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Published: November 15th 2008
Blowen Bowen
Looking over the entry to Bowen HarbourAs we left Carmila Beach heading north we passed the Sarina showgrounds with a massive market in progress, it was a little short on fresh produce but we picked up some Jabotibotica jam (South American grape vine.....apparently) and a few other very yummy condimental jars of goodies. Sarina is just south of Mackay which we had as our destination to receive our first relayed mail delivery. Mackay was very quiet and it wasn’t until we found the Post office that we realised it was Sunday! Doh! So we booked into the Halliday Bay van park about 15 mins north of Mackay - really nice bay and surroundings but karappy facilities. Got the mail the next morning and headed for Dingo Beach which is about 20 mins north of Airlie beach. We had a recommendation to stay there however the park had since been relocated further from the beach and on a dry unshady plot so we flagged it, had a beer at the pub on the beach and decided to push north to Bowen. There were some friendly locals at the bar who told us we could camp in Nelly bay just around the corner down this track. You weren’t supposed
Lucinda sugar jetty
And the stinger net for staying alive while swimming. Lucinda is just south of Hinchinbrook island. to they said, but they indicated it was ok if we didn’t rubbish the place up. We investigated the track and after passing 5 ‘ No Camping’ signs and 2 ‘No Vehicle access’ signs we figured the authorities wouldn’t take ignorance for an excuse and decided not to risk it and get to Bowen.
Bowen is the town with the Endeavour Pub you can see in the movie ‘Australia’, just released. It was pretty much an outback town on the water with wide dusty streets and a constant sea breeze that lends (according to a local) this place its ‘blowen Bowen’ nickname. Kinda glad though, it would be warm without it. We had a beer in the famous pub and met a friendly trio from Gove in the NT - Jules, Ace and Mango! They ended up at our camper in the van park and we had a great night until the park manager told them to clear out. This jumped up little chihuahua with a badge was a cretin, how on earth he got to manage a van park with no people skills is laughable, and that’s how the poor guy got treated. Nevertheless 5:30am we had the
The view
Hinchinbrook island is in the distance little bar stool banging on our camper demanding we leave the park immediately, so we went back to sleep and left at our leisure =))
From Bowen we paused in Townsville to get some supplies and the cheapest fuel of the trip so far at $1.32, then north through Ingham, where finally the countryside has turned green - YAY! We arrive at Port Hinchinbrook near Cardwell where our friend Tony has built a very nice place in a new canal development. In the backyard was a wet-edge pool, a pontoon onto the canal and the mountains of Hinchinbrook Island rising in the distance. There was the marina restaurant and bar 3 mins walk away, which we utilised a few times (as you should). Tony took us out to Green island, the only island near Hinchinbrook that’s not Heritage listed. It was glorious and a treat to be able to swim in the ocean! He also took us inland, up the Kirrima range to a camp spot at a swimming hole near Blencoe falls. You can’t see the falls from camp however they are quite impressive, even in the dry falling 90m then 230m to its base! Here Tony tried
to introduce to me the art of using overhead baitcasting reels with lures. There were ‘Sooty Grunters’ and ‘Jungle Perch’ to be caught, but they were only small which was good as I spent most of the fishing time untangling the damn reel.....The swimming hole was nice relief from the temps which were around 35 - it would be inhospitable up there without it.
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facial growth
Must say a beard sorta suits you??