The map below has an onscreen zoom function. Position your cursor over the map - then click on the "+" & "-" symbols on the left to zoom and un-zoom. Try the satellite view as well.

Function Key F11 will expand to full screen for better viewing

8Th July, Charters Towers (once thought to be the centre of the World) has not changed in all the years we have been coming here. The city has a remarkable history, with wonderful architecture. In years gone by, a great deal of money was lost in the stock exchange (lower right) when confidence tricksters sold shares in gold mines "that could not be expected to find gold even if they dug to the centre of the earth".

It's as though the city centre has been heritage listed (right) - or frozen in time .... .

... well that's what I thought until I looked in the rear view mirror while parked in the main street. This is what I saw (left). I waited ages for the driver to return - but she turned out to be a nun.

The guy living in this place (right) is a VKS737 radio operator. It says "All you religious nuts aren't welfcome here  F.Off". The sign has been there for many years and seems to suggest something about the occupant. Unfortunately, some people think he has a connection to Ham Radio or Amateur Radio - definitely wrong.

The remains of a vehicle (above left) might be useful if you can identify it.

15th July...

Townsville once again. This is one of our "old stomping grounds". It's a big place when you get to look at it from Mount Stuart (below).

Unfortunately the clouds were moving in just as we got to the top of the mountain and the pic is not as good as it should be.

As we drove down the mountain again I realized that I wanted to have a pee and the long grass beside the road seemed like good cover - so I stopped to take advantage of it. But within moments I realized that I was being watched from very close range (left).

Oh my God - I've heard how kookaburras can snatch a sausage from a barbecue!!!

As I turned around to return to the car I saw this sign (right) through the long grass.

It says "DANGER - range boundary - keep out unless authorised - DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING - IT MAY EXPLODE AND KILL YOU".

Hell!  have you tried to have a pee without touching it - and I never did believe it could explode, even when I was very young.

16th July ...

The Strand (Townsville) - where socialites mingle and dogs establish a pecking order (left).

This poor dog has the right facial expression, but his boots don't frighten anybody!

They are simply the wrong color.

Connie prefers the strong, more masculine beasts with hidden beauty (right). This, no doubt explains our close relationship.

17th July

It's market day in down town Townsville. But these bananas (left) aren't worth THAT much - "yuk, you can keep them".

We bought some nuts, but gave the "Death Sauce" a miss(right).

The two extremes in busking .... she (left) is 8 and he (right) is 48. She plays a flute [how good or bad could you be at 8 years old]. He plays a didgeridoo like a full blooded aborigine.

The rest is obvious, however she has money thrown into her bag, and he doesn't .... huh?  

So I took five bucks out of her bag and gave it to the aborigine.

18th July,

See what I mean ... "Connie prefers the strong, more masculine beasts with hidden beauty (left)".

This pic (right) shows the famous "Castle Hill" as seen from "The Strand".

I was really trying to get a pic of that good looking chic ..

< Part 11 >

< choose another part of the 2011 trip >

< choose the trip from another year >