Not a lot doing today, mostly hanging around the caravan park, reading the paper, playing games on the computer.

We rode into the city because an employment agency had told Tony to come in and see them on Monday, we didn’t think  that they would be there, being the Queen’s Birthday holiday, but we thought we better go, just in case. We were right, they were closed.

In the afternoon we went and visited Gary and Anne, the Ulysses members who live at this park. We caught them up on all that we’ve been doing since we last stayed here. They’ve given us the local Ulysses ride calendar, so now we know where they’re going on weekends.

We really like this caravan park, it has a great camp kitchen, friendly owners and very friendly people seem to stay here. The camp site we have is nicely tucked away in a corner, a very private spot, but right by a road which is used from about 5am until late by lots of noisy trucks.

  GARY, JOHN & TONY IN FRONT OF RAILWAY HOTEL RAVENSWOOD

Tuesday 14 June 2005

Once again we rode into the city to see the employment agency. They employ staff to fill temporary roles in labouring and office jobs, so Tony and I completed their induction and took home forms to fill in so we can go on their books for employment if something suitable arises.

Our preferred camp site became vacant today, so we moved everything over; it’s much closer to all the facilities - the toilets, camp kitchen, TV room/library and pool and much quieter, the buildings block the traffic noise.

While we were at the camp kitchen having tea the owner of the park, Rob, drove by and jokingly yelled out “Be careful eating in there with that bikie gang!”

We met Ron and Julie who are HOG members, they are from Ballina. Ron was checking out our trailer, it’s similar to one that he has made, and this evening we met some people from Wangaratta and Yarrawonga when we were in the camp kitchen. Tony had seen one of the ladies last night and thought she may have been from Wang, but wasn’t sure.

Wednesday 15 June 2005

Another day of doing very little, I caught up on updating our website, there was a fair bit to write about Cairns, as we were there quite a while and were busy whilst there.

We completed the forms for Adecco, the employment agency, and dropped them off to their office in the city. We also approved the artwork for some cards that we are getting printed; we’ll be able to collect them tomorrow.

Tonight at the Caravan Park they had a Sausage Sizzle Meet and Greet; they do it every Wednesday evening. It’s nice to be able to meet some other people who are travelling, some from overseas, some from other parts of Australia and some from Wangaratta. Wangaratta people seem to be everywhere, we always meet up with people from home wherever we go, and this is the second lot at this park. When we stayed on the Gold Coast a few years back we met about a dozen people from Wang.

Thursday 16 June 2005

We picked up our cards today. I had printed some before we left Wang, but not enough, it’s nice to have a card with our name, phone number, email and web address to give to people that we meet. That way if they’re ever in Victoria when we’ve finished our travels they know where to catch up with us.

We both had calls from Adecco, the job agency today. Tony has 4 hours work tomorrow and I have one day of work on Monday and two days in July for the one office doing reception. It’s a start, we’re surprised they found us something so quickly, and hopefully there’ll be a few more shifts.

We met a couple, Ian & Bev Steinhardt from Atherton, today. They are staying in a van just behind our tent. It’s their first time in a caravan park with their A Van which they have just bought. We were able to tell them some things to look for when staying at caravan parks such as a good camp kitchen or a TV room. With them having a van those things aren’t quite as important as when you’re camping but it’s nice to know the facilities are there if you want to use them.

Ian is very interested in photography so we have something in common. We looked at some of his photos and showed him some of ours.

Friday 17 June 2005                           THERE ARE STORIES THIS CHURCH IS HAUNTED

We went and got a few photos printed this morning so that I can send some to my parents.

Tony went to work in the afternoon and I worked on our website, there were a lot of photos to put on for the Mountain Madness page so it took quite a bit of time.

In the camp kitchen in the evening we were talking to an American couple who have sailed to Australia. They have left their boat at Brisbane and hired a car to travel further up the coast. They’ve travelled extensively and have toured the United States on a Honda Goldwing. When we questioned them on using a Goldwing instead of a Harley they said that in the 70’s Harleys weren’t reliable enough.

Saturday 18 June 2005

At the suggestion of some ladies at the park we went for a walk down The Strand. The Strand is the beachfront of Townsville and it has been landscaped and includes BBQ’s, children’s playgrounds including water play, exercise stations, some cafes and some sculptures and public art, it’s something of which the people of Townsville are very proud.

There was a light misty rain as we walked along The Strand, it’s pleasant enough, but I wouldn’t say it was something you have to do. I think it would be better with a few galleries or small shops opposite instead of the string of apartments. We’ve been told it’s got very good lighting making it nice at night, so we’ll have to go back one evening.

I made pancakes for lunch after which we went to Gary and Anne’s for a cuppa and met another Ulysses member, Col, who rides a trike.

We met up with a few more neighbours including Colin and Desley from Broken Hill who we talked with for ages, their children used to ride motocross. They’ve also travelled quite a bit and will be heading for Cairns in a couple of days.

Sunday 19 June 2005

Today is Ulysses ride day. Gary called by to collect us this morning and we went to Maccas to meet up with some other Ulysses members. We met Ian & Verna, John, Ron and Col for coffee and to decide where we’d ride.

