After traveling the outback for so long, we feel like we are on an overseas tropical holiday here at Charters Towers Oasis Caravan Park. We dont use van parks often but we need to stay here a week to get some work done on the van bearings and for Allen to attend the Anzac Day service so we booked into this park and boy do we feel like we are on holiday! Lovely green grassy areas, concrete slab, beautiful toilet and shower block and a fabulous pool with rocky waterfall - magic - lift the flick mixer in the sink and water comes out!! (We have to pump water when we are out bush). And electricity!!!! Stays there all day and I can use as much as I want, even the aircon if I want to!!!

Easter was quite for us although being holidays for the kids the park had its far share of them and they had an easter egg hunt on Sunday. Allen went into town to church and met some of the locals. He is bowling today and has a game lined up for Anzac day too. The Anzac ceremony is at the cemetery!!

The weather here is glorious. The past couple of months touring the outback Queensland area has had us in very hot conditions, both day and night. Here it is about 30 degrees during the day and lovely cool nights. The pool is magic and of course if it gets hot, I have the aircon to turn on.

Charters Towers is full of old buildings built in the 1800's and they are beautifully maintained. The town has character. I have taken some photos of them - found in the photo tab.

Allen had his eyes checked as he felt they were deteriorating. New lens' required at over $500 (just lens). We have never paid that amount just for new lens, old age sucks. Its a good thing we are doing this trip now - who knows what the future holds.

Sandi has been off to the vet again....a lump on her neck and one or two other little lumps needed to be identified. Poor little thing, she was so good, the vet stuck a needle into the abcess and another lump on her tummy to draw out stuff in them to see what it was. She was nervous but just hung onto me. Long and the short of it all, antibiotics and anti inflammatories and 6 months supply of tick and flea control for dogs with skin allergy problem - $193.00 later - dog with shaved huge lump on neck that needs bathing in betadine, ready to go home.

Now, the caravan bearings - both bearings replaced and a spare hub with bearings ready to replace if needed - $417.00 - bloody hell this place is costing us a fortune. The van back in the park and Al is happy.

To make matters even more costly, we have decided to stay here until at least next Thurs 1st May as we are waiting for Al's glasses. We could go on to Townsville but the weather at the moment is a bit inclement and it is the same in Townsville so we may as well stay put. Also there is a country music festival on hear from Friday 25th for 10 days so we may as well enjoy some of that too. Of course that also means we are up for more fees to stay in the park.....Charters Towers has been very expensive.

Allen has been to a couple of bowls games and is pleased with his game at the moment. He came home the other day having won the bowls and the raffle, a bottle of rum, which he gave away as I dont drink rum. The next time he bowled he also won his game and was one number off winning the raffle!!

All in all, Charters Towers has impressed us and we quite like the size of the town and the closeness to larger areas....we could live here lol.