Yep, left Last nights camp spot at usual time this morning and got to Home Hill, about 1.5 hours south of Townsville QLD around 12.00. This was going to be my camp for tonight BUT as can happen out here in the playground things change. I made yet another executive decision and headed to tomorrows and my final destination for a few months, Townsville.
So here I am all set in the the driveway at my daughters place waiting for her and the two grandkids to get home to a big surprise. POPPY IS HERE! They will see the van as soon as they turn into the street.
Had a great run, in fact I have had good runs all the way from when I left Greens Lake, way back when. I am extremely pleased how the Den and Tug have performed all the way. One very happy camper indeed.
done dreaming said
05:03 PM May 12, 2015
What suburb in townsville doug
JackieP said
05:07 PM May 12, 2015
enjoy the time with the grandkids....remember it is the grandparents god given right to spoil the g/kids rotten
Dougwe said
05:13 PM May 12, 2015
I will Jacki, this is my time with them, Winter.
I have PM'd you DD.
If anyone is in or coming through Townsville, send out the smoke signals if you would like to catch up. I will be around here until mid September at this stage.
jonathan said
07:03 PM May 12, 2015
Welcome back Doug ..
I'll let you know when I'm popping down .. have ordered some caravan parts through MOTORCO so when they arrive I'll go down and pick 'em up !
cheers !
Bruce and Bev said
08:48 PM May 12, 2015
God - your poor daughter - 5 months with you !!!! haha
Enjoy the time with your family Doug - it will shave a couple of years off you being with the kids and just enjoying them. And you could do the lolly pop chief - the school kids would get a real buzz with a real Indian chief in full headgear with a yellow hi-viz jacket and white coat with red hand flags - and youd even make it onto the local TV news.
Seriously though - have a great time mate !
Dougwe said
10:16 PM May 12, 2015
Thanks B&B, can always rely on you for a smile on the dial. Hope you are both lapping up all that cold Melbourne weather mate.
Incase you NEED to know, it's currently 22c as I do this at 10.15pm. Oh! No wind The locals reckon it's cold, silly buggers
Jon, keep me away from catching up mate. I will pop out to your hiding spot as well and I tell you that for free. Yep, I know where you hide
Gee mate, maybe we could even DO lunch.
copper1 said
11:11 PM May 12, 2015
Crikey, you didn't muck about Townsville already?? good to see things went well. All going well we might see you sooner rather than later my stay in hospital and operation has been scheduled for this Thursday the 14th, have put the kids on notice that we are ready to go as soon as I get the all clear so, start building that house so that you can take over here. Hope to hit the road second week in June fingers crossed.
jonathan said
06:25 AM May 13, 2015
Dougwe wrote:
(snip) ..
Jon, keep me away from catching up mate. I will pop out to your hiding spot as well and I tell you that for free. Yep, I know where you hide
Gee mate, maybe we could even DO lunch.
Excellent ! .. I expect my order at Motorco will take about 2-3 weeks, so will give you a call when I know ..
.. lunch with you is like an extended "happy hour" .. and food down there is a tad above what you'd get here .. sounds good to me.
.. and this will show you where I'm parked up these days ..
Cheers !
-- Edited by jonathan on Wednesday 13th of May 2015 07:10:51 AM
Hi Doug, have been reading your progress and agree with your approval of the rest stop at Waverly Creek. We live in Mackay, our daughter in Rockhampton and our son in Townsville so this section of road is well known to us. On your return if you have the time try out Smalleys Beach, a NP (pay $10) (near Cape Hillsborough) or Camilla Beach (free camp at the moment). Both great spots.
Cheers
Kim
Dougwe said
08:43 AM May 13, 2015
Probably be going inland when I leave Townsville Kim, too far off to even think about at this stage but great info for future or if anyone else is looking in on my post's. Thanks Kim.
in transit said
12:23 PM May 13, 2015
Is Camilla Beach 2WDable? I have seen reports that the last bit is loose sand. As I find the idea of getting bogged a bit off-putting, we usually keep driving.
gandk said
07:21 AM May 14, 2015
Hmmm A bit remiss of me but I think it is only 4wd. To be honest not sure but you can definitely 2wd to where you find the camp sites and have a look. Plenty of turn around. It is worth it. I know the council is going to do some upgrading very soon.
Yep, left Last nights camp spot at usual time this morning and got to Home Hill, about 1.5 hours south of Townsville QLD around 12.00. This was going to be my camp for tonight BUT as can happen out here in the playground things change. I made yet another executive decision and headed to tomorrows and my final destination for a few months, Townsville.
So here I am all set in the the driveway at my daughters place waiting for her and the two grandkids to get home to a big surprise. POPPY IS HERE!

They will see the van as soon as they turn into the street.
Had a great run, in fact I have had good runs all the way from when I left Greens Lake, way back when. I am extremely pleased how the Den and Tug have performed all the way. One very happy camper indeed.
What suburb in townsville doug
I have PM'd you DD.
If anyone is in or coming through Townsville, send out the smoke signals if you would like to catch up. I will be around here until mid September at this stage.
Welcome back Doug ..
I'll let you know when I'm popping down .. have ordered some caravan parts through MOTORCO so when they arrive I'll go down and pick 'em up !
cheers !
Enjoy the time with your family Doug - it will shave a couple of years off you being with the kids and just enjoying them. And you could do the lolly pop chief - the school kids would get a real buzz with a real Indian chief in full headgear with a yellow hi-viz jacket and white coat with red hand flags - and youd even make it onto the local TV news.
Seriously though - have a great time mate !
Thanks B&B, can always rely on you for a smile on the dial. Hope you are both lapping up all that cold Melbourne weather mate.
Incase you NEED to know, it's currently 22c as I do this at 10.15pm. Oh! No wind
The locals reckon it's cold, silly buggers 

Jon, keep me away from catching up mate. I will pop out to your hiding spot as well and I tell you that for free. Yep, I know where you hide
Gee mate, maybe we could even DO lunch.
Crikey, you didn't muck about Townsville already?? good to see things went well. All going well we might see you sooner rather than later my stay in hospital and operation has been scheduled for this Thursday the 14th, have put the kids on notice that we are ready to go as soon as I get the all clear so, start building that house so that you can take over here. Hope to hit the road second week in June fingers crossed.
Excellent ! .. I expect my order at Motorco will take about 2-3 weeks, so will give you a call when I know ..
.. lunch with you is like an extended "happy hour" .. and food down there is a tad above what you'd get here .. sounds good to me.
.. and this will show you where I'm parked up these days ..
Cheers !
-- Edited by jonathan on Wednesday 13th of May 2015 07:10:51 AM
Hi Doug, have been reading your progress and agree with your approval of the rest stop at Waverly Creek. We live in Mackay, our daughter in Rockhampton and our son in Townsville so this section of road is well known to us. On your return if you have the time try out Smalleys Beach, a NP (pay $10) (near Cape Hillsborough) or Camilla Beach (free camp at the moment). Both great spots.
Cheers
Kim
Hmmm A bit remiss of me but I think it is only 4wd. To be honest not sure but you can definitely 2wd to where you find the camp sites and have a look. Plenty of turn around. It is worth it. I know the council is going to do some upgrading very soon.