Day 73
Townsville - Ayr - Bowen - Airlie Beach
"get your motor runnin, head out on the highway...."
Headwind....
We woke to grey skies this morning. First time in over 10 weeks the sky wasn't cloudless and blue!
Before getting back on the road we decided to drive back to The Strand and maybe have a swim at the lagoon at the beach. Too windy though and even though the water temp was ok, no one was interested. We walked along the beachfront and out onto the jetty before heading back to pick up the van.
Out on the Bruce Highway, the headwind was on us almost instantly. There went the fuel efficiency! We ploughed on though through Ayr, Home Hill and onto Bowen. All the while we we looking for a bakery for fresh hot bread - nothing.
We stopped in Bowen determined to find some fresh bread. 1pm on a Saturday and Bowen is all closed up. Even the pie shop which was the alternative was closed! Sleepy country towns hey! Luckily the IGA was still open and we got a loaf of bread. We drove around the corner and parked the Disco and Van right on the waters edge next to the Sailing Club and had lunch. Lots of space right on the water and no one around!
Bowen was where the crew filming the movie Australia were based. Baz and co pumped a fair bit of cash into the town too. The Grandview Hotel has been given a nice paint to keep it restored and it looks good too. Baz used it in the movie. Still, with all the Bowenwood propaganda - there was nothing open!
We travelled on, heading for Airlie Beach where we will stop for a couple of nights. Some very light rain fell on our way which we weren't too happy about! Hope it stays away.
The intermittent light rain wasn't enough to put the kids off swimming in the pool - in straight away. The waters still warm anyway.
Tomorrow we will explore Airlie and Shute Harbour.