20210621 Qld Townsville

20210621 It seems we've been following the Great Dividen Rang for ever, the range runs from Queensland through New South Wales and into Victoria and runs parallel to the coast for about 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers), we sure do have some lovely scinic sites as we travel the Queensland road and head into Townsville.

Deb and Dave moved to Townsville from Dampier about four years ago now and they fit in here like a glove.

We passed many Sorghum/Milo farms along the way and with the back drop of the Great Dividen Range just makes it all the more inviting.

Before we settle in for the night we take a drive to check out their new surroundings and grabbed a photo of these pair having a good old chin wag.

After our tour we stop in at Bushland Beach Taven for a few coldies.

Here we were sitting in the pub enjoying a nice coldie with some of their mates when Bill, an aboriginal man walks up to the bar, and out of the blue says: 

I saved $18 a month today, I just found out the kid I was sponsoring in Rawanda got eaten by a lion.😂

WEll! I nearly spat my drink over the table along with everyone eles as we pee laughing.

He then grased us with another joke saying: 

Thanks rate payers, I've done nothing all day.

He's certainly a charator this Bill.

Before leaving Deb and I take a stroll to Bushland Beach for a selfie.

Stopping on the way home at the local fish and chips shop with a difference and if you're in need of a urgent gift this Convenience and Gift Store is the place to go.

Deb found the perfect gift, it's an, 

Exercise Block 

1.Place Block on floor..

 2.Walk Around it  Twice...  

Sit down and  relax.            CONGRATULATION  YOU HAVE JUST WALKED AROUND THE BLOCK, TWICE👍👍

Once home Deb organised fresh prawns for dinner followed by a streak and onion sandwich that melted in your mouth, then we washed it down with a few cold ale's and some good old laughter.

20210622 We leave today but not before Deb and Dave show off their new back yard as we pile into there car and head to Castle Hill.  Just metres short of a mountain, Castle Hill is a giant pink granite that stands proud in the centre of Townsville and with a 360-degree view of the town from the top.  The Hill was once used by American soldiers during World War II and acording to local legend, the visitors offered to demolish the hill and use the rock to build a bridge to Magnetic Island.

From the top of Castle Hill there's a great view of Townsville and the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium that has a capacity of 25,000 and is the new home of NRL club, North Queensland Cowboys.

Another view from the hill that extends all the way to Magnetic Island.

There's a couple of walks up some long  steep steps to the tip of the hill so I leave the other for a quick photo from one tip to the other.

A Mural of Aboriginal artwork at the hill.

With a bit of a tickle and a poke, we had Johnathan Thurston eating out of our hands.

After a series of knockbacks from clubs because he was too small, Thurston was given his chance by the Bulldogs in 2002, he came off the bench in Canterbury's 2004 grand final win over the Roosters before heading to the Cowboys. He shone through as the halfback and won the first of a record four Dally M Medals in 2005 and led his new team to a grand final against the Wests Tigers.  He became Australian of the year in 2018 and is known as the best player in Rugby League.

A Great Catch up With Great Friends.