Mount Stuart

Sun 21 June… Not such a nice morning as there is a cloud in the sky and it’s threatening to rain on us. As ever we haven’t really got a plan for the day, which usually means a day on the beach but with this bad weather around we have to think of something to do. Overlooking Townsville is Castle Hill which we have already been up, but to the west is a real mountain called Mount Stuart which you can drive to the top of. It’s a good way out of town, 25 mins drive before turning off the main highway for a very steep climb of 7.5Ks to the top. It makes the old van cough a bit as it’s all second gear work and the engine is a little on the warm side when we reach the top. It’s worth the effort as from the summit the views are fantastic, we can see Castle Hill in the distance which we thought was up a depth, but it is just a bump compared to this. There is a circular walk around the summit with lots of viewing points, very few hand rails, and a rough old track, can’t imagine it being allowed in the U K “elfan safety” and all that! The threatened rain has passed, it was wet somewhere but not on us.
Drove into town and tried to get a drink in the Cowboy Club (Queensland Cowboys Rugby League Supporters Club) but got ejected before we got past the front desk, as we didn’t have any I D with an address on it, or photo I D. What planet do these jobworths inhabit? All we wanted was a Sunday Lunchtime beer. Anyway we have been chucked out of better places than that! Around the corner we find a very acceptable pub with friendly locals and cold beer where we could watch rugby league on 1 T V and Aussie rules on another, or if we didn’t fancy that there was a pop channel on another T V, and Pokies in the next room. LONG LIVE THE WHITE HART!!!!