Time to chill [1770, QLD]

Hi, Ant here. The first three weeks of the Boyle Royal Tour have been hectic – over 3500km of travel with plenty of socializing and action. This pace is not sustainable. With our Townsville crew expecting us in just over a week we got to 1770 with a plan to stay put for a few days and start the relaxation.

Unfortunately we misjudged the school holidays and the struggle to get into the 1770 Tourist Park, but they squeezed us in after a cancellation. We ended up getting six nights in total, four of which were total beachfront. The school holidays kicked off on day three and the mass exodus of grey nomads made way for young families. The caravan park became a bike and scooter race track and the park came alive.

  

 
 

With this new lease of life came a new batch of energetic drinkers keen to get amongst it. Carla and I planned on having a few alcohol free days, however, with the sun going down over the beautiful coastline we always found ourselves with a beer and wine in hand while the kids played on the beach. When I asked Carla if she wanted to do dry July, her response was “Ha, we couldn’t even do Dry Tuesday!”

The weather was great getting up to about 24 degrees every day and the days were spent surfing, stand up paddling, bike riding and bush walking. The nights involved a few drinks around the campfire with new friends. 

    

I’m pleased to say that we have now used all the toys we have brought with us. We are chewing through heaps of fuel carting the van, 2 SUPs, surfboard, 4 bikes, 2 scooters and heaps of toys but it’s definitely worth it in a place like 1770 where they all get a good work out.

Zac and Molly made plenty of new friends. Zac continues to choose friends about five years older than him. He really needs to learn not to come on too strong when seeking friendship. He had a minor tantrum when I explained to him that it might not be best to tell his new 8yo mate Sam that he loved him. He wouldn’t buy it and told him anyway. Oh well Son, way to put it out there.

Molly is turning a little more feral each day. Her ability to destroy every other kids sandcastles is legendary and her latest trick is removing all her clothes to go for a scooter ride. Despite this, or maybe because of it, she is always very popular with everyone in the caravan park.

  

The Family Flair caravan is going well and turning heads. We regularly have people coming over to admire our set up. We are yet to have a night where there aren’t all four of us in the queen bed by morning so needless to say it hasn’t always been smooth sailing but the kids have adapted pretty well considering.

1770 is beautiful. We may come across many places that are equally as good but it is pretty hard to imagine anything better. Here’s hoping!

With the next stop Townsville and lots of thirsty friends to reunite with, the BRT will step up another gear over the next week – hope our bodies are ready.