For the kids

I am already forgetting where I was last week....memories of some towns are merging into others...'Bowen, where was that, what was there? I can't remember'.  Someone once told me the weakest ink is better than the strongest memories.  A big part of the vision for blogging was to give the kids a record of our adventure..... so this i what has been missed since the last installment..(before I completely loose my recall).  Sam, Joshua and Amy this is for you:


A few troubles with our caravan battery (again) had us stopped in Yeppoon overnight, but stopping right on the beach was glorious and gave us time to get reorganised while the kids played on the beach.  With everything in order we set off in the morning.  


Venturing just north of Mackay, we stumbled upon a fishing village in Seaforth.  The drive in from the highway gave us our first glimpse of rainforest mountain.  As you turned a bend on the winding road, the mountains met the sea and left us in awe.  The village had a corner store, a few blocks of humble pole style homes, and a council run camp ground on the beach. We could have stayed there for the long haul.  However duty called, and John was needed in Townsville in a few days.   Definatley mark that spot as one to return to one day, if it is still there.  The low tide went out about 500m and glissened in the sunshine with islands on the horizon.  There are lots of shells and coral on the beach from the recent cyclone - even coconut shells that have blown in from the islands.  This is where Sam has discovered a new love for collecting shells, totally fascinated he fills up his pockets, and is totally delighted when I produce a little pouch for him to keep his collections in.  He continually counts them in the car, and checks that they are still all there.

Sunset at Seaforth

The stretch from Mackay to Townsville had a suprising mix of arid fields, sugar cane, rocky mountains, the initial signs of rainforest, hemming the shoreline.    

We had a big driving day so treated the kids to hot chips for lunch at Airlie Beach.  The boys keep talking about this adventure because this is where the kookaburra swooped down and stole a chip straight out of Amys hand.   Poor little distressed Amy - and one very guileless bird.  Amy's big brothers are very protective of their little sister, and the Kookaburra may never live down it's notorious reputation. 

Airlie Beach

A short stop over at the small town of Bowen, I expected it to be a bit larger.  We have been skipping past the larger cities in favour of small villages and I have discovered I am feeling a little city deprived.  I need to get to Coles!  I just want to enjoy the familiar aisles and produce of the mega store.  I am really surprised about that!  Hopefully my need for a Coles fix will wear off the further we get, otherwise the trip across the Savanah will be a LONG drive, and you can forget the Nullabor.

 

Finally at the big city of Townsville we stop for a few days playing in the parks and visit the Reef Head Quarters Aquarium.   The Aquarium was a big memory for the kids, discovering sharks, and fish of all colours shapes and sizes, and a re-creation of the coral reef.  During the fish presentation question time, Sam asked confidiently why are there boy fish and girl fish - the presenter gave him a direct answer about the birds and the bees.  I guess that job is done for us.   The Aquarium also had a turtle hospital - Joshua thought that the turtles were there for eating too many lollies. 

Some days we wake up with the wonderful roar of the ocean and magnificient views, taking it slow with bacon eggs and coffee.  Other mornings we wake with the sound of a highway and the smell of one of the kids having wet the bed, we eat a bowl of cereal do a quick wash, and hit the road.

The diversity, challenges and joy of the adventure.