Townsville was our home for many years, so it is always nice to get back and visit old friends. Despite its many beautifications (parks and walkways along the Strand, riverside walks and parks, new lakeside suburbs, etc.) since we lived here, it has retained its country town atmosphere. I think its sprawling, spacious layout and its tropical climate are a cause of this. We have had a wonderful apartment for the week down near the Strand. Most mornings Reg's son,...

It seems that every western town has spent time and money in developing beautiful walkways for people to exercise and/or stroll at leisure and enjoy nature. Hughenden is no different. This morning I walked along its walkway by the Flinders River and enjoyed the sunrise, the birds, the many works of art and the memorials to local pioneers. Then it was eastward bound on the Flinders Highway. Just outside Hughenden we took a short side trip up to Mt Walker where ...

The roots of my family tree are deep in Charters Towers soil and the leaves, though many now fallen, were once thick and lush. My father was born here in 1933, and so too was his father in 1911. My great-grandfather came to the Towers as a young child with his family in 1891. His father (my great-great grandfather) emigrated from Switzerland and ended up here, first as a Lutheran minister and later as a watchman at the Daydawn Gold Mine. It was wonderful explorin...

It was farewell to Longreach this morning after a very pleasant two days in this town where every street is named after a bird. But first I greeted the day with another walk, this time following the botanical path into town. It meandered through parks and was punctuated with exercise equipment, shady seats and bubblers, as well as the lovely native plants bordering it on both sides. I followed the example of the locals I saw on the path and took a small branch of...

It was great having another day in Longreach today and to take a break from driving. My morning walk was slightly delayed due to rain. I know, hard to believe, but it does happen. It cooled things down a bit, but it didn't drown the flies. I followed a lovely botanical walkway which runs from town beside the highway to the Stockman's Hall of Fame. The pathway is flanked by native trees and plants with plaques giving information about them. As well, local well kno...