Seaforth - Final Days

Our time at Seaforth is drawing to an end with only a five more days until we leave to head further south.

Shelley and Damian have been here this last week, they are Tasmanian's from the north of the state, and we met them here at Seaforth 2 years ago and once again it was great to catch up with them. We were out enjoying a meal at the local bowls club when we received a call from another couple, Jill and Graham from Berry S A, we had met them when they were travelling in Tasmania.  They said they were just below Mackay so would drop in to see us the next day

Friday we said goodbye to Shelley and Damian and hello to Jill & Graham, while waiting for them to arrive we were going for walk when we saw some more Tassie number plates and struck up a conversation to find out we were chatting with Annette's dad (one of my Dragon friends from my life prior to retirement) Dennis & Lynn from Ulverstone. It was a very enjoyable happy hour for the next couple of nights with J&G leaving Sunday, and before D&L departed on  Monday, we went for a lovely Devonshire Tea at the Railway Tea House that's on the way to Halliday National Park.

Sunday we had our names down for a social game of bowls but unfortunately when we rocked up there were no other players. We were a bit disappointed as we had missed out on Fiday's game, as we were expecting Jill & Graham that day. Since our time here was running out we then decided to go for a drive up to St Helen's Beach and check out a free camp inland from Cullen. St Helen's Beach had nothing going for it with mangroves growing all along the foreshore and a very small camp ground, have crossed that one off in the book. We then proceeded out to Boulder Creek and found this to be a beautiful spot where there is a large area to pull into just up from the creek which has lovely fresh running water.

Monday it was off for my last massage with Peter, have had three since being here just hope he is still massaging when we return in a couple of years.

Thanks Shelley for this beautiful picture of Seaforth Beach just had to include it in our blog.

Boulder Creek 

Happy Hour

Old Railway Tea House

Seaforth - cont....

              Comp Day at Seaforth Bowling Club - check out that style.....Whow !

                                            Car show held at Seaforth

           Our feathered friends Burdekin Ducks, Whistling Plumed Ducks & Curlews

We have now been here at Seaforth for two weeks and have really settled into holiday mode. The days are passing very quickly, the temperature has been constantly around 22-24 degrees so enjoying the walks along the beach, bowling and riding our bikes. Saturday we did a ride from the campground out to the boat ramp return which is 11klm, it is a great area for bike riding as it is lovely and flat. When we arrived here the campground it was packed but the last couple of days have seen many of the regulars that come here for 2-3 months packing up and leaving for their trips south.

We have been enjoying social games of bowls on Fridays and Sundays. I played in a big competition day last Sunday, it was a mixed fours and they had 28 teams entered. We had to play three games of 15 ends, I was worried if I would last the day, but surprised myself and pulled up OK. I had to skip our team which was made up of a couple of people from the campground and a local guy, our first game we were out classed by some locals & a couple from Mackay, beating us 25 to1. The next two games we were better matched, and won those by 4 and 5 shots, very pleased with that effort after our initial loss.

While I was off playing bowls Bazza was able to wonder around and enjoy the Hot Rods that were on display here at Seaforth and Market Day.

Bird life in the park is plentiful, heaps of Burdekin Ducks, Whistling Plumed Ducks & Curlews, we always seem to have them wondering around our campsite hoping for feed. The Curlews are very noisy they have eerie wailing calls at night !

Seaforth

We arrived at Seaforth on Thursday before lunch to find a sign up to saying No Vacancies ! Bob the caretaker was not answering his mobile phone, so were wondering what plan "B" was going to be. We were not the only ones expecting to get into the camp ground, there were about half a dozen other van & vehicles hovering. We had rang Bob on Monday and he had said no worries just rock up and we would be OK. We tried his number a couple of times until we had some joy, he said that he remembered speaking with Bazza, so then he spoke to one of the resident campers and told them to let us in, but if anyone asked we had to say we had a booking.

We have settled in very well, have a very large site and already had a game of bowls on Friday afternoon. It was pairs with two games of eleven ends, it was a lot of walking by the end of  the afternoon. We lost our first game and then it was loser's play loser's and we won that one, so did not do too bad on a very fast green. Tomorrow (Sunday) we are going up for their social bowls afternoon, do not know what format that will be.

The weather here has been lovely, nice hot sunny days but the nights can be a bit chilly down to around 8 degrees, have put the feather doonah back on the bed, nice and snugly now.

Guthalunga

This morning it was a sad farewell to Paronella Park it was truly an amazing place to visit. We are now heading south down the Bruce Hwy, encountering many areas of road works, some with quiet lengthy delays. We decided we would try and get as many klms under our belt today (400), passing through Tully, Cardwell, Ingham, Townsville & Ayre to finally pull up about 4pm at a rest area set aside for overnight travellers at a little place Guthalunga about 45klm north of Bowen. We only just squeezed in as there were17 caravans & motorhomes already there. Since we arrived there have been quiet a few vehicles stopping for the night, they must sleep in the cars, not a very comfortable night.

It was strange seeing the trees that had been stripped of their foliage and the destruction from cyclone Yasie. Tully and Cardwell are still recovering with many homes & business still showing signs of damage and tarps still covering the roofs, there are also many homes displaying lovely new shiny roofs.

