Next stop was Charters Towers where we were meeting my Mum and Dad in their caravan to spend some time together. Unfortunately we were going to swelter out there with the temps expected to hit 38 degrees. The campsite we were staying at was lovely but the two sites they had given us were without shade. Alright for those with air conditioning (M and D) but under our canvas it would have been unbearable. Lucky for us the unpowered sites where just a short walk away and completely shaded. So we set up there. Mum and Dad arrived from Home Hill an hour after us and soon we were all set up and having a beer and some lunch under the shady trees.
The next day Mum, Dad and I left Tim and Griff at the campsite and went on a road trip to the Burdekin Dam which was about two hours away. This dam is integral to the Burdekin community and I was pretty excited to see it. It’s the largest dam in the state and I believe it’s capacity is 4 times Sydney harbour. The most bizarre thing when seeing it was the fact that the area around it was so dry, to then come across a huge body of water was quite strange.
On the way out we also came across some ringers on horseback droving some cattle down the road which was a fun sight to see. The cattle looked pretty fat so must have had some good pasture somewhere. Hard to tell with the landscape around being so bare.
We stopped for some morning tea on the banks of the dam and then ventured up higher to get a better view near the walls. It was a very impressive sight to see, so much concrete! I would love to go back and see it when it is spilling over the top! One of the spillways was open and it was surrounded by pelicans enjoying a a very easy meal of fish.
View from the top 
Such a massive body of water 
On the way back home we stopped off at Ravenswood, a town Tim and I had visited on a day trip last time we were home. The town itself is tiny but was bustling in the gold rush era. The only difference this time around was the the old gold mine which when we were there was being re-opened was now in production and I could not believe the change. The new reef was so close to town you could see the trucks moving around. Apparently on they days they detonate new parts of the mine the old pub shakes like crazy. I def would not want to be living there. To be fair, it’s not a place I would live even without the mine. The dust and heat would send me crazy.
Next day we had a walk around town and got to see some of the old historic buildings. Charters Towers was once the second biggest city/town in Qld and had its own stock exchange to deal with all the gold prospecting that was happening in the region. You could imagine the wealth that passed through the town just going off the grandness of the old buildings that have been beautifully restored. They had even converted one of the old pubs into the town library by keeping the facade and then putting in a new building behind.
Our spare time was spent under the tree at the campsite and we quickly came to realise that our level of friendliness to people at the campsite was vastly overshadowed by my parents. Dad spoke to literally everyone and most times had worked out a connection one way or another to who knew who from somewhere. It was great to see. Next time I think when we are cooking we will just cook for more than 4 knowing that he would invite someone to have dinner with us.
Another attraction around the area was a station with Texas Longhorn cows. So we booked a tour, put Griff in kennels and off we went. The tour was pretty interesting to learn about the history of the long horn and how it originated in Spain made its way to Texas and the role they played in feeding America after the civil war. The miles they drove those cattle was mind boggling! We jumped in ATVs and headed out to see the cows in the paddock who were all very impressive though the tour was a tad too long for our liking, especially in 38 degree heat.
The first ever camper trailer. Used on long droves. 
The time in Charters Towers with my folks went far too quickly and we had a great time exploring with them. So much so that we made a plan to meet somewhere again in our campers next time we were up this way. S
