Brandon, Bowen, Qld

After a few days in Charters Towers, we were ready to hit the road again.  We just can't stay anywhere for long as there is always something else to see down the road.

Mingela Range in the distance

Driving towards the coast now we noticed the countryside changing to more tropical scenery which was a pleasant change from the dry, dusty inland areas, although they have their own beauty.

We passed through the Mingela Range and on to Ayr with Mango farms and Sugar Cane farms.

A typical farm house on a sugar cane farm

Ron managed to find some more "rusty stuff"

Sugar Cane farms near Ayr

In the little town of Brandon we noticed a sign for the Historical Museum and of course we stopped and had a look around.  It was meant to be a quick look and then on the road again but as soon as the volunteer found an interested visitor we got the full tour.  It was very interesting, especially for Ron, but I was struggling to keep up with all the information on tractors, steam engines, diesel engines and much more.   We were told that the engines had all been restored by volunteers and they started up one of them for us.

Back on the road again after a quick lunch, then stopped at a small parking area for our overnight stay at Guthalungra.

Guthalungra

Guthalungra

Bowen

Bowen

Next morning we took the Pacific Coast Way, the A1, to Bowen.  We walked along the beach at Bowen and found the exercise machines on the beachfront so had to try them out  .There was also a Market  so we had a walk around, listened to some live music then on to Airlie Beach another 50km

Just what I needed

On the road to Bowen