Bloody roadworks slowed us down - heaps of roadworks in progress all the way to Rockhampton - but thankfully make good time from there on.
Pretty entertaining at times listening on the UHF radio to all the truckies - who are clearly not happy with the extent and prolonged timeframes of the roadworks on this stretch of the Bruce Highway.
We arrived at the little coastal village of Ball Bay (near Cape Hillsborough NP) for our overnight stop at basic camping reserve on the bay. The $22 they charged for the night's stay was a bit much really for cold outside showers and very basic facilities. One we would strike from the list.
We did however enjoy the walk around the pretty little bay after a long day in the car.
Up early Thursday and headed off before breakfast. We made it to Prosperine before stopping to stock up at local supermarket and finally having breakfast at a little cafe.
Headed futher north still - turning West - finally - towards Charters Towers just south of Townsville on the Flinders Highway. We will be on this highway (still the tar) out to Julia Creek.
We are now starting to see the big road trains they have travelling the roads out west (3 & 4 trailers long).
As well as lots of roadkill in sections which is why we are being careful to avoid travelling the high risk hours around dawn and dusk. We have seen the remains of the smaller wildlife, wallabies, wild pigs and even couple of cattle carcass.
Our day six overnight stop was Macrossan Park a free council maintained campsite on the Burdekin River just East of Charters Towers. It was a great spot overlooking the river with lots of travellers taking advantage of such a great free camp with toilets and showers - overlooking the Burdekin River.
There is a monument erected here to mark campsite 116 of Ludwig Leichardt on 10th April 1845 on day 192 of their overland trek.
Showers were cold here as well - but Ruth steeled herself to take the plunge and the 'invigorating' feel of the cold water. Not so bad once you convince yourself to get in.
The campsite are located between the railway bridge and road bridge over the Burdekin (which would certainly be under water when the river is in flood). We are far enough from each that they are not noisy for us and it is interesting at night to watch the road trains lit up like xmas trees crossing the river and the distant rumble of the trains hauling the 'super super' long loads of carriages over the railway bridge.
Shown on a pole near the Macrossan Bridge over the Buredekin River are the levels of all major floods over the years - the 2009 flood peak (the second highest ever) - was 20.75 metres. Its a trickle at the moment compared to the might that it must in the 'big wet' parts of the year.
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