SAPPHIRE SUNDAY 10 JUNE 12

Hi to all    Here whats been happening, SATURDAY 26 MAY......We left Cardwell which is a nice area & van park & would return to,  headed Sth to Townsville where  Rans has been before. This is another big town & we set up down near Rowes Bay. The weather is still overcast & sprinkling rain so after setting up etc we go for a drive into & around town. We then go up to the Castle Hill Lookout which gives fantastic 360deg views of the area including Magnetic Is.

 On the way up we pass so many walkers & runners trying to make it to the top. We then have a walk along the waterfront of the Strand. The town has some wonderful parks and open areas along with some magnificent buildings. SUNDAY 27 MAY....This morning we go to the Markets in the main shopping arcade before having a walk through the Queens Park, which is a nice park with some huge trees and great plants with one flower we have not seen before. After lunch, Rans caught up with an old school mate,Stevo whilst the other 3 went to the Aquarium which was so so, as it was in the middle of repairs. The afternoon has cleared up and also become warmer.

MONDAY 28 MAY.....Today we moved onto Bowen with lots of stops along the way due to roadworks. I must say from my experience so far, Queenslanders are all in a hurry when it comes to driving. We arrive in town and set up camp. We then went for a drive around the local bays, such as Horseshoe Bay, Rose Bay & Grays Bay. The weather today is nice when in direct sun & out of the wind. This is a small nice town, not much to see but if you want a bit or R & R then this is O.K.

After dinner Rans walks down to the Local to watch the Footy whilst the other 3 watch & cry over the Voice??? The pub was used as a backing in the movie "Australia" and across the road is where most scenes were shot, turning a huge vacant lot into Darwin. The pub itself is nice & is owned by Mike McLean..no not Rans's uncle but the one who played for Easts up to a few years back. TUESDAY 29 MAY...Well so  much for Qld.... sunny one day beautiful the rest!!! cause the wind is blowing a gale, it is overcast & freezing. Rans goes for a early morn walk and comes back for a hot shower he is that cold. Mid morning the 4 of us go for a walk along the waterfront with our hair going every which way.  Rans & I go for a short drive in the arvo to the Big Mango, we actually don't see many mango farms or trees compared to Darwin & Broome.

There are a few tomato farms and a lot of road repairs going on which we get caught in and then we get stooped at a train crossing for 14min....yes 14. The rest of the day is sunny but very windy. WEDNESDAY 30 MAY...We head Sth with a short drive to Airlie Beach, but it was very windy and it took an effort to stay on the roadway. We set up at a Big 4 Park which is a great park, with big sites, nice grounds, great pool and as we find out good entertainment. After lunch we headed into Airle for a walk around the waterfront before driving along the waters edge to Shute Bay. We then returned & went to a father & son who entertained us by singing some old classics. Their parents also got up & sang, they were all good  and it went for 2- 1/2hrs. Its is also sprinkling rain again. THURSDAY 31 MAY......A easy day today catching up on paperwork etc, as its still overcast & wet. We also did some shopping & had haircuts etc, but overall it was nice & easy. Brett arrived home safe & well after his holiday. FRIDAY 1 JUNE 12......This morning we all go for a drive out to Cedar Falls/Creek a nice picnic area,  then drove onto Wilson's Beach and then Conway Beach, a nice small place but with a terrible access road. Here we had a walk on the beach before the rain arrived.

We then decided to become healthy people, so we drove to Shute Harbour and went on a walk through the rainforest to Coral Beach which was a nice area but a very rocky beach area and then onto the lookout at Mt Roper which would have had great lookout to Sth Molle Is & Daydream but the treetops have grown thus making it difficult to see, plus the overcast day didn't help. We then returned for an easy arvo with the Bewells going for a massage whilst we had tap problems and attempted to get a a new one which was unsuccessful but tracked one down at Mackay which we will pick up next week. Had arvo drinks prior to watching the 2 games of footy with MANLY beating the dragons...easily!!!

SAT 2 JUNE.... This morning Carol goes to the markets with the Bewells & I arrived later. On arriving Carol asked me to come with her to look at something...she had ran into our old neighbour from Horsfield Bay...Robina. She moved up here a few years ago so it was a pleasant surprise. I had to go for a massage whilst Carol talked to Robina for an hr, it was so lovely to see her, then Carol went for her massage.

We then went and did some shopping before washing etc in the arvo. Another easy day but we hope it will break by tomorrow so we are staying till Tuesday. SUN 3 JUNE...Well it is a nice day, so we decide to go for a drive over to Proserpine and out to the Proserpine Lake/Peter Faust Dam which is a huge man made lake with a mtn in the background that makes you feel like you are in Canada.

