Monday - 20th August

Drove from Mr. Surprise to Charters Towers. Lots of one lane roads with obligatory road trains.  We travelled through quite a bit of fog coming over the Divide and the shoulders were often soft and muddy and the car and van got filthy.  We checked in at the Oasis caravan park in Charters Towers and before setting up we went round to the car-wash, which was big enough to take our van. We spent a tidy sum removing the mud and road grime.  While there I noticed one of my van tyres was somewhat flat.  Back at the park we happy-houred with Ed and Penny whom we had met at Kurumba.

Tuesday - 21st August

Took the flat van tyre to Beaurepaires in Charters Towers and they repaired it while I had my stitches removed.  They found a small nail stuck in it.  Later we toured the town and went up to enjoy the panorama from Tower Hill.

Wednesday - 22nd August

Spent the day driving down to Lake Theresa and camped on the lake shore. 

Thursday - 23rd August

Got to Emerald early, weather somewhat miserable.  We both did some shopping and got haircuts.  Interesting Van Gogh painting in park.