Townsville Ho!

After a fortnite of life in The Big Smoke with it's temptations and hustle & bustle, it's off again on to a quieter place.  Brisbane is a beautiful city with plenty of lovely parks, great weather etc but it is still a city.  So I am taking a circuitous route to Townsville to meet up with Tasmanian friends on 10th September.  The plan is to take an inland route via Carnarvon Gorge, Emerald/Sapphire, Long Reach, Winton and then up to Hughendon, Charters Towers to Townsville.  I leave Townsville on 12th Sept and meander toward Bundaberg, where an opportunity for a weeks stay availed itself from 17-23 Sept.  Then back to Brisbane.

Determining how much power I need to produce to be reasonably independent is proving a challenge:  One fact I discovered on my last trip is that you can't count on 'free camping' when you like.  In the area I traveled many of the campsites were pay sites - while reasonable, it begs the question of  "Is the expense of being reasonably self sufficient justified?"  More information needed, this trip should help. 

In Brisbane I obtained a portable 100W solar unit to trial:  If it provides enough to keep me 3-4 days away from a power point, that should then suffice, else I will need to look at permanently mounting a panel on the roof, with perhaps an extra 105AH deep cycle battery (checked into on arrival here but VERY expensive).  So this run will provide me with additional knowledge as to the final setup.  An isolating solenoid kit was obtained as well, yet to be installed. 

The van is great for city running as it isn't much bigger than a car and fits into most parking spaces.  Dodging traffic in Brisbane was feasible and fun, although I'm sure it is a big help to have Tasmanian license plates!  Avoiding the CBD is also essential for me but it should be OK there as well, just not in peak hour.  A good GPS helps as well.  My time here has been very useful in getting bits & pieces I need, helping the family I'm staying with and indulging in pizza and ice cream.  So, the van has once again been reorganised and I am looking forward to traveling through some important historic places.