Bowen Continued

Monday, 29 June 2015

Looking south

Rose Bay in the distance

Marina

Low tide

Wind socks

Jabiru in flight

Jabiru walking

Looking for birds

The Big Mango

Rocky headland

Horseshoe Bay

Lookout, top right

Windblown

Please SMS if rescue required

Bowen has proven to be very, very windy and a bit on the damp side.  Sleep on Saturday night was very patchy owing to the awning creaking, groaning and flapping in the wind.  Sunday morning was very overcast and very windy and NOTHING happens in Bowen on Sundays, absolutely nothing with the exception of the IGA supermarket.  We drove up Flagstaff Hill to look at what view was visible through the murk, then followed the shoreline around the marina to the old Catalina flying base from World War 2.  We concluded our Bowen tour with a stop at the Don River, where we were lucky enough to see two jabirus – wow!  On our return to the caravan, the awning was rolled in – Herself refused to have another sleepless night.

Today was still very windy and wet; of course, as soon as the washing went into the dryer, the rain stopped and the wind continued.  We had a quick trip to the Big Mango for a photo opportunity and then stopped at the local bakery for some bread – they don’t sell bread, so it was on to the supermarket.  After lunch, we drove to Horseshoe Bay, a lovely cove at the headland and spotted a sign to the Rotary Lookout (Rotary must spend most of their time constructing lookouts).  Naturally, lookouts are on the tops of hills (have worked that one out by now!), but it would have been much more comfortable climbing over and around the large sandstone, snake infested boulders if wearing more appropriate footwear and the walking poles weren’t still hidden at the back of the luggage compartment.  However, after a good aerobic workout, we arrived at the lookout, with some spectacular views back towards Flagstaff Hill and northwards towards Queen’s Beach.  Then it was back down the hill and a quick walk (deviation, really) onto the beach for a quick photo amid the flying sand before escaping into the Pajero.  The lifeguard on duty seemed to be having a fairly quiet day.