Airlie Beach

70kms from Caleb to Porsepine with mountains on one side and sugar cane fields. Nice. Another 30kms to Airlie Beacxh which looks great. Real blue sea and smart modern buildings. Top Tourist camp 1km past town is good for us.




 Walk back into town and mix with lots of back packers. Try out the silent disco and then a parma at Magnums. Nice but very small.






With the walk back Dave's blood sugar is 6.5 which is probably too low before going to bed. It was too low as about 1.30am he is up eating jelly beans to get the blood sugar back up from 2.7. It worked again.

Pours down in the night but sun in the morning. Walk back to town then 3.5 sea front walk to Canonvale. Look at a bird for ages trying to decide if it is real as it does not move.


On the way back it has moved and is real. Bonus in Canonvale with Hungry Jacks free coffee refill. Youngmi reads the Gerard Baden Clay murder trial report in the paper.Coles has bargain and excellent quality apples and cauliflower






Sun for the rest of the day.

A night there is lots of shouting on the campsite with a Sheila shouting to her bloke over and over again "get out of my life". They calm down when the police come. Next morning they are sat outside their big big caravan smiling at each other. Like the couple in Father Ted who try to kill each other when they are alone.

Dave walks to town and up the first few kms of the great Whitsunday walk. Cool in the forest and red hot elsewhere. Meet a belgian guy who has camped on the track for a bit of peace and travelled the world for almost 2 years so far. There are warning signs on the track about stinging trees which hurt for a month if you are unlucky enough to touch one. After the hard walk Dave does another 3kms to Hungry Jacks and more coffee and burgers. Coming out he is found by Youngmi and dragged back in. Dave enjoys Youngmi's free coffee refill. Back along the sea front walk and then paddle in the swimming lagoon in town.






Dinner at Beaches backpackers $13 for steak, mash, veggies and a wine.

On the next sunny day drive to Hideaway Bay recommended by the campsite manager ( who moved hear from Melbourne 1 year before) Remote and hot . Walk along beach and through mangroves.





There could be crocodiles here says Youngmi. Get back on the track and walk to the car. Quick look at Dingo beach which has the advantage of a pub.Drive 50kms back to Airlie Beach then Shute Harbour