6 - 8^th June :Mackay

After a fairly uneventful trip (despite the large number of very large trucks that always seem to be in a hurry), we have arrived in Mackay. We left an hour later thyan planned as there are always so many things to do at the last minute! (It was, at least, not as bad as 37 years ago when we finally left at 5.00pm and went as far as Toowoomba!)

The date of our departure and the length of stay in Mackay, a place we are very familiar with, was predicated on the timing of Glen's reunion. His Yr 8 class group had a 55^th reunion this weekend. There were over 300 of them in the Year group in 8 classes of 40 students each. This mob like to party and there are gatherings every year in Mackay, Brisbane and Townsville. Up here there are 3 events this weekend. It is just as well that we go to them all as I am becoming to know well a number of people. In fact, I'm have been accepted into the inner circle! Much fun and hours of conversations about times gone past and the present circumstances was had. In facts these 69 yr olds last night voted to have a 60^th Reunion! We will need to have more room for all the wheelie walkers!

It is raining, windy and 21 C – of course, as there is a BBQ on today! Andergrove Van Park isn't as full as normal as there has been a downturn in the coal industry. There are 1600 houses for sale in this town and 2000 for rent! But the bird life is as prolific as ever as we are surrounded by numerous lagoons and wetlands. Ordinary ducks by the dozens, the very pretty whistling ducks by scores, water fowl that sound like cross monkeys and climb trees, crows and plovers all squarking! In fact, there is one large plover who is calling for his lost mate, tapping on windows at his own reflection. Very sad. They mate for life. Of course the lorrikeets chirrup loudly and fly off in a flurry of wings.

We have visited Glen's brother Bill for a pleasant morning. They are both unwell with viruses caught on their travels. We'll go out for dinner tonight although goodness, I don't think Glen and I need any more food!

We leave for the west tomorrow.

9^th June – ChartersTowers

We have arrived at Charters Towers. They are squeezing vans in everywhere. We are tucked in beside the camp kitchen where a bush poet is entertaining people with ballads. (I have never had much time for such “poetry” and even less for expletive filled ryhmes but the listeners are laughing spasmodically.)

We pulled into a Rest Area at Ayr to have lunch. There's a great installation; the local totem is a carpet snake and the dreaming of the local area tells the story of the snake (the Burdekin River) and its journey from the mountains to the sea, the droppings forming the islands. The site is where the Old People were buried and nearby the children were born. They found bones when they built the road and the bridge.

It is raining and blowing and it's cold. I think we'll have to get out the heater. Cold,wet weather does my lungs no good.