Hopeless internet and phone reception here at Toomulla Beach, just one bar with Telstra Next G and nothing with Optus. It is a good free camp with plenty of room only 14kms north of Bluewater Park arrived here early and set up the awning and shower tent for a three night stay intending to leave early Thursday morning to get the rear box fitted and collect the new regulator.
Steve has camped behind me and later in the day Billeee and Jules arrived after having their motorhome serviced in Townsville, they are all setting off inland on Wednesday for Mt Isa and Alice Springs. I have little interest in driving all that way over the next couple of weeks and would rather rotate around these 5 camps above Townsville, so I will be a solo once more.
The pictures from the link taken last June show a better side of Toomulla than those below, timing sun and tide position have a big impact on the end result. John
jimbo said
01:26 AM Jul 31, 2013
Very Nice snaps again John...What a terrible life you all have
gypsy rover said
11:36 PM Jul 31, 2013
Hi John
Leaving Perth on Monday, heading back to Townsville. Not going to rush it though so don't know how long it will take me. Will catch up with you when I get back if you are still in the area.
Cheers!
Chris
Cruising Granny said
08:22 AM Aug 1, 2013
Where are you Gypsy? I'm still in Perth at the Central Park because it's central to everything I had to do. I don't know if I'm leaving with a job or going home empty.
I've been on the road for more than 5 weeks. Surprising how I can tolerate "camping" now. Ahhh, the comfort.
yeoeleven said
02:12 PM Aug 1, 2013
Hi Chris,
not sure how long I will be around here, Billeee,Jules and Solo Steve have left for Mt Isa ad Alice and I am still rotating round above Townsville.
John
vanman said
02:20 AM Aug 2, 2013
Hi John.
I was going to go into Toomulla Beach camp today on my way down from Ingham but was given information telling me that you can only camp around the boat ramp. I was there last year and workman were working on the ramp but had nothing to do with the camping area. I have booked into Bluewater Caravan Park just South of the freedom camp at Bluewater Creek. The place was full when I arrived there at 10 am this morning and I needed to get to Garbutt P.O to pick up mail so I booked into the C/Park. Bugger!!!
I can give you a heads up on 2 lesser known freedom camp in Ingham if you are interested.
Regards Chris
yeoeleven said
03:51 PM Aug 2, 2013
Hi Chris,
have no idea why you were unable to camp at Toomulla, I arrived back here at after 4pm and still found a spot easily.
Any information about free camping near Ingham will be appreciated, I will be here for a few days if we could catch up that would be great.
The phone for Optus is out and the internet from Telstra is spasmodic so communication is difficult.
John
yeoeleven said
02:40 AM Aug 4, 2013
Poor internet connection sees me typing this on a Word document on Wednesday night ready for my exciting Thurdsay, I have moved from my camp site to a position where I can leave at 6.30am without bothering anyone. I have a 7.30am appointment in Townsville to get the rear box fitted.
I want to check out Bunnings, Supercheap, BCF and a huge army disposal store near the East Garbutt Post office where I will collect my new regulator. I am needing a gas bottle refill and want to buy a small gas stove, chain saw, axe or splitter, oil and fuel, extended barbeque tools, some sort of fire receptacle maybe a cut down gas bottle.
After last weeks cooking adventures I am needing a refill of wraps and cut up crunchy salad mix plus other ingredients, I havent eaten noodles or sliced bread for over a week definitely a record for me so a visit to the supermarket will be needed before going to a camp.
I did want to go to Balgal Beach but the chance of getting in there other than early in the morning would be nil so depending on the time I will have another overnighter here.
Thursday evening and I am back here in Toomulla Beach and everything worked out well except I couldnt find a fire receptacle, tried Bunnings, Rays Outdoors, Mitre 10 and the disposal store to no avail. Did get the chain saw, the oils and fuel, heavy duty gloves and long tools. The regulator was waiting for me it will get fitted tomorrow.
The box on the back works good and slides out so that the back door will open, got a bit of painting tomorrow around the towbar where the welding was done but the job looks good, could have saved $100 by getting a black box of dubious substance but settled on the aluminium checker plate one. Cant have anything scruffy on my new bus, the awning will be next it looks ancient and is difficult to erect.
Saturday and still no internet, busy yesterday fitting the new regulator so now I have a 20A regulator on both sides and can easily tell the battery status on each. The exhaust pipe blows towards the new box and I want to deflect the exhaust downwards with a chrome kick down, shades of the 6 cylinder XW Falcon Panel van back in the 70s when I put in an S pipe and brought the exhaust out on either side with a downward kick to sound like a V8. Sounded great but didnt go any faster.
