“Google Google on the wall, which is the fairest café of them all?” A modern age technological morning routine. With plenty of locals seeking refuge from the deluge in Mackay’s Dispensary Café, we get well caffeinated, drenched from crossing the street and immediately sweaty. Cranking up the aircon, the GPS is set, and we reconnect with Bruce.
Fields wrapping the roadway envelop us in endless green. Low lying clouds, teeming rain and upcoming weather shroud with grey. Yesterday was bushfires, today aquaplaning. “Haven’t you had enough of each other yet?”, my son asks laughing as he calls. He knows the answer is obvious. Despite the turn in weather and the suspense of The Lost Man – “Who killed Cameron?” The audio book hardly gets a listen in. We’ve got miles of chatting in us yet.
The metaphorical connection between great friendships and safe harbors does not escape us as we descend on Airlie Beach’s Abell Point Marina. The anchoring of trust and confidence, shelter from the storms, and celebration of milestones achieved enfolded in turquoise magnificence; reconnection, refuelling, and navigational opportunities resonate loudly. The marina and lagoon demand a longer stay, on another visit, on another day.
This road of friendship takes us for a stop to Bowen. Original home of the Kensington Pride Mango or Bowen Special. (“No, that’s not a giant egg, it’s a mango Jarka!”) Offshore breezes, palm trees and secluded shores compliment the hospitality of dear friends, stories of old and new, freshly caught prawns, Christmas ham and specially saved wedding cake. Another “harbour” encounter.
Sugar levels from our lunch stopover will have us hanging from the ceiling for hours. Fuel for an evening tour of Townsville, home to one of the largest zinc refineries in the world. Cargo ships, containers and cranes bellow commerce, productivity, trade and transience juxtaposed against scarlet skies trumpeting perpetual glory.
One thousand dollar hotel smoke alarm call outs bode badly for breakfast fruit toast, (fortunately they didn’t have that in Gundy!) Our media manager posts the latest spin on all her platforms- a sugar induced hysteria ensues. As night falls, the Stockman’s grave on Burley Downs cattle station calls. We go looking for clues about Cameron.
Sadly the end of Bruce!!! Can you do another trip? 😂😂
Sure thing. Where would you like me to go 🙂