Up this morning and Penny has said she would take us up to a creek where we could have a swim. The creek was called Crystal Creek, or Little Crystal Creek to be specific.
This took us about an hour from Townsville before we started to climb a steep mountain along a old logging track. The road had to be one of the most wiggliest roads I’ve ever been on as a passenger in my life.
At the top of the mountain is a village called Paluma which is quite a quiet little community off the beaten track. I’ve always been impressed how even in quite a remote spot they still have mains power, water and even phone signal (what’s your excuse UK mobile providers). Penny had brought us up here to we could experience a proper walk in the bush (rainforest). Ali and I went on a wander down a marked bush walk while a sleepy Toby stayed with Penny. The plant life is amazing and I’m sure we were being stared at by a number of hidden eyes while walking through.
Back out into the village again, we headed back down the wiggly road to Little Crystal Creek. We started out with lunch and watched a number of people descending down into the creek from the bridge.
Conveniently all of these people had departed by the time it was our turn for a swim. What a beautiful place! The water was cool, but not cold once you were in. Penny chose a rock shaped like a slide as her entry and I chose to jump straight in! Toby did a bit of splashing and then sat in the sun to warm up. We climbed a little higher to a third pool and a waterfall under which Ali sat. We had a nice chat with a young couple from Texas, who’d driven up from Sydney. We didn’t want to leave, but it sadly, the real world beckoned. Back down the wiggly road and home to Townsville.
Eric cooked a spectacular bbq for dinner. Steak and prawns, which are much bigger and better than a home! One of Penny’s friends joined us for dinner and we all had a lovely evening chatting. Toby fell asleep on Penny’s knee!
