Mackay to Mission Beach

 

Mon 14 June – We left the Caves Showgrounds and drove north on the A1 (Pacific Highway) for 180kms. A fire truck speed passed us and we came to a big semi-trailer which had rolled with a huge bridge beam as its load. We must have just got thru before they closed the road. We camped at Clairview Beach, the first time we had been at the coast for some time. We got a non-powered site looking out onto the beach. It was very humid and had a tropical Fiji feel. We sat under the awning in the rain until it eventually stopped, and we walked the beach until a clap of thunder sent us back to “Andy”. The storm set in and it rained hard in the night.

Tues 15 June – A cloudy steamy morning and we continued on to Mackay driving thru the centre of the town, over the Pioneer River, and on to our camp. We had a great swim and a sit in the sun at the camp pool. First swim this trip! Val’s togs were deemed to be less than adequate! A warm evening.

Wed 16 June – We rode the bikes along a cycleway back across the river and into the CBD. There was a large mall where we bought new togs for Val, new bath towels (old ones are slogged out), and Val got a hair cut at Just Cuts. Back for a late lunch and the rain settled in again. Watched people setting up awnings in the rain.

Thurs 17 June – Heavy rain in the night and drizzling for our 150km drive to the Whitsundays. We shopped at Proserpine before heading to the coast at Airlie Beach where we had booked a camp for 4 nights. The camp was set in lush tropical gardens and palm trees. Our site was small. This camp is the closest to the centre of Airlie Beach about 3 kms further on. We set up in the rain, but it soon cleared, and we walked along a pathway towards the town. We will be able to bike all he way on a path/cycleway. This camp has a great swimming pool where we tested out Val’s new togs. Very good! Drinks outside.

Fri 18 June – The camp is full as it is a public holiday here. A beautiful warm (26C) morning so we biked all around Airlie Beach. We stayed here with Lynne and Gary about 19 years ago. The place has changed completely, and we could not even work out where we stayed then. Back for lunch and spent the afternoon around and in the pool.

Sat 19 June – Much cooler in the night and a cool wind blowing in the morning. In the afternoon we walked away from Airlie Beach to Cannonvale beach. Back to our pool for a couple of swims and a read. Very uncomfortable loungers! Jerseys on and inside by 5:15pm. This cool weather is forecast for tomorrow also.

Sun 20 June – Back on our bikes and a ride into Airlie Beach town. We walked the main street with its many touristy shops, bars and restaurants. We eventually settled on an Italian restaurant where we sat outside and had a beautiful pizza and a glass on rose. Back to our camp pool for our last swim.

Mon 21 June – We left Airlie Beach and drove thru sugar cane farms 70 kms to our next camp at Bowen. This camp is separated from the beach by a golf course. A lot of the campers are up from the south for the winter, many of them golfers. A nice camp! We walked across the fairway with our chairs and sat in the sun on Queens Beach. The tide was out but the water felt warm.

Tues 22 June – We rode into the town which is smaller and older than we thought it would be. It was also very quiet. Back at our camp the neighbours informed us it was show day here and a holiday. We seem to be following the shows north! We decided a dip in the camp pool[VM1]  would be good but it was also shut. (chemical imbalance). We were assured that there were no crocs in the sea at this beach so we went for a very quick dip. No one else seems to swim here. The water was warm, however. There were fireworks at the show at night which woke up all the birds in the trees.

Wed 23 June  - We left the camp and shopped before driving to Horseshoe Bay. This is the swimming and snorkelling beach at Bowen evidently, with many in the water. We had a great swim. There is a camp at the beach, possibly a better choice for us in future. Back on the Pacific Highway for a 100km drive towards Townsville. We stopped for the night at the Home Hill Showgrounds where there were a large number of caravans and RVs.

Thurs 24 June – It rained in the night. We left the Showgrounds and it started to rain again as we bypassed Townsville and headed north again on the Pacific Highway. Our camp for the night was at Crystal Creek. A very quiet camp in garden settings. We had a swim in the pool and in the evening, we booked our flight home from Townsville on 3 August. (Jacinda willing!!)

Fri 25 June – We drove north thru Cardwell and Tully before turning off to Mission Beach, where we will stay for 5 nights at a nice camp just over the road from the beach. In the afternoon we took our chairs down to the beach for a swim in the sea and a read. The tide was low, but the water is warm. We watched sky drivers landing on the beach. Back to the camp for a swim in the pool. All great! The camp is filling up as school holidays have started.

Sat 26 June – Walked down to the small village with its shops, bars, and restaurants. Quite unsophisticated. It had a Pacific Island/Bali feel. The weather forecast is not great for the next few days. It was still warm however, and we had a swim in the sea and back to the pool and a read.

Sun 27 June – It is now very hot at night. Sheets only! We changed sites as our old site faced south where the rain will come from. Not hard to do with a camper! There was a big market in the park over the road. We wandered around but markets here are the same as in NZ. Some nice craft stuff (not selling), cheap plastic shit, (selling well) and food (selling well). We bought a pawpaw. In the afternoon we walked along the beach for about 3kms and ended up back in the pool. In the evening everyone, mostly wearing maroon shirts cleared out to the pubs to watch the State of Origin NRL.

Mon 28 June – A beautiful day (so much for the forecast!) Back to the beach for a swim but, as the sea was rough, we opted for the pool. Nice to be back in the sun. We went to a restaurant for a pizza but they had run out, so went to the Mission Beach Tavern for a burger and steak sandwich which was very nice.

Tues 29 June – The promised rain set in in the evening and it has rained most of the day. We used this time inside to publish this blog.   

 

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