Mackay

Another stunning day in paradise.  The view from our caravan park is breathtaking, or have I already said that?  I just can't believe how beautiful Mackay is.  I don't remember it like this at all.  There is some serious infrastructure going in, and already established, but more on that later.  So this morning, we did a whip around the northern beaches, being Black Head, Dolphin Beach and Eimeo.  Again beautiful, but windy sadly so we did a brisk walk, play in the sand and obligatory frolic in the playground.  BBQ's everywhere, tracks for bike riding and play areas for kids.  All very inviting. On to the Eimeo pub for lunch and wow, what a view.  Rick was keen for a beer, so before we knew it we were staying for lunch and meeting other patrons including an older couple from Newcastle that said they took three kids the same ages as ours in a combie van across Europe (that got me to thinking) and then another young childless couple from North Parramatta here on holidays after a weekend in Townsville watching the V8 Supercars. He was roasted like a Sunday dinner completed with sunglass suntan and we were very jealous that they were childless as we were ready to kill ours. On to the CBD and a walk through the foreshore, where there's a fantastic wetside water park just like the one in Hervey Bay, although this one has pools and big water slides.  All free and supplied by the council. So that brings me to the development.  Myers are coming and the shopping centre will be massive (there are three big centres across the city).  There are new roads going in everywhere.  The council have built a 19km walking/bike track that snakes all along the river complete with boardwalks, BBQ's, shelters, playgrounds.  Its quite impressive and you can feel the city is thriving and alive.  There's new housing estates everywhere, apartment blocks and smaller shopping centres popping up. On to the main shopping centre for some shoes for Zachie and home via Dan Murphys and the fish markets which were crap.  Tuna pasta for dinner with some serious kick.  Zachie passed out at 6PM so early to bed for some.  The guys next door were packing their kayaks getting ready for a 7AM start.  I am cold just thinking about them.  What an adventure, but talk about hard core.  Rick felt so sorry for them that he offered them a plate of pasta, like it was their last supper, good choco that he is.  But they declined. Brrrr, back to their swags and cold dark night under the stars.