Awake early this morning , everybody in North Mackay seemed to be going to work between 5:30 and 6:30 am . We got up and had breakfast and slowly packed up , we were definitely not in a rush today . It was like the decision about where to go - do we stick close to Mackay or head further north to Proserpine ???
All packed & hitched up , we headed round to empty the tanks out before leaving . As we were driving out the front gate , a decision was made - Finch Hatton Showground for a couple of days , so that we could go for a paddle at Eungella or Teemburra Dams .
Not a big drive , only about 60 klms , but all that was required . Finch Hatton is in the Pioneer River Valley north west of Mackay - smack bang in sugar cane country . We went past the sugar Mills at Mackay & Marian on the way out there . Harvesting will start next month , so things will get very busy . The showground will be hosting Australia’s largest one day show next month - expecting over 18,000 people for the day , in an area smaller than Moss Vale’s showground .
They only charge $25 for a powered site , and $20 for unpowered , and if you're in a tent , you can pitch it under a shelter - no extra charge . The grounds are neat as a pin with the grass mown nicely , you can set up under the shade of trees or in full sun - your choice . We chose full sun so the solar can do it's thing , and if it does rain we won't have any dripping from the trees .
We set up and had lunch before going for a drive to Teemburra Dam - about 9 klms east of Finch Hatton and just above Pinnacle about 9klms out (for those that I used to work with - this is where Alex went to work).
The water level in the dam was down about a metre from when we were here last - apparently they haven’t had much of a wet season up here .
We decided not to have a paddle as the wind was picking up a little , and we didn’t have the paddles !!! They decided that they would stay back at The RV - good on them !!!!
There were a lot of water lillies that were out & flowering - not your average water lillies - you’re probably thinking lilac/blue flowers - nope these ones are white & frilly and about the size of a ten cent piece - quite small considering the lilly pads are anything up to 250 - 300mm wide .
Stopping on the road back down gives you great views of the valley spreading out in front of you - a sea of green and the odd dark red ploughed or recently planted fields . The farmers plant sugar cane anywhere they can pretty much - up into tight corners & down as close as they can to fences , tree lines and all round their houses as well - thats why they have two storey houses - so they can see over the cane fields ( not really scientific that explanation - believe it if you will ) !!!
We headed around toward Finch Hatton Gorge , we had been there 3 years ago , and found there wasn’t as much water flowing down the creeks , so a walk up to the falls might not be warranted this time .
The road crossed over Cattle Creek a few times . It flows into Pioneer River , and it is certainly a different river from where it passes by Mackay CBD . There were some well worn rocks in Cattle Creek that took my eye as we drove over the bridge .
The clouds are starting to get a bit darker and more overcast as the sun goes down , we may even get some rain tonight . We wont complain as we’ve had some smashing days of 26 & 27 degrees with overnight temps of 16 to 19 degrees . Sorry to rub it in , but we are loving our extended summer !!!
Today’s map link :-https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z1G8gwwxwyYo.k9-g26ks0Z2c&usp=sharing
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