Heading north

Our first beach stop on the way was at Clareview, south of Sarina. We knew we were nearing north Queensland because there were coconuts just lying on the sand under the trees. It would have been easier with a machette but John's persistence/stubbornness paid off  with our rather large travelling knife. The coconut was delightfully tasty.
After a lovely night catching up with friends in Sarina, we have worked our way further north and tonight are in Ayr.

It doesn't matter how long you've been away, as soon as you pass a working sugar mill the smell memories flood back! The mills are now in full swing as you can see from this photo just north of Mackay. The motel owner told us that burning is still necessary before harvesting in this area. Cane burning is more rare these days. Everyone around here has black feet if they go barefoot, from the ash.
Seen today: Commercial salt pans at Bowen, the jetty where they filmed the movie 'Australia', great little museum at Proserpine and the well known Burdekin River bridge.