Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island, again. First time walked, then riding the push bike and now hiring a scooter. The scooter around Maggie is the best fun you can have sitting down. Admittedly there's not lots of road to travel but the hills, beaches, bays and views make it very entertaining and the scooters are just sooo much fun.

Townsville - Dam Fine Rally

Another year -another Dam Fine Rally. The same format every year but still just a bit interesting. A Trade Day during the rally provides some interesting displays and talks on all things motorhome and touring. But the best bit is the weather and tripping in-and-about Townsville.

335 -vehicles of all sorts

Home Hill

I'm sitting here at Home Hill reflecting on the humidity and how hot and uncomfortable it felt yesterday when it was just 28deg. Listening to the radio the announcer reads the weather and temperatures for the various regional towns around Australia. I noted that not one town or city in NSW or Victoria, daytime maximum, was going to reach our last night's overnight temperature, about 20deg. Some even struggling to get to double figures. Now that explains all the caravans and MHs clogging the roads and free camps in FNQ.

So for you, dear reader suffering the cold, these photos -you will need to guess where they were taken :)        (A hint start looking just north of the 24th parallel) 

The Leap and Eimeo

Back to the coast, via Sarina and then Mackay. Noticed just how much warmer the nights are, +10 then some, nice. But the downside is all the people and all the traffic. Stopped overnight at The Leap Hotel for State Of Origin and had a look-see (or should that be a look-sea) at Eimeo Pub, interesting. The Leap should check out the Eimeo Hotel's website to see how effective marketing is achieved!

On toward Bowen. Bowen is usually avoided by motorhomers because the local council is so unwelcoming. But Chook gave me a heads up on a free camp on the way into town. Otherwise, I would drive on without stopping at Bowen.

Visitor for breakfast - Funnel Creek.

Yep got that one...

Early morning creepy hollow - Nah Funnel Creek!

Eimeo Hotel - nice view from the alfresco dining. 

Marlborough - Funnel Creek

Stayed in the back yard of the Marlborough Hotel for two nights because of the rain, reading. A brilliant day after the rain and decided to drive the Old Bruce Hwy -now called the Marlborough Salina Rd. The highway was re-aligned back in 1982 to the coast side of the Connors and Broadsound Ranges. Having driven the New Bruce on the coastal side many times I found it a good change and far more scenic. But be warned the road, even though fully sealed, lacks maintenance and undulates severely in some sections.

Back in 2001, the two councils Rockhampton and Mackay and the '56 Olympic Commemorative Group established an interesting roadside memorial. Farther down the road I stopped for a quiet night at Funnel Creek -a stunning spot at the bridge crossing.

Olympic memorial

The view from the memorial across the road.

Funnel Creek a great place to stop.