 |
| View of Bowen en route to Yepoon |
Travelling south turned off Bruce Highway just prior to Bowen onto Bowen Development Road to Collinsville - countryside very dry. Turned off Development Road to Glenden, then onto Lake Elphinstone where we stayed a couple of days. So lucky as the front tyre went flat as a tack after positioning van! With the weekend coming on a few of the locals were arriving with speed boats, wakeboard boats and heaps of wood. Nice place to stay although very dusty when we were there.
 |
| Byfield National Park |
From Lake Elphinstone stopped at Nebo for fuel then turned off Peak Downs Highway to Sarina - very bumpy bitumen road! Checked out Isaac River for free camp but not really suitable for the van and truckie we met said it would be noisy at night as feedlot was nearby. Hels still not feeling the best so stayed in Marlborough Caravan Park for the night then travelled to Rockhampton to have tyre repaired before setting up camp for a few days near Yepoon. Hels voice was starting to disappear again (too much talking!) so back to a few days of silence. Whilst at Yepoon drove out to Byfield National Park but only got half way as needed to drop tyre pressure as track was very soft sand and we didn't leave early enough to make it worthwhile travelling to the end and then returning. Track was covered with big pot holes and going was slow so have put it on the list to do when we come back again. Evidence of damage Cyclone Yassi inflicted in this area as many trees were flattened but also many trees now on a slant as well which looked very peculiar.
 |
| Byfield National Park |
Back on the road again, had a very slow drive through Rockhampton as a High & Wide load was negotiating its way through the streets - needing police and escort vehicles giving assistance and stopping overtaking vehicles, propping trees up and guiding around traffic lights and power lines. Quite an interesting time listening on the radio. Continuing on our southward journey came across a huge RBT approx 36km north Gin Gin - never seen so many police cars in attendance. Think they were also thoroughly checking contents of some vehicles together with drivers licenses and breath testing etc. Stayed at a bush retreat approx 20kms out of Gin Gin - only ones there so very quiet in beautiful bush setting and had a lovely camp fire. From Gin Gin travelled onto Hervey Bay where we stayed with friends for a couple of weeks.
 |
| Deb & Gregs Bush Retreat - 20km from Gin Gin |
 |
| A lovely quiet camp @ Gin Gin |
From Hervey Bay we drove down to Burleigh Heads where we stayed for approx 9 days catching up with our son Todd and his partner Tenelle, celebrating Hels 60th birthday, seeing doctors for check ups and trying to keep dry!!
