Charters Towers, north QLD

We were due to head to Townsville on this date, but were re-directed further west to Charters Towers, by Titan Caravans.

A mystery leak had spung up from under the kitchen area a few weeks back. It was only a small puddle back then, but I'd been nagging at them to book me into (yet another) repair centre. Leaks don't tend to go away by themselves.

They couldn't seem to find a single repair centre in the entirety of Townsville, Cairns or anywhere inbetween, an area several thousand kilometres square, to book me in, for reasons that became clear later on. So, they sent me to Charters Towers where there was a little one man show, a builder by trade, that dabbled in caravan repairs.

Jamie from 'Dealz on Deane' finally popped out to see us at the showgrounds a week later. He ripped the van apart , found that the roof of the van was flooded due to a faulty aircon outlet, found water was leaking onto an electrical light casing, found a crack in the waste water pipe, broke the toilet cassette door, destroyed some laminate in the kitchen - but could not find the source of the original leak. Massive eye roll.

Cue some serious talks with Titan. We couldn't continue with the leak getting worse by the day, and nowhere north of us that could investigate or repair it. They wanted me to return the van to their workshop in Brisbane. I didn't want to waste time on my year off, doing a 2650km round trip with a car sick dog.

It was eventually agreed that I would have to return the van to Brisbane, but on the basis that they would replace the van this time, not repair it. It had suffered too much water damage to the floor. I reluctantly made the arrangements and sedated poor Dick, for the week long journey.

Charters Towers was a lovely big outback town, with yet more gold mining history and another fascinating cemetery. I went along to a ghost walk and talk there one night, to hear the historic tales and gruesome murders as a result of squabbles over gold.

I have come to the conclusion that gold mining itself is not the most dangerous part of this occupation, it is the violence that humans display towards each other over it.

Back to Brisbane we go.Read more