We then head back into town and go to the local showground and have a drive through as we see a heap of stall like tents ( the girls were hoping for more markets !!)..It turns out to be a dog show!! so we high tale out of there and stop in town at a nice park where we have lunch. We then returned back to our site and we played putt putt golf. It was a fun arvo with some hard holes but a good laugh. Sandra won by 1 shot...

We then went to our van where we had our cheese & bikkies along with a drink whilst watching the Knights get thrashed!! The girls also cracked heaps of pecan nuts which Carol had bought at a show a few weeks earlier. A nice day. MON 4 JUNE....Today is a great weather day & we all head out to the Whitsundays on a very fast boat (4 x 225HP Out Board Motors),

We stop at Border Island where we snorkelled for and 1hr or so. Rans sees a big Blue Groper, & Carol & Rans a Turtle whilst the Bewells see a big number of clams. We are the last ones back on board....this is Carols new sport! We then head over to Whitehaven Bch, where the sand is the whitest in Qld. It is a busy beach especially with such a nice day, We have a nice lunch a walk along the beach & Rans has a swim.

We then head off going past Island like Pentecost Is, Lindeman Is (which the Chinese just bought for 12mill !!), Daydream Is & Hamilton Is, where the rich try & outdo each other, with the new Sailing club costing $50mill & the nearest Island which is owned by Oats of Wild Oats fame just putting in a $50mill golf course!!

We have a great day with the 2 crew, a real laugh. We get home have dinner & Rans goes to the Pub & watches Parra win, whilst the others watch the Voice. This van Park was probably the nicest & best one we have stayed at & if anyone comes up this way, this is the place to stay.TUES 5 JUNE.....Today we head Sth to a place, Seaforth just Nth of Mackay. It is on the ocean looking out to the Whitsunday Islands. After setting up we all go for a drive into Mackay to a caravan shop as Rans had to get a new tap. We then attempted to find the Info centre which took us back into town & then back out to where we started, so we saw heaps, although it was the same stuff! We then had a short drive around the place which is very big & industrial so we headed back for a drive around the town before heading back.

WED 6 JUNE......Today we catch up on things around the van, in the arvo we went for a drive to Ball Bay, Cape Hilsborough, with a walk along the beach. We find this better than Cape Tribulation. Returned for another early nite as its getting colder.

THURS 7 JUNE....Up early today as we go for a drive into the Hinterland to a place Eungella. The road out is flat for the first 40km but the last 5km is straight up with a couple of one lane elbows. It is steep..... very steep! we were thinking of bringing the van up here for a couple of days, but this trip changed our mind. Once up top the views back down through the valley was AMAZING..

We then went out to Broken River where we saw 2-3 Platypus's swimming in the creek. We then checked out a couple of lookouts before heading back down the Mtn to a place, Finch Hatton Gorge, where we went on a 3km walk to the gorge and the 2 boys decided to go for a swim..maybe a dip..maybe a jump in race out...as it was freezing. John swam for 10m whilst Rans went in up to his head before getting out as his legs had gone numb & red. This is the coldest water so far. It is also where a German tourist drowned last week, he fell in off a rock.

We then made our way back to the car and drove to the very small town of Pinnacle where we had lunch at the pub with the boys having a Jenny Craig meal.... Pie, Chips, Gravy & a schooner of beer!!! We then made our way back to our site with another enjoyable day over.

 FRI 8 JUNE......Today we headed off towards Emerald taking a back road which was being repaired for the first 100kms or so.  It was slow going especially with the big mine trucks and the roads so bumpy again. There are heaps of mines out this way. We passed a big cotton field and Sorgen fields but mostly is all mines  mines mines!! We then stopped off at Moronbah, where we tracked down Uncle Ron, Carols fathers brother. It was over 30yrs since they had seen him ,but it brought back instant memories of Ed, especially with his touching of his head, his hankie & his hands. We had about 30min with him so that was good.

We continued on but no free camps out here not even stopping areas as they are doing the roads up, so we stopped at Clermont. It is only a 1 niter here as the positions we got is not ideal but that happens. Nights are getting really cold now. Watched first half of footy with the Bewells.

SAT 9 JUNE 12....Up & headed off towards Sapphire which was a slow bumpy, wheel rutt trip, with lots of roadworks. Arrive at Sapphire which is probably on par with Andamooka in S.A. & if anyone remembers our comments about that place....  " The arsehole of the world" so that give you an insight. The van park is OK but some of the people...well, they are all hoping for the big find of a Sapphire or gem!!! In the arvo we all go for a drive into Rubyvale which is not much better, but it is laugh.

So we are here only for 2 nites, and are heading back towards the coast and making our way South. Everyone take care and we will see most of you's soon. Love Rans & Carolxxxxxxxxxx