Onwards from Mackay August 2

On leaving Mackay we continued to head north. We had a great time visiting farmers markets in Bownen and had lunch at a lovely beach, oh I wish we had kayaks.  This time of the year you can swim as stingers are the main problem in this part but summer time only. We stayed the night at a Truck stop which had hot showers and a large grass area. We  actually had  a good nights sleep and arrived in Townsville early to pick up supplies and I needed a haircut.
With all this achieved we continued on staying the night in a lovely place Toomulla Beach.We had a nice evening with another couple and after hearing such great things about Lawn Hill National Park

The beach at Bowen including coconut palms

I was fascinated by the white birds always alongside the cattle. They are a type of heron called cattle egrets who stay by the cattle to get the worms and insects that the cows bring up while eating the grass. they also eat the ticks and annoying insects off the cattle which of course is helpful to them.They are found in hot tropical climates.

 we decided to change our route and instead of going inland at Townsville we would go higher up the coast and go along the Savannah Way route inland to the National Park.
The next day we continued up the coast, it was rather gray and windy for the first time since leaving Brisbane.The traffic on the road is not to bad and there certainly are a lot of caravans travelling both ways.