery terminals caught alight. Not a pleasant thing for any one, but made worse for this unlucky guy who was eventually taken to Charters Towers hospital with breathing problems. A reminder of how easy things can go wrong.

          Tuesday 5th
Made our way to Charters Towers this morning. Filled the water tank at the travellers dump point and camped up at the Puma roadhouse where we usually stay when in the Towers, dining on takeaway fish and chips and the best trifles we have ever tasted.

          Wednesday 6th

Rail bridge at Macrossan

     Off to Macrossan to the free camp on the banks of the mighty Burdekin river, will spend a few days here, there is water in the river and we went for a swim already. The photo is of the rail bridge over the river.

        Thursday and Friday
    Walking the pup's Thursday morning to discover plenty of wallaby around, making Yip, especially, wanting to have fun chasing them, BUT!! no longer allowed, bummer for them.
     Jim has found that one of the springs on the trailer is broken, buggar!!. Take the Jimny off and temporally fix it with a cobb and Co twitch with number 8 wire, ratted from a broken fence in the area!! Will get a new spring when we get to Townsville next week.

           Saturday 9th
     From Macrossan to Reid river rest area for tonight with an early departure planned in the morning to beat the traffic in to Townsville. I drove the Jimny, we didn't bother putting him back on the trailer as we will need it in Townsville.

             Sunday 10th
     Departed by 7am arriving at Bunnings warehouse at just after 8am to purchase a couple of new chairs and other stuff we need then on to Currajong to park outside Russel's Tyre place to get 2 new trailer Tyre's and 4 new Tyre's on the Jimny on Monday.

Parked up at Currajong Tyre and Auto

              Monday 11th
     Dot and Yip to the Vet this morning to have their annual check-up and vaccinations. All was good with them and Yip made us proud with her behaviour, as did Dot, but she is always good.
     Here we are parked at Currajong Tyre and Auto, awaiting for the Tyre's to arrive and be fitted. Jim got the new springs for the trailer and he will fit them when we settle at a van park later today.
    Our very good mate Marty is meeting us at the Black River van park where we will stay for a week or two while attending to all that needs to be done while in the BIG SMOKE!!.
      That's it for now.