Well here I am again, I know, You thought I was lost as you didn't here from me last week, Bugger he's back I here someone in the front row saying, sorry about that. There was not much to talk about really as I had a lazy week that week apart from family stuff and the afternoon school run to pick up the grandkids.
Now the week just gone, well I will continue from where I left off last time as I checked out some more camp sites, I will refer to them as 'Alternative' camp sites from now on. Having said that though, the ones I am going to talk about below where actually 'Free' as there was no charge. Confused? Well why should you be any different to me, I am often confused.
The first one I visited was Bushy Parker Park, Rollingstone about 60 mins north of Townsville, # 32 Bible 7. This was a very big camping area with a mixture of vans, motorhomes and tents and I reckon at the time I was there you would be pushing to get a spot for the night, busy, busy, busy, is all I can say in that department. Very nice camp area though, alongside a very pretty creek. There were toilets, water and the the bible said showers, I couldn't see them but I do need to get my glasses sorted. The ranger pops in so be careful as there is a 48 hr limit there. Also a dump point and good Telstra coverage.
Second place to visit was Balgal Beach about 40 mins north of Townsville, #33 Bible 7. Now in the Bible it actually reckons this is a day stop only however talking to the people set up there they reckon rubbish, 48 hour stop and the ranger keeps an eye on that too. Toots, water but I wouldn't drink it without filtering or boiling, didn't look too flashy. At the time I was there no room for even a one man, ooops sorry, person tent, real busy it was, 5 vans came in and went back out just as fast. There was a cafe like store just across the driveway set on a river, nice too. Dump point for dumping matter and good Telstra coverage.
Third visit was Toomulla Beach just down the road a bit from Balgal Beach toward Townsville, #34 Bible 7. Nice place this one, busy at the time I was there but still room to fit in with big or small rigs. Toots, drinking water, ranger annoys you here as well, sorry. 48 hour limit as well, oh, no dump point. Good Telstra coverage again.
Now the last one to visit was a very popular place indeed, Bluewater Park, about 30 mins north of Townsville, #35 Bible 7. As I arrived I decided to drive right in and around, who should be set up with friends but 'Travelling' Lynnie. Yep there she was with all her cloths on.
On racks of course what did you think I meant. Lynnie sells lovely cloths and other items at local markets as she travels around. I first met Lynnie at Greens Lake, Victoria late last year so it was great to catch up with her again.
Now Bluewater is a very nice spot alongside the Bruce Hwy with grassy sites and others and most under trees so plenty of shade if that's your thing. Toots, water, tables with seats around and nice people, I can't say what they are like when Lynnie is not there though. It has a creek one side and a sport oval the other so could get busy at times due to the oval. Busy anyway, really. Also a dump point. Now while I was there the ranger paid a visit as this is listed as 24hr stay and he takes a note of your car and rig so be warned and I tell you that for free.
Well, Bluewater wasn't the last one sorry, I came across Saunders Beach about 25 mins north of Townsville, #36 Bible 7. This place was actually the car park for Saunders Beach and campers must share and share alike parking spots with visitors to the beach area, not a big spot either, no room to swing a cat, not that you would anyway, toots, water, crowded at the time I was there and good Telstra cover. Not the nicest of places to park your head for the night. Only 24 hour stop so another one night stand, but really, you wouldn't want to stay any longer anyway.
Overall, all of the above places were nice indeed, well maybe not Saunders and well worth a stay if you need somewhere to put your head for the night. If you want there is play equipment at all locations too, well, we are in the playground. Just be careful of the time limits as the ranger is one tuff cookie and doesn't know what a smile is.
Now I spent some time attending to business later in the week and that is now sorted and also arranged for some special tea to be delivered to my daughters PO Box I had been trying to track down and thanks to a GN Member giving me the information needed and at time of this update going to press I am still waiting on it's arrival, bugger, it's been over a week now. I like good tea as I don't drink coffee.
I heard a little whisper that some lovely people that used to be members on this forum were in Townsville so caught up with 'Ma' and 'Blue', Elaine and Bob on Friday, they are travelling with a couple of friends of theirs and they are nice people too, Elaine an Bob are fine and enjoying the playground as we speak, good to see them again. I last saw them September/October last year over on the South NSW Coast.
I finally caught up with 'Carry 1', Michael and Rita. I met them for the first time when I was last here in Townsville so it was good to catch up with them again. Thanks for a lovely chat and beautifully presented tea at a nice little cafe along the 'Strand'. Wow are they excited people, they will be leaving down town Townsville in two weeks and heading out into the playground with their CV in tow. I wish them all the best for their upcoming adventure and hope to meet up with them somewhere, sometime in the near future.
