Day 8: Thu 31 May – Bowen

11-25 deg C, sunny and very windy! 

After a massive sleep-in (only woke up at 6:15am!) we had breakfast then hopped on the bikes just as the wind decided to blow in, and not very gently at that. We rode the foreshore and then into town to recce a coffee shop. Once found, we headed out to Mullers Lagoon. It was then back into town to the coffee shop, aka Joccheims Pies, for mornos. After the rather substantial mornos, it was onto Queens Bay, Grays Bay, and Horseshoe Bay. At Horseshoe Bay we walked up to the Rotary Lookout which gave us some spectacular views of Horseshoe Bay and the ocean beyond. There was a large Navy ship out there. Before heading back to the van for lunch, we just had to have a go at riding up Flagstaff Hill to visit the Interpretive Centre. So, after a fairly hefty climb, we discovered the Centre was closed - Cyclone Debbie (Mar-Apr 17) had caused it to close and it has been closed ever since. So, we had a look at the view instead. Coming back down the hill was good. 

Lunch and an LLD were had, then whilst Wendy did some "work", Greg went out again to do some admin stuff. We then discussed where we would head tomorrow and the final decision was Ravenswood.  

It was then time to walk to the pub for our traditional Thursday night pub meal. We went to the Grand View Hotel and Wendy had a steak and Greg had a kangaroo steak washed down with a Marlborough Sav Blanc. The walk back was good to settle the dinner. It was a bit fresh on the way home as the wind had not yet gone to bed. Another good night on the road.

Bowen is a very progrssive town/city

Bowen jetty

A bit windy today??!!

Bowen Cenotaph

Bowen's main street

Mullers Lagoon

Queen's Bay

Horseshoe Bay

Horseshoe Bay from Rotary lookout

From Rotary lookout

Walkway up to Rotary Lookout

Pretty coloured cabins at Horseshoe Bay

From Flagstaff Hill

Greg & Mark and a snake-like rope on Flagstaff Hill

Three big boats on Bowen jetty

Bowen foreshore

Fig tree growing around a rock

Day 7: Wed 30 May – Mackay to Bowen

Drive: 195km; Total towed: 939km

14-26 deg C, fine and sunny 

After a quick 5km walk for each of us, and breakfast, it was time to pack up and leave for Bowen. We left 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled departure time of 9am and headed to Proserpine for mornos. We re-fuelled at Kuttabul whilst the others zoomed on past. When they got to Proserpine, they couldn't find any decent parking spots for RVs so continued on to Cedar Creek Falls. Unfortunately, we did not know this until we had stopped at the back of the hospital and were quite ready for a brew, so decided to be totally unsociable! By the time we had finished, we decided to give CCF a miss and head straight onto Bowen. 

We arrived at the Harbour Lights Caravan Park just after midday and after setting up headed straight for Woolies to re-stock. We then had lunch and an LLD (Greg's wasn't so little though); Wendy found it difficult to sleep due to the new arrivals and their mates yelling instructions to the driver in not so subtle voices. The two ladies especially, and obviously do not know the meaning of "inside voice".  

Greg then went for a walk back to Woolies as we had forgotten to buy yoghurt. He also stopped off at the hardware store. 

Some bad news for Gunther and Yvonne - Yvonne had injured her foot a few days ago and the bruising and pain were getting worse. They went to the hospital here in Bowen and X-rays confirmed a broken foot. My goodness, Yvonne has been walking and riding on this foot for three days, and has now been told that she is not to ride for four weeks!  

Water park adjacent Andergrove van park Mackay

The Big Mango, Bowen

Harbour Lights Caravan Park, #65

Day 6: Tue 29 May – Mackay

The weather was just fantastic today; sunny and mild with a slight breeze. 

We hit the bike paths at 8am, early for some, not so early for others. We needed to be on the bikes by this time to complete the Bluewater Trail in time for the others to get back home to have lunch and head off to Finch Hatton Gorge. We braved the traffic for a while before finding the bike path through the city and into the southside to connect with the Trail. It was so nice to be able to ride and not have to worry about traffic. We rode through a very different Botanic Gardens in that it was a linear garden. We ended up at the Mackay Tourist Information Centre and from there the trail went on into the city and out to the harbour area. After a coffee stop, Greg decided to do the city, harbour and ocean front whilst Wendy navigated the way home for the rest of the riders (she had washing and work to do). 

Wendy had bought this 3.2kg washing machine online for the van, not realising it was a semi-automatic machine. Well, it really is a waste of space, time and effort. Whilst it washes really well, the spin cycle does anything but. She did two loads and had to hang half soaked washing on the line - no wonder they did not dry. All this to try and save some $ on using the machines in the van parks. If we were allowed to leave the machine in the laundry with a note "free to a good home" we would! We will persevere and may have to leave it on the side of the road somewhere! When we get our bigger van, it will come complete with a washing machine.

After lunch and a spot of work, we visited friends that used to live in Howard - John and Marg. They have a very nice house in a salubrious suburb. We had wine and cheese and biscuits on their back veranda and jolly good chat. We left them to be home just in time to prepare dinner to have with the others on their return from the Gorge.

Old Customs House Mackay

South Sea Islander cane-cutter memorial

Forgan Smith bridge over the Pioneer River Mackay

Early morning on the Pioneer River Mackay

Park art - whale or big fish bones

South Sea Islander pioneers

Mackay Botanic Gardens

Andergrove caravan park, #8

Inside St Patrick's 

St Patrick's Church Mackay

Day 5: Mon 28 May – Rockhampton to Mackay, via Capricorn Caves

Drive: 344km; Total towed: 744km 

After the usual morning routine, we left Rocky right on our designated departure time of 8am - well done everyone! First stop was not far up the road at the Capricorn Caves where we did a guided tour (you have to have a guide) for an hour, then had a Devonshire Coffee. We were back on the road just before 11am. We refuelled at Yaamba, just after the Caves. 

Lunch stop was at Clairview and what a salubrious spot it was, right on the beachfront. There was very little breeze and a jolly nice view. 

We were set up on site #8 at the Andergrove Van Park at 4:20pm after what seemed like the longest day ever. After setting up and preparing dinner, we met in the camp kitchen at 5:45pm for pre-dinner drinks and dinner. 

Greg was the only one willing to try 

About to enter the caves

Entering the caves

Horse tail - really just tree roots

An interesting silhouette in the Opera House - looks like Freddy Kruger

Hole made by a tree root in the roof of the cave

Lunch stop at Clairview

Outside the entrance to the caves

Camel's bum

A supposedly romantic moment in the caves

Tree root

Exciting the caves

Seocmd part of the exit, a swing bridge which the boys just had to make swing

Leaving the Caves