Rain rain go away

16 July – Wednesday

It started to rain during the night and the awning stood up brilliantly to the water – having one side lowered certainly helped! It was still raining heavily while we packed up, although a 21 degree temperature helped with comfort. A change of wet clothes and we were on the road by 8.30am (definitely getting quicker at packing up!). It just rained and rained and rained!!! We stopped for morning tea in the rain and discovered that the front window of the caravan has a leak – first really heavy rain while towing. Mopped up the front bench, Les decided to use the broom to clean the outside of the caravan while it was raining, then we continued in the rain until we arrived at Ayr. As the cupboard/frig was a little bit bare with lunch food, we decided to treat ourselves to a pie. A friendly local directed us to Alfies, which happened to be about a 2km walk in the rain to the opposite end of the shopping centre. We wont be returning to Alfies for any more pies.

Ayr was a large country town with a main street of shops, everything from clothing, banks, travel, giftwares, hardware, newsagents, noodle shops, lawn mower and adult shops. Country music was played over the street loud speakers.

On to Townsville, still raining, and discovered the caravan park is next to the Townsville Airport, right beside a major road and train line. I do have to say it is heaps better (and cheaper) than Airlie Beach. The people in charge of the park are having a free sausage sizzle this evening for the tourists – this will certainly take care of the evening meal.