Mackay

1769 KM11 September 2011

A small town with many closed shops (its Sunday again) didn't particlarly capture our spirtis.We enjoyed lunch on the windswept, long grass next to the beach with about 20 seaguls for company.A short explore around the harbour and town we were back on the road.We have approximately 12 hours of driving down to Rainbow Beach so we can get across to Fraser Island.Any amount of time we could get in this evening would help as we have to be at Rainbow beach 2pm on the 13th for our jeep driving induction.

Our van flew down Bruce Highway which ripped through the burnt grassy plains. What you would imagine as kangaroo land engulfed us.The sunlight caught the white bark of the trees and a dramatic contrast occured against the burnt charcholded bark of others. The red leaves were illuminated by spring. Controlled burning happen across the planes, which result in blackened ground, trees and shubbery across the land.A slight mound in the road elevated our vision to reveal the plains strechted all the way to the mountains.The vast spaces of empty countryside are punctuated by cattle, odd picnic benches, roadworks and if were really lucky, fuel.

On the 12th we drove from 6.30am until 6pm.The matchstick tree forest illuminated by the sunset guided us into our well deserved powered campsite for the night.Our 11.5 hour drive was interuppted by 5 wee stops and 1 long lunch break.Nevertheless we were exhausted.