9 July 2011 - Giru Town Centre Camping Area, Queensland

One has to wonder why such a tiny settlement several kilometres off the main highway, 54 kilometres SE of Townsville and 42 kilometres W of Ayr, with a population of just 371 in the last census taken in 2006, but with apparently the second largest sugar mill in Queensland, boasts this excellent open space where travellers such as ourselves can plant our wheels, and make use of the antiquated but clean facilities. Our CMCA bible says we can stay here 48 hours, yet subsequent consultation with fellow campers suggests there is no time limit at all. One couple across from us plan to stay until Christmas! No matter what the raison d‘etre, we are pleased to have found the spot, a resting space before we travel on into Townsville which we understand to be absolutely throbbing this weekend with the sound of V8 Motor Racing. Better to be here between the rail and the mill!

We passed a reasonable night pressed up against the railway railings at Home Hill last night, this time not exposed to the vindictive horn tooting of the big trucks rumbling through on the Bruce Highway. At Guthalungra a couple of nights ago, there were several occasions when the loud truck horns blasted out seemingly without reason; I am sure it was the truck drivers just getting their back on the pain-in-the-bottom grey nomads whose night resting place could be seen from the road. At Home Hill we were tucked away out of sight of the main highway and of course such behaviour would not have been tolerated by the residents of the town.

The bridge over the Burdekin River

After breakfast, it took only moments to be ready and on the road again. That is one big positives for free camping and staying hitched. Re-hitching with all the palaver of  the Hayman Reece levelling hitches is enough for one to choose a motorhome over a caravan! We are however pretty efficient now, and so we should be after five and a bit months on the road.

Queensland's second largest sugar mill at Giru

The road from Home Hill to Ayr crosses the Burdekin on the bridge referred to yesterday, an unattractive structure over a very wide and beautiful ribboned river. Alas there was no opportunity to stop and take a photograph. The countryside either side of the bridge was immediately rural, with intensive cropped cane fields.

On arriving in Ayr, obviously larger and busier than its twin, Home Hill, we parked and walked the main street, noting that this town did indeed offer all the services one could possibly expect in a rural district. The council has made an effort to jazz up the place but it still does not have a wow factor. Perhaps that could be seen as unimportant in a rural setting, however much of the income nowadays could be garnered from the passing tourists. We saw no reason to stay more than the couple of hours, and came on north, or rather west, to Giru. Discovering this curious little place, we decided to stay for more than lunch.

We had indulged in bakery delights at Ayr, so after consuming those at Giru, thought we had better go for a walk to discover the metropolis. (I fear the kilos we have lost by changing our drinking habits, may well be regained in too many treats and not enough exercise.)

The sights and places included an old pop-top caravan that has been altered to include galvanised iron in place of the canvas pop-top, a store-cum-post office currently closed due to the proprietor having been killed in a hideous car-truck accident just last week, the Houghton River where the rail bridge crosses, the pub which is to host a karaoke birthday party tonight (but will it broadcast The Game on its television? – or more importantly, do they have Fox TV?).

Having seen all that, we returned to spend another quiet afternoon “at home”. We will dine here, but will probably wander over to the Pub later in the hope that we can watch the big game between the Crusaders and Queensland Reds at 7.30 p.m. And if it is on, shall I bite my tongue when the Kiwi thrash the Ozzies? Or shall I risk life and limb revealing my patriotic roots?

The forecast was for sunshine and temperatures of 26 degrees. There are clouds all about, particularly around the top of Mount Elliot, and a breeze that might yet drive me inside. However I cannot complain; it is winter after all.