I still want to catch up with GST and Bill 12 yet, so look out guys. I will have to go overseas to see Bill as that is where he is so I will organise that trip as soon as I contact Him.
If anyone is in the Townsville area yell out.
Ok then enough already, so until next time,
-- Edited by Dougwe on Monday 17th of June 2013 09:24:51 AM
_wombat_ said
04:55 PM Jun 17, 2013
good report there mate, lots of info, on the skool run you must have thought you were back at work again
I must go back to school and learn how to spell
kandagal said
05:07 PM Jun 17, 2013
Really enjoyed your report & pictures.
dazren said
07:27 PM Jun 17, 2013
Thanks Doug, another good read, and some of those camp spots look really good, and I think 48 hours is fair enough don't you ?? [ don't overstay and leave it clean is my motto? ] Also do not hurry back the weather down Gippsland way is ''Atrocious'' at the moment
PS. do you like that word ''Atrocious'' ?? I put in in to upset the Wombat, as he spelt School as '' skool'' and we edumacated wons no its reely '' scule''
_wombat_ said
07:54 PM Jun 17, 2013
dazren wrote:
Thanks Doug, another good read, and some of those camp spots look really good, and I think 48 hours is fair enough don't you ?? [ don't overstay and leave it clean is my motto? ] Also do not hurry back the weather down Gippsland way is ''Atrocious'' at the moment
PS. do you like that word ''Atrocious'' ?? I put in in to upset the Wombat, as he spelt School as '' skool'' and we edumacated wons no its reely '' scule''
WRONG again dazren, its scool.
Dougwe, he's gone off topic in part
glassies said
09:16 PM Jun 17, 2013
i just love your stories, and those pictures are amazing im absolutely stunned at the amount of people who are free camping now ,gees im just gobsmacked, when we used to travel there was nobody but then again we mostly stuck to out west to get to the top end and places, but truly it looks like there would not be much trouble with that amount of backup.
cheers della
GaryKelly said
10:10 PM Jun 17, 2013
Great update and pics, Doug. It's always a treat to read your "diary"... as well as informative.
neilnruth said
12:26 AM Jun 18, 2013
Doug why don't you put those 'blurbs' about the 'alternative' sites in Budget and Freecamping so we can find them later? You do a great update - we love reading it every time.
Dougwe said
02:37 AM Jun 18, 2013
Thankyou all for your positive comments, I am no writer but do try and I like to add a bit of my sick humour as well. Some might say it's rubbish but you can't please everyone.
N&R, I have done what you suggested but something went wrong so will do a different way next time. In the mean time if anyone wants the info I think most readers know I put info about camp sites in my updates here in 'General).
Dazren, you are very naughty trying to go off topic, you would never catch me or BG doing things like that.
Wombat, I karnt spall as well so I woodant notas your misteaks.
Kiwi-as said
03:08 AM Jun 18, 2013
Doug, have you got your passport to go over and see Bill.??????
briche said
03:11 AM Jun 18, 2013
Hi mate, thanks for the memories. Looked at those pics and we remembered what great places they were. Found our selves saying a couple of times in the past couple of weeks, " wish we were in Qld" as the weather here has been a bit on the cold side but I must admit that even if the weather is a bit on the chilly side we are loving this year in SA. You look as if you are enjoying your time in Qld. Stay safe and have fun. Love your detail that you put in your reports, well done.
briche
_wombat_ said
03:31 AM Jun 18, 2013
Kiwi-as wrote:
Doug, have you got your passport to go over and see Bill.??????
Magnetic island, no passport required, Kiwi you are a silly bugga
Dougwe said
04:30 AM Jun 18, 2013
Kiwi-as wrote:
Doug, have you got your passport to go over and see Bill.??????
I was going to be an illegal immigrant mr kiwi. I am a Mexican up here.
hako said
04:31 AM Jun 18, 2013
Great report Doug, we're leaving tomorrow morning and hope to get to Townsville Friday so I hope I'll finally get to meet you.:) Got me new blue GN sticker on the back of the Avan Cruiser too. It's 7 degrees outside in Toowoomba right now, blowing about 10knots from the SW, bl**dy freezing. Cheers.
bowlerbear said
02:27 AM Jun 19, 2013
Hello Hako, I'm in Townsville too and Dougwe took me on a tour of T'Ville this afternoon. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
jules47 said
02:37 AM Jun 19, 2013
Doug - you are getting to be a real tour operator!!!! Keep up the good work!!! Keeps you off the streets, and away from Wombat holes, gypsies and dazzlers!!!!!
