A FEW FINAL BOWEN SNIPPETS (26 MAY - 2 JUNE 2017)

It was almost time to move on. After our week in Bowen we felt as though we did have this town 'under our belts' which is probably just as well in that a return visit for any length of time is unlikely. As I have mentioned before, Liz and I reacted quite differently to what we found here.....and of course she remains 'she who must be obeyed'!

So before we move on further north, a few final 'Bowen snippets' beginning with a few shots of some of what Liz does not like about the town, the pockets of quite tired buildings.

such as these overlooking the intersection of Santa Barbara Parade and Herbert Street.

We did come across many other examples in Bowen suburbia 

and honesty demands the comment that these were in the general majority,

but then there is the other side to the 'Bowen housing coin'. Queens Beach in particular boasts some delightful homes, some of modern design

and others of a more traditional style.

As for cyclone damage, we found very little, although here and there the covering of an orange 'tarp' bore testament to Debbie's visit.

In some other cases it was just obviously not worth the bother.

I think I have noted previously that one of the potential advantages (for us that is) of the Queens Beach Caravan Park was its location directly behind the Queens Beach Hotel. A right turn at the end of the street 

and there we were. It has to be said that this is a modest establishment 

at which the empty framework which normally carries the pub sign, was further evidence of the recent cyclone.

We did wander down on a couple of occasions for a quite ale or two, particularly when ensnared by the Siren call of the prospect of live music on a Sunday afternoon. And I have to say that this particular sortie was worth it...this local minstrel was very good at what he did.

Of course, as most of you who are regular readers will be fully aware, Liz and I have spent so long in 'rugby territory' that we do temporarily forsake our commitment to AFL during our sojourns on the eastern seaboard. 'State of Origin' has become a particular passion. There can be no sitting on the fence as far as this contest is concerned and our affinity with Far North Queensland demanded that we become true blue 'Maroons' (at the risk of presenting an oxymoron).

And it was during our stop-over in Bowen that the first of these annual gladiatorial encounters between Qld and NSW was scheduled.

To my utter amazement Liz has become semi-feral when it comes to this contest. Whilst in Gladstone she was insistent that we scoured the town on a quest for a replacement Queensland flag (our previous maroon cloth had seen better days), and of course, yours truly was charged with hoisting this public symbol of our allegiance as soon as we arrived in Bowen.

Previously we have often joined the throng in the camp kitchen of what ever park in which we may have been living at the time (many make a real thing of these matches), but on this occasion we decided to do our own thing.......a seafood feast and a glass or two to lubricate the vocal chords was the plan.

Our visit to the Bowen marina and its seafood outlet provided the makings for our State of Origin dinner. Crumbed scallops, prawns and fillets of red emperor lay in readiness in the outdoor galley for Chef Pierre's master touch.

Liz was pumped and primed....."go the Cane Toads".

The salads were plated and ready for the addition of the seafood,

and as the action was about to begin on the field of conflict

so it was at the dinette, 'Chez Marshies'.

What a feed, what a match, what a night......all good apart from one critical factor.....NSW won!  We retired crestfallen. Not only had Qld lost, they were thrashed. We were very relieved that we were tucked up in our van and were not the objects of public scorn and odium at the hands of 'Cockroach' supporters in the camp kitchen!

But dear reader, despair not. Despite the statistical odds of a NSW series win, given they had been the victors in the first of the three match series, the mighty Maroons gave their all in the next two encounters.....the State Of Origin shield remains in Queensland hands!

And finally, before we hit the road, a form of transport about which we had previously read but never come across. As we were returning from one trip into town, we found ourselves behind a very odd tractor, one which was making good time along Golf Links Road towards the Wangaratta Caravan Park.

This definitely demanded further exploration so off we trotted to this rival park which lies only a couple of hundred metres down the road on the seafront at Queens Beach (and which would be our alternative pick here in Bowen).

And sure enough, there they were.

three of the most unusual tugs we had ever seen.

They were seriously kitted out with all sorts of spares and other bits and pieces. In the course of the conversation we had with one of the owners we discovered that this convoy of ex-farmers and their wives was en route to Western Australia and, to my astonishment, they can do this at over 60 kph along the highway. 

So on that very different note we returned to our park, pulled down and prepared to take our leave of Bowen. 

We had taken the decision to make our next stop just north of Townsville at a park which seems to evoke conflicting passions amongst those who have been there. We were about to find out for ourselves.......Rollingstone was in our sights for the morrow.