Motor Trail Pre-Trip Trip

Hervey Bay to Townsville.

The planned 2am departure was put back to 4am after a few dramas, including one which saw Kira off to an after hours doctor for treatment for a possibly infected eye ...

However, by 4am, we were off, by 4:05 the kids were asleep, by 4:15 so was Tracy.

We drove through thick fog for some time, and through some more patchy fog around Gin Gin as the sun slowly rose. Kayla woke up just in time for a toilet stop at Colusseum Creek.

The Wiggles then made their first back seat guest appearance for the trip and all was happy and well in the P7 Patrol.

An uneventful trip to Rockhampton for a breakfast of Hot cakes at McDonalds, a big play on the playground, and a change into day clothes for the girls.

We jumped back into the car around 9:30, filled both tanks with diesel at 166.9c, fully expecting to make a stop somewhere around St Lawrence, but we were able to get all the way through to the Mobil on the Northside of Mackay. A short while later we were joined by Peta and Brendan Abell and their three girls; the Abells had traveled up from Maryborough a couple of days before to spend some time with family in Mackay.

We left Mackay with a view to see how far we could get, and to our great surprise we had happy girls (almost) all the way into Townsville.

We followed our Satnav all the way to the Mercure on Woolcock St, checked in, ordered and ate room service, and went to sleep.

The next morning we had a few last minute chores to do, but also wanted to do some sightseeing. We headed to Reef HQ, but sadly the girls were only interested in Nemos, and even he didn't hold their interest for too long, so we left for a trip up Castle Hill. This perked up their spirits, and the trip down the hill put Kira to sleep, but Kayla was resistant.

Back at Mercure, Kira stayed asleep and Kayla lay down for a sleep too. This gave me the opportunity to get a few jobs done, and Tracy had a well-deserved rest.

Motortrailers arrived steadily throughout the afternoon, and we had a meal and briefing at 6:30 pm.

The girls enjoyed the attention...

Stats:

1100 kms, tank and a third of diesel.

Lots of Wiggles, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Dora the Explorer.

View Day One