14 July

Up early to explore the Sapphire Markets, this is four times the size of Ruby's market. The boys purchase a manly locket to store some of their gems.

We say our good byes to those we have met at the RSL. We all really enjoyed our stay here, very peaceful, relaxing and great company. For us, this was by far a more interesting mining town than Lightening Ridge or Cooper Peedy or any other fossicking area we have been to prior. This is the first place we've been to this trip, where the boys have said they would really like to go back to again one day.

A long driving day today. With approx 500kms, from Sapphire, into Emerald and north towards Charters Tower. The roads are by far the worst roads we have travelled so far. Very narrow, uneven bitumen and very bouncy, which, when towing the caravan it creates a double bounce. We also encounter road trains for the first time, 3 carriages. Along the sides of the road are old wrecks of four cars and one truck.

We pass a massive heard of cattle, droving. They are very well set up with trucks to load them back onto and large water tanker trailers. There is lots of feed up here, there's been recent rains and the country side is quite green.

There is very little to break up the journey. We enjoyed lunch at the hoods lagoon in Clermont. A lovely little water way, very much unexpected to see out here. There were a variety of ducks and pelicans, but not a single seagull to be found.

Just before dark, we found a small road side bush camp that was approx. 15kms south of Charters Towers.

15 July

Today we were in early to explore Charter's Towers. We watched the interesting history videos at information centre, went on the walking tour of the interesting old architectural buildings. Bob Katter's electoral office is in part to of the old stock exchange building, I don't think he could have gotten a better or more exposed location in town.

Off to Tower Hill with the lookout over the township and the WW2 bunkers that had interesting interactive displays and videos that depicted their history.

In the afternoon we drove out to Ravenswood, a heritage listed mining town. Many of the remaining buildings have been restored. Gold mining returned to the township in the 1990's and continues today, however, it still remains a very small old town as most are fly in fly out workers or they commute from Townsville way.

Tonight we camp on the Burdekin River at Macrossan Park, a free camp approx 15 kms east of Charters Towers.