Week 13 – Paradise Found

Day 85 and 86 – Macrossan to Ayr – 145klms

Well we decided to change our plans and head to the coast (Whitsundays) via Ayr.

We arrived in Ayr just on lunch time and set ourselves up.      After restocking supplies, we headed out to have a look around Ayr.     We were here about 30 years ago and had the worst pizza ever (which we both clearly remember) and outside the pizza place was the outline of a person that had been stabbed in the street.        We are glad to report that the pizza place is gone (not unexpected) and we didn’t find any more outline of bodies.

We ventured out to Giru where we stumbled upon the Wilmar Invicta Sugar Mill.   This was a large sugar mill and the area around it was just acres and acres of sugar cane.      We got to see a sugar cane burn that night which left our car covered in sugar cane ash and a brilliant orange sky.          The sugar cane trains up here dart in and out of the fields and you are never really sure when they are just going to pop out.

We also took a drive to Alva Beach.     This reminded me of Narrawallee but not an inch on Narrawallee beach’s beauty.

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Day 87 to 91 – Bowen, Collinsville, Bowen River, Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and Hideaway bay.

Again, we were in Bowen about 30 years ago and fell in love with it then.      Whilst Bowen itself has grown a little the main business area has not changed too much.     The huge jetty is still here (this is the jetty they used when filming “Australia”).     

The foreshore leaves our harbour to shame.

The Council up here are obviously progressive enough to think that if you create a foreshore that can be used by kids, families, tourists and locals that people will come and spend their money in the town.      The small foreshore has a skate ramp, small water playground, tourist info and beautiful manicured lawns and trees to sit under.      They have also provided small attractions setting out the history of the town.    Amazing.

Unfortunately, the beautiful Horseshoe Bay has fallen victim to the tourist dollar and major developments have been built to accommodate tourists to the area and is now a very popular and somewhat crowded little bay to visit.      

The views, sunsets and harbour are still beautiful, but we DO NOT like the magpies up here.     I managed to talk George into a bike ride from Queens Beach around to Horseshoe Bay and all was going well until mum and dad magpie decided we were fair game.     It would have made a great funny home video.    I had no idea at first what had hit me but after the magpie decided to come back for the 2^nd and 3^rd go, I got the message.        I stopped around the corner only to hear George yelling out “I have taken a hit” and two magpies attacking his head and arms.        He had crossed to the other side of the road and we presume that was where the nest was.       Not to be out gamed, George decided to find a stick to beat the offenders off with, but this unfortunately saw one of the magpies take a last and unexpected swoop into the back of his head.           By this time, he was bleeding from a nick on the face, his ear and a real good shot to the back of the head.     Looking back, it was bloody hilarious but pretty scary at the time.

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During the next few days, we drove out to Collinsville, Bowen River, Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and Hideaway Bay.

Our trip to Collinsville and Bowen River was interesting and George has decided that he would not make a great tour guide.     Something about missing the turn off, back tracking, dirt corrugated roads and a rather “different” lunch stop.    We did however come across a massive solar farm which needed to be seen to be believed.  Collinsville is famous for its Pit Ponys.

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We have never been in these places before but have been told how lovely the Whitsundays are.    You cannot explain nor can any picture give you an idea of how beautiful the Whitsundays are.    From the luscious sugar cane fields to the bluest of blue waterways, magnificent mountains and beautiful offshore islands it is truly paradise.       We topped our Saturday off with lunch at Cape Gloucester (Hideaway Bay) and I think we will definitely be back here sometime in the future.  

I loved the hype of Airlie Beach, very much as I remember Noosa, however Hideaway Bay was so calm and relaxing.    

On the senior moments of our lives, my handbag decided not to come with us after dinner at the local, but luckily it got homesick and returned to me the next day!!

Thanks to Ali and Annalee Tyquin for sending me some quick snaps of Kate and Glenn’s Darcy, she is absolutely beautiful.    Cannot wait to get a nurse.

Ty, Kiandra and Jay are staying well and no covid.       Jay is keen to see more restrictions relaxed so he can get back to his insane amount of walking, Kiandra has been working from home under the restrictions and Ty is bunking down for exams.

We will head further south this week.    Car has been booked in for service and some alterations and I am catching up with a couple of my nieces at the end of next week which will be great.

I hope you are all well and starting to get some warmer weather.        I warn my Queensland family we are getting closer so if you need to go on holidays it would be a good excuse!!!