SOUTH MISSION BEACH TO LUCINDA. SATURDAY 18th May, 2019.

After a rough and wet two nights at South Mission Beach before we left the sun decided to come out and shine over us. Unfortunately this didn't last and by the time we reached Cardwell it was raining again. It was a shame as we had been told by a few people it's a must place to stop and see when passing through. So we did just that put on our rain coats  and had a look round. We have had about five wet days now since arriving down on the coast after all that great weather we got in the outback it certainly is a contrast. We have had lots of rain but the sun does come out just for awhile. We are now heading to Lucinda for a night a popular fishing area for the locals and many people come up from the south in the winter months for the warmth and fishing. Huge camping ground but not busy probably until next month. Best amenities we have seen. All brand new, very flash.

Above and below another couple of photos before we left this morning from Mission Beach. Above looking over to Dunk Island . It was nice to see the sun shining on the beach.

We are now heading to Cardwell along the A1 highway and the sun is still out.  Makes such a difference to the photos. Approaching the hills so we will expect more rain down south. We like the way they do their double centre lines on some of their highways.



This area down this part of the coast is sugar cane territory.

Ahead weather is closing in again. The hills look great but  locked out with the low cloud.

Just arriving into Cardwell and PT saw a sign boat ramp. Off we went down this road thinking it would just be there but this road went on and on, wondering if perhaps we should turn back. But know someone had to see where the local fisherman launch their boats.

Then there it was this tiny area leading into the river which goes out to sea. Quite a wind from the sea sweeping up the river to make waves. After this we turned round and went back.



We came upon this memorial park  just as we were coming in from the north of Cardwell (before we reached the town) of the Corol Sea Battle in the 2nd World War.

PT taking it all in

This is the memory wall. Different Plaques as below.

Behind the wall is an area to reflect. Through the trees is the sea where it all took place. Hard to tell that is Sea as it was raining couldn't divide the sea from the sky.

Then walked through the trees to the beach looking out to where the battles were. When I first walked through the trees I suddenly thought, that could be a croc on the beach but no just a log. Very conscious in these areas as the crocs are out there, no swimming.

Now in Cardwell town and it is pouring. So disappointing but we had a walk round anyway. Looking out to their jetty.

We drove through town a little further and stopped on the side of the road and made a coffee. This pathway goes right along the waterfront. Nice area. The six piles above indicate where their first wharf /jetty was erected.

Just down in front of the grass is the beach.

We stopped beside the footpath to make a coffee, where people were walking pass,  we had our van window open and PT took this photo looking out trying to make it look like I was a customer for a coffee. We felt like one on these roadside coffee vendors. "Coffee and biscuits Ma'am"

Really thick sugar cane country. Over 68,000 hectares  of land in is used for the cultivation of sugar cane in the Hinchinbrook Shire. This district has the potential to grow and crush 6.1 million tonnes. The season is between June through to November.

We turned off the highway just before Ingham to branch out to the coast to Lucinda, a popular fishing area. There is a huge camping ground out there so we are having a night there. We thought that we were going into heavier rain but suddenly we missed that and it was very dry, cloudy and windy but still no sun. Settled into camp and took off for a walk to look round the place. Above is Lucinda's Sugar Jetty, handling the biggest ships used for transporting sugar. The Jetty is 5.76 kms in length and is supported by more than 660 concrete and steel pylons. It was constructed in 1979 with a design to withstand cyclones. A single conveyor belt runs the entire length of the Jetty and back, enabling sugar to travel from the storage sheds on the land to the shops berthed out at sea in about 25 mins

Around the corner there was another jetty which we walked out on to take a photo of the main sugar jetty. The sign above we see in lots of areas, especially around the mouth of the rivers. You wouldn't want to swim in these areas. Even wouldn't paddle along the waters edge. Always looking for those two eyes on the surface of the water.



Walked out along the above Jetty and took this picture looking over to the southern end of Hinchinbrook Island which is out from Cardwell. Look how it attracts the rain, no wonder we hit the rain in Cardwell. But as you can see below the skies cleared this afternoon in Lucinda but would have still been raining in Cardwell.



The other side of the sugar Jetty. This photo shows the white wharf at the end where the big ships berth to fill up with sugar. Hard to believe it is 5.76kms long. It was nice to see the blue sky come out later this arvo  after all the rain we went through earlier.

We had no more rain since we arrived at Lucinda  but the sun didn't come out until late arvo. It is 9.00pm while I am writing this and the winds have really come up so wouldn't be surprised if we get another rough wet night. We are very exposed to the winds blowing in off the ocean. Big gust just went through. We will head on down towards Townsville tomorrow. I sure hope this rain passes through the further south we go but the weather forecast is not sounding too promising. 😠 we didn't come all this way to follow the rain around. While I am writing PT is watching the Oz election on TV.