Tomorrow we will only have to travel about 200 klms to Seaforth which is about 46klm north of Mackay and hopefully set up there for two or three weeks. Bazza will finally think he is on holidays, as he has been hanging out to get to Seaforth. We have spent time there on previous trips and have really enjoyed the quiet seaside town & the occasional game of bowls!

Paronella Park-Mena Creek

Once again we said our goodbye's this morning to Pauline, Les, Carlene and Rex hopefully this time we will not have to return to Cairns. We only had to travel 120klm from Cairns to Paronella Park, so after the requested cup of coffee from Pauline we hit the road reaching Paronella Park by lunch time. On the way we were held up by several lots of road works which slowed us up considerably, but it was quiet an enjoyable journey as the weather was beautiful and we travelled through lush greenery also passing by lots of cane fields and banana plantations.

Paronella Park was the dream of Jos'e Paronella and is located beside Mena Creek Falls, his dream was to build a castle. On 13 acres he built his castle, picnic areas at the lakeside, tennis courts, tunnels and bridges, and planted 7000 tropical plants and trees. In 1933 he also built North Queensland's first Hydro Electric Plant, the power from the plant was used to light up the falls and his castle, also to run the water features throughout the park and lighting. Over the years the park has sercomed to natural disasters, flooding, fire and cyclones and was left to become over grown and neglected. Paronella Park is heritage listed and the main focus now is on maintaining the property and there are a number of ongoing restoration & preservation projects happening. The entrance fee of $38 each includes a guided day tour and a night experience tour and we also received a free night in their caravan park. During the night experience tour we were able to see eels, turtles and fish in the lake, would not like to be swimming in there with all those eels (yuk). Lights and music made the castle very enchanting at night.

Cairns Again !

We spent a very busy10 days back home, not only did we have to organise a funeral we also had another three to attend while we were in Hobart. Not Four Weddings and a Funeral but Four Funerals. Lucky we made Min's on the Monday as both Bazza and I were unwell, me coming down with a virus and chest infection, that eventually took my voice as well as gastro, Bazza had a touch of gastro plus kidney pain and later that day passed a kidney stone. I think we are now on the mend, I just have a very deep gravelly voice, Bazza liked it better when I couldn't talk.

It was a shame that we were unwell as did not get to see Tan, Jason and the grandchildren, as much as we would have liked, but I still think I have shared my virus with Tan and Cooper as they are now sick !

The weather in Cairns had settled down while we were away, since we have been back lovely clear blue sunny skies and no humidity, temperatures around the 27 degrees and 18 degrees overnight. We have spent the last couple of days just taking it easy, not too much running around enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. Yesterday we went into the city to the market on the esplanade and then enjoyed a lovely gourmet Salmon Pizza for lunch finished off with a Cream Brule Ice Cream then returned to the caravan park where Bazza had a couple of hours snoozing in the van, while I enjoyed the pool and a quiet read.

Across the road from the caravan park is an equestrian centre where a two day event was held a couple of weeks ago, with horses coming from other regions. Unfortunately, one of the horses from Mackay was found to be suffering from the Hendra virus and two of the local horses have since died. The paddocks have now been quarantined with people dressed in protective clothing tending to the horses, I hope they have contained this virus and that they do not loose any more horses or worse still any human life.

Today we went to the Edge Hill Bowls Club for a game of Scroungers, it was a very enjoyable afternoon the weather was kind and not too hot. I ended up with the highest score on our rink, and had to play off against a couple of men who had the highest scores on the other rinks. Unfortunately they out classed me and I did not get to take home the winnings.

Tonight Bazza and I went into the City for an enjoyable Indian meal and then had a wonder around the night markets, they certainly cater to the tourist trade.

Bramston Beach - Cairns

After a sad farewell to Pauline, Les, Carlene, Rex, Maureen & James, we hitched up and were off heading to Bramston Beach. The weather was once again a steady drizzle, but of course we were still wearing our shorts and T shirts, as we travelled south the weather cleared. We only had to travel 86klms so we were soon set up again and had taken the bikes off the car and then had a nice walk on the beach.

Mid afternoon we received a call from St Ann's Nursing Home to say that Min was unwell and not responsive. It was a frustrating time as we had limited mobile phone coverage, we walked the foreshore to find better signal for the phone to make frantic calls to Tania and Anita.  Anita was able to contact the Nursing Home for us and gain an update on Min and was told the doctor had been called, but unfortunately Min passed away quiet quickly.

 We jumped in the car and headed out onto the Bruce Hwy to Babinda where we had good phone signal, and spoke with Pauline giving her our credit card & Frequent Flyer details so she could book us a flight home. Not only did she book the flight, her and Les arranged with the Caravan Park for us to return for another couple of nights, and also arranged the storage for the van and car. It was great have a very efficient secretary.

All is in place now for us to fly home to Hobart on Tuesday morning, James has drawn the short straw, he will have to get up very early to take us to the Airport for the Red Eye. Later in the morning Les will take our car and van and put it in storage until we can return. Lovely to have good friends that don't mind helping out and making it so much easier for us, very much appreciated.