On the way back

---

---

Before we left Townsville, we decided we must find the road that goes up Castle Hill, the sharp little hill that sits just behind the Strand. And so once more we were taking the poor motor home up a steep narrow hill, wondering if it would ever make it to the top. To add to the thrill this time, being Sunday there were many fit young things walking or even biking up and down the road to dodge. We marvelled at their energy.

Finally we did get to the top, parked and took in the great views of Townsville, the mountains, the ocean and the islands so it was worth the climb. It's now a big spread out city. The army and the air force are both based in Townsville which has added to the growth and population.

We continued driving south to our next overnight stop - Bowen - at a new for us waterfront caravan park. A walk along the beach before we left next morning yielded many shells and a surprise, people from our caravan park at Rollingstone who we'd sat near at the BBQ evening. It does seem to happen that we come across people we've met before on our travels as we, and half of Australia it seems, wander this country. We exchanged stories of where we'd been and what we'd seen over the last few days, as you do.

We kept to the highway, deciding against going to Airlie Beach this time but, before we reached Mackay, we thought we'd visit the northern beaches of the town to see how it compared to Sydney's Northern Beaches. We popped in to several, had lunch parked at one of them, quite pretty but calm water rather than waves due to the islands out to sea. The sand is darker too. We drove around Mackay harbour and the marina before hitting the highway on to Sarina. It is here we have spent the night, once more with the smell of molasses in the air.

We've had five grey days running but it least it isn't raining and it's still warm which is the main thing. Hopefully the sun will shine today. Looking on TV at the unseasonable flash floods and rain they're getting at Cape Tribulation at the moment, we're thankful we were there when it was dry and are hopeful the rain stays away from here.
Speaking of which, as I type the sun is shining and the cloud has gone. Hallellujah!

---

Photos

Another view, Townsville
looking towards the mountains

Fig trees, the Strand Townsville
I can't go along the Strand without taking at least one more photo of the fig trees. I love how the new roots come down from the branches

Bowen, outside the caravan park
There's a narrow strip of sand beyond the path

Shoal Point where we had lunch
one of Mackay's northern beaches