On Day 2, I drove from Charters Towers to Townsville and spent the night at the Townsville QCWA units at Kissing Point on the Strand. This place is the best option for accommodation in Townsville. Clean, cheap and right on the beach. Self contained with a big kitchen. So I'm working with Shari Indriani Irwin, theatre director, who hasn't been to Townsville before. Before dinner, I showed her the Rockpool, where I used to swim when I was little and we lived in Townsville (see photo 2).
Shari interviewed me while Russell filmed us. I was talking about the theatre show we're making. This is going to be archival footage for future funding applications; in other words, why we're here and what we're doing on this trip.
The next morning, we drove back through Charters Towers. We're going to be coming back through here again on the way back, so I was feeling impatient to get to Winton. But I got a reminder to stop and enjoy the journey from Rose, Russell's daughter, who convinced us to stop for breakfast. And I'm glad she did. It was a good excuse to stop in town for a while and remember to enjoy myself...!
Gold panning - I would have like to have done a bit of that, but no time. So we drove out to Hughenden through some beautiful country with wattle trees either side of the road in full golden bloom.
And when we got to Winton, we were met by Amanda-Lyn Pearson's dogs. Keen as.
Amanda-Lyn is the closest thing to Wonderwoman I've seen. Check out her latest efforts in the house (video below). Not only have I known this woman and her work since 2002, but I also get to stay in the Crack up House. This is the best place to stay in the West.
And that's it for now! Another update tomorrow. And it's exciting stuff.
Sara, would love you to show us the route you took to get there. So glad you made it. Amanda Lyn's story was wonderful. Love her shirt.