_wombat_ said
02:42 AM Jun 19, 2013
jules47 wrote:
Doug - you are getting to be a real tour operator!!!! Keep up the good work!!! Keeps you off the streets, and away from Wombat holes, gypsies and dazzlers!!!!!
Dougwe said
02:49 AM Jun 19, 2013
Hey Jules, I was on the streets though, being a tour guide and tying to avoid all those wombat holes but I didn't get dazzled by any and didn't run over a gypsy either. My driving must be improving.
yeoeleven said
03:00 AM Jun 19, 2013
Great report Doug, I really like those camps just above Townsville have stopped in them all more than once.
The Ranger came round on Monday morning and again on Thursday so if you arrived on Monday afternoon you could have almost a week.
Hope to be up there within a couple of weeks and spend time again rotating.
John
Dougwe said
03:03 AM Jun 19, 2013
Thanks John, yell out when you get there and I will call in for a chat and check out your finished rig.
dazren said
03:38 AM Jun 19, 2013
Dougwe wrote ---- Hey Jules, I was on the streets though, being a tour guide and tying to avoid all those wombat holes but I didn't get dazzled by any and didn't run over a gypsy either. My driving must be improving.
Hmm Doug ?? you told me your background was in Local Gov't, and Bus Driving , ??? How long were you on the streets ??? and is ''Soliciting'' Legal up North ??/
Dougwe said
03:42 PM Jun 19, 2013
Who really cares if it is legal Dazren, you are just jealous mate.
Besides, my background is where I have been and my foreground is where I am going next. Jealous again?
Well here I am again, I know, You thought I was lost as you didn't here from me last week, Bugger he's back I here someone in the front row saying, sorry about that. There was not much to talk about really as I had a lazy week that week apart from family stuff and the afternoon school run to pick up the grandkids.
Now the week just gone, well I will continue from where I left off last time as I checked out some more camp sites, I will refer to them as 'Alternative' camp sites from now on. Having said that though, the ones I am going to talk about below where actually 'Free' as there was no charge. Confused? Well why should you be any different to me, I am often confused.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Monday 17th of June 2013 09:24:51 AM
good report there mate, lots of info, on the skool run you must have thought you were back at work again
I must go back to school and learn how to spell
Thanks Doug, another good read, and some of those camp spots look really good, and I think 48 hours is fair enough don't you ?? [ don't overstay and leave it clean is my motto? ] Also do not hurry back the weather down Gippsland way is ''Atrocious'' at the moment
PS. do you like that word ''Atrocious'' ?? I put in in to upset the Wombat, as he spelt School as '' skool'' and we edumacated wons no its reely '' scule''
WRONG again dazren, its scool.
Dougwe, he's gone off topic in part
are free camping now ,gees im just gobsmacked, when we used to travel there was nobody but then
again we mostly stuck to out west to get to the top end and places, but truly it looks like there
would not be much trouble with that amount of backup.
cheers
della
You do a great update - we love reading it every time.
N&R, I have done what you suggested but something went wrong so will do a different way next time. In the mean time if anyone wants the info I think most readers know I put info about camp sites in my updates here in 'General).
Dazren, you are very naughty trying to go off topic, you would never catch me or BG doing things like that.
Wombat, I karnt spall as well so I woodant notas your misteaks.
Hi mate, thanks for the memories. Looked at those pics and we remembered what great places they were. Found our selves saying a couple of times in the past couple of weeks, " wish we were in Qld" as the weather here has been a bit on the cold side but I must admit that even if the weather is a bit on the chilly side we are loving this year in SA. You look as if you are enjoying your time in Qld. Stay safe and have fun. Love your detail that you put in your reports, well done.
briche
Magnetic island, no passport required, Kiwi you are a silly bugga
I was going to be an illegal immigrant mr kiwi. I am a Mexican up here.
It's 7 degrees outside in Toowoomba right now, blowing about 10knots from the SW, bl**dy freezing.
Cheers.
Great report Doug, I really like those camps just above Townsville have stopped in them all more than once.
The Ranger came round on Monday morning and again on Thursday so if you arrived on Monday afternoon you could have almost a week.
Hope to be up there within a couple of weeks and spend time again rotating.
John
Dougwe wrote ---- Hey Jules, I was on the streets though, being a tour guide and tying to avoid all those wombat holes but I didn't get dazzled by any and didn't run over a gypsy either. My driving must be improving.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmm Doug ?? you told me your background was in Local Gov't, and Bus Driving , ??? How long were you on the streets ??? and is ''Soliciting'' Legal up North ??/
Who really cares if it is legal Dazren, you are just jealous mate.
Besides, my background is where I have been and my foreground is where I am going next. Jealous again?