stuck in Townsville

The most difficult thing we have had to do on this trip has definitely been the planning we have done recently. It is so much easier to just get in the van with a vague idea of what want to do and see, but now we have a deadline. Its a deadline for an awesome reason (one of my very bestest friends will be flying into Brisbane at the end of the month!!!YAY!!), but as anyone who has ever worked or studied with me knows - I dont cope all that well with deadlines. Having Babas OCD personality looking over my shoulder has been both a great help and enourmous annoyance. But we got it done... we planned our movements to the day for the next month, figured out when we wanted to book our trips to the Whitsundays and Frasier Island, and visits to all the weird little towns and awesome beaches on the way. So OF COURSE the schedule got all buggered up due to REASONS and now we have to wait around till November 12th before we go to the Whitsundays and then squish everything else in between there and Brisbane. It will be fine, but no more faffing. The age of Faffage is OVER.

So we have been hanging around Townsville for the last week or so. There has been a lot of sitting by the actually quite lovely lagoon that also boasts free public showers and BBQs so it has become our second home. Also we spent a few more days hanging around Crystal Creek and Balgal Beach, which was lovely and relaxing. Baba even finished her book(!).

Yesterday, our van started making some rather harrowing noises. Im usually ok with very basic car care, as before I was even old enough to drive a car, my Dad showed me how to change a car tyre, check the oil, check the coolant, refill the water, clean and wax a car to a glorious shine. Unfortunately, he failed to show me how to replace a clutch on a Toyota Hiace, and so I am about to spend uneccessary money on garage labour. Thanks a lot, Dad.
It also turns out that heavy rain + open doors = EVERYTHING wet, and a possible confrontation with the local security company who have recieved complaints of two english backpackers putting up laundry lines wherever the hell they feel like it.