Also painted the towbar and the frame for the box so all looks great, all I need now is a fire receptacle and that could be a fold down fireplace or a gas bottle cut down. Have to see different examples and check to make sure that one fits in the box. Been looking at the new chain saw and reading the instructions, a bit daunting, but will have to master it before any cutting can be done.
My plans now are to move to Balgal Beach on Monday morning, the traditional change over time before the ranger returns, if I get there early enough I should get a spot. Looks like I will be going to Bushy Parker Reserve on the Thursday following and staying there until Monday week, then I will have been here north of Townsville just over 3 weeks and ready to move northwards again. John
jules47 said
02:53 AM Aug 4, 2013
The box looks good John - can you put a pic of it on topha's facebook, he will be interested. Paula's new car is a Subaru Impreza looks good.
Thursday evening and I am back here in Toomulla Beach and everything worked out well except I couldnt find a fire receptacle, tried Bunnings, Rays Outdoors, Mitre 10 and the disposal store to no avail. Did get the chain saw, the oils and fuel, heavy duty gloves and long tools. The regulator was waiting for me it will get fitted tomorrow.
Hi John. Ray's Outdoors should have had a Brazier, unless they were out of stock at the moment. This Pic. is from a catalogue from June.
Don't forget to look in the local Op-shops. I've seen a couple lately in mine. If you find one without the tray and/or grill, I'm sure you can improvise.
Hi Jon, Can't remember if you had a look at my barbecue when you were here or not. If not let me know and I'll try to post some pics and a website. Tried to attach the photos anyhow, if they take.
Hi John, looks good and still looking around for the best type of unit, more interested in the social aspects of having a fire than the cooking.
Hi Sheba, saw both those in Bunnings and Mitre 10 but didn't fit the box.
Off tomorrow for Balgal but today I was coming to grips with my new chain saw when a new arrival came over and he had been using chain saws since he was 13 and he is now in his 70s. He showed me how to start it up for the first time offered to go with me to actually use the saw, so off we went and found a dead tree of the right circumference and he cut it down. He showed me the best way to cut up the tree into logs and then how to cut the remaining standing part of the tree. He used an axe to split the widest part of the logs.
All up very helpful and eased me into using the chain saw and now I have enough sawn wood for several fires, thinking back we sat around a fire in Bushy Parker Reserve so that is probably where the logs will come in useful. Talking to another camper I was given the phone number and address of a man in Atherton who creates those cut down gas bottles, one of my options to control a fire. It all revolves around how big is the bottle size it has to fit into my new box. John
Sheba said
05:32 AM Aug 5, 2013
Sorry John. I did something I'm always going crook about others doing. Didn't go back and read the original post properly. Didn't realise it had to fit into the new Box.
Hopeless internet and phone reception here at Toomulla Beach, just one bar with Telstra Next G and nothing with Optus. It is a good free camp with plenty of room only 14kms north of Bluewater Park arrived here early and set up the awning and shower tent for a three night stay intending to leave early Thursday morning to get the rear box fitted and collect the new regulator.
Steve has camped behind me and later in the day Billeee and Jules arrived after having their motorhome serviced in Townsville, they are all setting off inland on Wednesday for Mt Isa and Alice Springs. I have little interest in driving all that way over the next couple of weeks and would rather rotate around these 5 camps above Townsville, so I will be a solo once more.
The pictures from the link taken last June show a better side of Toomulla than those below, timing sun and tide position have a big impact on the end result. John
Hi John
Leaving Perth on Monday, heading back to Townsville. Not going to rush it though so don't know how long it will take me. Will catch up with you when I get back if you are still in the area.
Cheers!
Chris
I've been on the road for more than 5 weeks. Surprising how I can tolerate "camping" now. Ahhh, the comfort.
Hi Chris,
not sure how long I will be around here, Billeee,Jules and Solo Steve have left for Mt Isa ad Alice and I am still rotating round above Townsville.
John
Hi John.
I was going to go into Toomulla Beach camp today on my way down from Ingham but was given information telling me that you can only camp around the boat ramp. I was there last year and workman were working on the ramp but had nothing to do with the camping area. I have booked into Bluewater Caravan Park just South of the freedom camp at Bluewater Creek. The place was full when I arrived there at 10 am this morning and I needed to get to Garbutt P.O to pick up mail so I booked into the C/Park. Bugger!!!