We finished up going to Ravenswood, which is a gold mining town. In its heyday it used to be a large town, now it’s a small village. It’s an interesting looking place and I hope we can get back there for a photo taking day, I’m sure I’ll get some good shots. Gold is still being mined there but now it’s taken from an open cut mine by huge trucks.

We had a pleasant lunch in the garden of the Railway Hotel at Ravenswood before riding back to Townsville.

Back at the park we went to Gary & Anne’s for a cuppa and a chat with Anne who hadn’t gone on the ride.

When we got back to our tent I read the paper and Tony played a computer game. Then we talked again with our neighbours, Colin and Desley, before having tea and watching some tele.

RAILWAY HOTEL RAVENSWOOD

My first day of work since we left home. We’ve both been employed by a temp agency and they had a receptionist position for me today. It was an eight hour day at a business in Townsville; Tony also had a few hours at the same place he worked last week, so he dropped me off in the morning and then went to his job.

Tuesday 21 June

After another day of doing very little this evening we went along to the Townsville Ulysses meeting. Before the meeting we had a counter meal with Gary & Anne and a couple of other Ulysses members. At the Hotel Allen when your meal is served you are given another plate to help yourself to the salads and vegies, of which there were plenty to choose. The cost of the meal also included dessert, again on a help yourself basis to whatever you want.

There were about 55 members present, In Wang we get about a dozen to our meetings. After the business of the meeting was over another lady and us were introduced as visitors to the area. What are the odds that two lots of people from Victoria would visit the one meeting on the same night?  Beverley is from Geelong and while in Townsville for work, decided to look up the local Ulysses branch for some company. We talked to her for a while and suggested she give Peter and Wendy from the Pinsent Hotel a ring and organise a ride to the Wang area. We also gave her a brochure on riding in North East Victoria. We chatted with other Townsville members Steve and Miriam before heading home.

Wednesday 22 June 2005

First thing today we collected our mail from the post office. There was a letter from an insurance company regarding the claim to fix the bike which we followed up with the local office of the company.

Tony’s mileage program from Harley finally came too. Members of Harley Owners Group can get badges for riding certain amounts of kilometres or in this case miles. When you’ve logged 10,000 miles you get a badge and so on with other milestone amounts.

We received another bill today for our internet access, this time for over $6000! Immediately I wrote to the company asking for an explanation as to why the problem has not been rectified, hopefully I’ll hear from them tomorrow. I wanted the request in writing so I had proof of my enquiry. Previous dealings with them I’ve recorded the name of the representative I’ve spoken with, but if we can’t resolve this issue our website may have to come to an end.

Benjamin rang today to tell me that my dog, Sasha has escaped. She got out yesterday and was taken to the pound and she has gotten out again today. It was too late in the day when he contacted the pound so he doesn’t know if they have her or not, it’s quite a worry.

Thursday 23 June 2005

Tony got another shift of work today; it was at a freight company moving parcels and tractor tyres, quite heavy work. Other than that not much is happening.

Friday 24 June 2006

We enrolled with another employment agency today. The lady at the agency said there was always demand for labourers and there could be more office work after 30 June, we’ll see what happens. There are 55 employment agencies in Townsville, so we’ll have to register with a few more.

Saturday 25 June 2005

In the morning I sanded the rust off the stone chips on the trailer and repainted it.

After lunch we went for a ride to Charters Towers and then Ravenswood, they are both gold mining towns. Ravenswood was once so large there were 46 pubs, there are now 2 and the town has a population of 400. There are stories of ghosts inhabiting buildings in Ravenswood. There are remains of buildings and mines everywhere, huge chimneys stand where mines once were, the chimneys provided steam power for the mines.

Sunday 26 June 2005

This morning we went to the markets. There are 3 regular markets in Townsville, one in the Flinders Street Mall selling mostly arts and crafts and fruit & veg, another at the Showgrounds selling trash and treasure and fruit and veg and one more at Willow Shopping Centre carpark selling a bit of everything, probably the better of the markets.

Just as we parked at the showgrounds market another Harley parked beside us. We got talking to the couple, Peter and Arlene. Peter works at an employment agency so we go his business card and we’ll call into his agency this week.

The caravan park we’re staying at is right near the RAAF base and the jets have been out and about a lot today, they make quite a noise. Prior to today it’s been mostly helicopters buzzing about overhead.

In the afternoon we walked down and had a cuppa with Anne, Gary was out on the Ulysses ride. As we were walking back to our tent a couple passed us on a trike.

A short time later the trike returned, the riders were camped next to us, a couple from Sale in Victoria, both Ulysses members also, Rob & Kate. One of their mudguards had fallen off the trike so they’ll be staying around a couple of days to get it fixed.

PHOTOGRAPHS TOP TO BOTTOM
Burdekin River (popular spot for off road riding)

Main Street, Charters Towers

Tony at lookout at Charters Towers

Ravenswood

Mine Chimneys - Ravenswood

Old mining equipment - Ravenswood

Timber Windmill - Ravenswood

Gold Mine at Ravenswood

The village and beyond - Ravenswood

Linda at White Blow

White Blow ( a quartz outcrop) - Ravenswood

Imperial Hotel - Ravenswood

Imperial Hotel - Ravenswood

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