Caloundra to Townsville & back

Well, we arrived just fine to Caloundra to the Worldmark hotel on Golden Beach, which is part of the Sunshine Coast. The hotel is really nice - comes complete with a free laundry room. Which I thought was really cool until I was told I had to also wash my own towels ... no new towels unless you're here for two weeks. Hmmm ....

We also wondered why no one was swimming on the kazillion beaches we saw - which are sooo pretty. That's because apparently this area has killer tides and will just suck you out. We weren't too excited about getting sucked out ... so we opted for the outdoor pool & hot tub.

It rained all weekend & was supposed to continue through until Thursday, so by Monday, Patrick and I decided to make a mad dash for the Great Barrier Reef. It's about 1000 kilometers north from here (maybe more ...) , so we packed up our dinky Toyota Corolla and took off north for the sun. We figured we'd be away for about three days max, but we'd see Nemo :)

We found a neat little town on the map named Mackay, north of Rockhampton & Bundaberg (Bundaberg Rummmm!!) so we decided at about 11:00 pm we'd make a night of Mackay and see what is there. In Queensland, it seems the majority of hotels, restaurants and stores close once the sun sets, so we were pretty limited by 11pm. Which lead us to the fabulous Mackay International Hotel!

Which sounds pretty good, right?

Well, apparently a 'hotel & accommodations' in this neck of Queensland generally means a bar & brothel. Me, pretty excited to find a room at about 45 usd, took it, not knowing the room right next door was 'occupied.' Patrick and I went to the little hole in the wall bar below and met some coal miners that were on strike. They were pretty excited to meet us, and kept giving Patrick Bundabergs & Cokes. So, while Patrick was hanging, I decided to return to the room 105 & hit the sack.

Which is when I saw the mini-cockroaches running around on the pillows ... about 20 or so. Having a little party ... on our pillows.

The more concerning part for me was the hotel clerk asking me "where they the big bugs or just the small ones?"

So I asked for another room (while Pat's at the bar) and got room 106. I inspected the pillows - no big or little bugs - but grab my digital camera to get a good picture of the large bloodstain on the curtain. Seems someone wasn't very lucky there a week back?

I brought the camera to the bar & showed it to Patrick, his 3 new coal-mining bloke buddies, the lesbian bartender with half a tooth, and another guy who had just bought $100 worth of drinks for everyone. They were quite amused, and somehow the bartender got us the "executive suite" in room 206. This basically meant that there was only one bug on the pillows as opposed to 20. So by 2:00, I finally went to bed wearing everything I owned - including my flipflops. Patrick wasn't quite as bothered as me, but then again, he had three bundabergs that would make any guy think he's in paradise :)

But before we hit the sack - we did learn that the 'hotel' was a brothel - but only had 4 prostitutes, mainly on the first floors (the 100's ...) because to have more than 5 you'd have to pay for a license. We were lucky apparently ?

So we took off the next morning, and after a long drive up the AU 1, we finally hit Townsville and stopped in a little Bed & Breakfast that was fantastic. The innkeeper even let me see the room first to make sure there were no bugs :)

The hotel was also on the Australian Haunted list - apparently the owner had died in 1911 in a large shipwreck ... so we had our eyes peeled :) We had a fantastic supper & met lots of locals. The next day we took a reef tour for the full day & Patrick scuba'd while I snorkled. The reef was about a 2 hour boatride out. Lots of fun. We also met a couple from London who recently moved to Townsville with their three kids. They just bought a huge house w/ tons of land (and unfortunatley it came with a few poinsonous snakes & bird-eating spiders) for aobut $150,000. Which is considered quite alot - but nothing compared to flats & apartments in London.

He told us that if we wanted to stay a few more days, that he'd take us out with some mates of his to go fishing in the mangroves. Apparently, they go out in little tin-boats fishing, with crocs everywhere, catch fish, then sleep in the boat overnight for fun.

He said that all through the night, crocs bump the boat, smack their jaws and fight on the banks... and apparently you've drank enough beer that you laugh through it?

So we passed ... and mentioned that we're driving inland to some towns called Emerald, Sapphire & Rubyville where you can mine your own gems. We were a little worried when he said to make sure we bring 2-3 gallons of water 'just incase.' Just incase we break down, chances are in alot of places in the bush, you won't see a car for another 6 hours easy.

A little apprehensive, we still decided to hit the road once the boat docked at 5. Townsville is great - its a small town of maybe 50,000 residents. All along 'the Strand' there are showers to rinse off from the salt water, so Patrick and I jumped in, dried off, and took off into the bush.

Of course, it started to rain. And it rained harder than I've ever imagined. I cam-corded some of it. We got to a town called Charter's Towers and filled up. The lady there was adiment that we don't drive down to Emerald, especially at night. The Aussie Road Trains usually run at night - delivering coal and meats inbetween towns. Apparently a road train is a tractor trailer with about 4-5 trailers. And this particular route - the only one we could take, was large enough for one car only. There were no two lanes - so of course if a road train is coming at you, you have to get off the road. And its raining, so she was convinced we'd just sink if we pulled off the road.

Neither Patrick or I was excited about only going a few hundred km's since we wanted to get to Emerald & then back to Caloundra as soon as possible, so we took the word of a local cop in the Red Rooster that we should be fine. He apparently thought Patrick was a strong enough bloke to push the car out of the mud if we got stuck .... HA !

So off we went - and this was the scariest ride i've ever been on at night. We were looking out for kangaroos, wild Camels, rain, and road trains now. We'd easily see a pack of roos every 10 kilometers. And since we didn't take the extra insurance on the rental, Pat couldn't hit one. I can't tell you how many times my eyes popped out of my head .... the road trains almost blew us off the road. Thankfully, we met the majority of them while the road was still a 2 lane road. Still crazy.

By 1 am, we pulled into a little town called Clermont to the Road Train resting spot, pulled our little car next to their monsters, and took a snooze. We cracked the window and I ended up being bit about 100 times by mosquitoes. They didn't like Patrick, because he has yet to be bitten. Makes me think ....

So we arrived to Emerald & Sapphire. We picked up our buckets & shovels and started sifting for Sapphires. Personally, both Patrick and I thought we were doing pretty good. We were covered with mud head to toe, and managed to find about 30 pieces. Which beat everyone else there. Until we went to check out. All but one had some sort of crack or couldn't be cut for some reason or other. The only one that could be cut would be worth maybe $5.00. Patrick just got a little ziplock, and we decided to make a dash back to the time share in Caloundra.

That was noontime & we finally arrived here last night at about 9pm. Pat still doesn't dare let me drive, so he took the whole route. I just stayed awake as the navigator, gingerale supplier, and Starburst candy girl.

So we've had alot of fun so far - tomorrow we check out and head down to Sydney. We're not too sure of our route, but it may be more inland than on the coast because Surfers' Paradise & the Gold Coast is all jammed with the Indy 300. I'm sure there are a few more towns we can visit, grab a little Toohey's New beer, and sit with the locals & play a few pokies.

I'll pop in before Sydney & keep you all posted. Patrick and I couldn't for the life of us find an internet cafe in the bush & outback, so sorry for the delays in posting!

Miss you all!

~ Kristin