I can give you a heads up on 2 lesser known freedom camp in Ingham if you are interested.
Regards Chris
Hi Chris,
have no idea why you were unable to camp at Toomulla, I arrived back here at after 4pm and still found a spot easily.
Any information about free camping near Ingham will be appreciated, I will be here for a few days if we could catch up that would be great.
The phone for Optus is out and the internet from Telstra is spasmodic so communication is difficult.
John
Poor internet connection sees me typing this on a Word document on Wednesday night ready for my exciting Thurdsay, I have moved from my camp site to a position where I can leave at 6.30am without bothering anyone. I have a 7.30am appointment in Townsville to get the rear box fitted.
I want to check out Bunnings, Supercheap, BCF and a huge army disposal store near the East Garbutt Post office where I will collect my new regulator. I am needing a gas bottle refill and want to buy a small gas stove, chain saw, axe or splitter, oil and fuel, extended barbeque tools, some sort of fire receptacle maybe a cut down gas bottle.
After last weeks cooking adventures I am needing a refill of wraps and cut up crunchy salad mix plus other ingredients, I havent eaten noodles or sliced bread for over a week definitely a record for me so a visit to the supermarket will be needed before going to a camp.
I did want to go to Balgal Beach but the chance of getting in there other than early in the morning would be nil so depending on the time I will have another overnighter here.
Thursday evening and I am back here in Toomulla Beach and everything worked out well except I couldnt find a fire receptacle, tried Bunnings, Rays Outdoors, Mitre 10 and the disposal store to no avail. Did get the chain saw, the oils and fuel, heavy duty gloves and long tools. The regulator was waiting for me it will get fitted tomorrow.
The box on the back works good and slides out so that the back door will open, got a bit of painting tomorrow around the towbar where the welding was done but the job looks good, could have saved $100 by getting a black box of dubious substance but settled on the aluminium checker plate one. Cant have anything scruffy on my new bus, the awning will be next it looks ancient and is difficult to erect.
Saturday and still no internet, busy yesterday fitting the new regulator so now I have a 20A regulator on both sides and can easily tell the battery status on each. The exhaust pipe blows towards the new box and I want to deflect the exhaust downwards with a chrome kick down, shades of the 6 cylinder XW Falcon Panel van back in the 70s when I put in an S pipe and brought the exhaust out on either side with a downward kick to sound like a V8. Sounded great but didnt go any faster.
Also painted the towbar and the frame for the box so all looks great, all I need now is a fire receptacle and that could be a fold down fireplace or a gas bottle cut down. Have to see different examples and check to make sure that one fits in the box. Been looking at the new chain saw and reading the instructions, a bit daunting, but will have to master it before any cutting can be done.
My plans now are to move to Balgal Beach on Monday morning, the traditional change over time before the ranger returns, if I get there early enough I should get a spot. Looks like I will be going to Bushy Parker Reserve on the Thursday following and staying there until Monday week, then I will have been here north of Townsville just over 3 weeks and ready to move northwards again. John
Looking good John,,,,,,,,,,Billeeeeeee
Hi Jon, Can't remember if you had a look at my barbecue when you were here or not. If not let me know and I'll try to post some pics and a website. Tried to attach the photos anyhow, if they take.
Take it easy.
Cheers,
John
Hi John, looks good and still looking around for the best type of unit, more interested in the social aspects of having a fire than the cooking.
Hi Sheba, saw both those in Bunnings and Mitre 10 but didn't fit the box.
Off tomorrow for Balgal but today I was coming to grips with my new chain saw when a new arrival came over and he had been using chain saws since he was 13 and he is now in his 70s. He showed me how to start it up for the first time offered to go with me to actually use the saw, so off we went and found a dead tree of the right circumference and he cut it down. He showed me the best way to cut up the tree into logs and then how to cut the remaining standing part of the tree. He used an axe to split the widest part of the logs.
All up very helpful and eased me into using the chain saw and now I have enough sawn wood for several fires, thinking back we sat around a fire in Bushy Parker Reserve so that is probably where the logs will come in useful. Talking to another camper I was given the phone number and address of a man in Atherton who creates those cut down gas bottles, one of my options to control a fire. It all revolves around how big is the bottle size it has to fit into my new box. John
Sorry John. I did something I'm always going crook about others doing. Didn't go back and read the original post properly. Didn't realise it had to fit into the new Box.
Cheers,
Sheba.