Mission Beach

Driving to Mission Beach was interesting but a little eerie at times.  Cyclone Yasi passed through 5 months earlier and a lot of the destruction was becoming more previlent the closer we got to our destination.  Firstly it was the tree and vegitation.  Just south of Cardwell the trees were stripped bare, leaning or split in two.  They were all pushed over in the same direction so you could tell which way the wind was pounding them.  At we reach Port Hinchinbrook we notice many boats in there yards with sails torn or whole ripped out of their hulls.  As we drove in to Cardwell the real destruction was coming to light.  Trees still strewn over the beach, houses tarped up and destruction notices on others.  It was evident that they needed to do heaps more work but we were later to find out that Cardwell has been forgotten abit and that they are trying to get on their own feet.  The day was also a wet and cloud one which I think did not help with the uneasy feeling Nigel and I were having.  It felt like we were driving into a huge storm.  Coming into Mission Beach was really yuck.  Almost to the point that we wanted to continue on.  But we decided that they needed our tourist dollars so we pulled in for a few nights stay.

The park we stayed at was the Top Tourist Hideaway Caravan Park. They had really cleaned themselves up. They have already put $800,000 into repairing, debrie removal and rebuilding. It looked good to us but when we asked other visited they told us and showed us how the park looked last year. My goodness the difference was just phenominal.

 

Our first day we spent getting our bearings and visiting the main street. (a 1 minute walk from the park)  As we walked back to the park our travelling buddies David, Sandra, Garth and Sharon drove past.  We really are getting to see them at every stop.  They are such lovely couples.  We had a catch up after they had finished setting up then we spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool.  Our second day we walked along the beach and played in the sand.  We found several coconuts and had lunch at a beachfront cafe.  They were a little confused but the meal was lovely.  The afternoon was again spent playing around the park and swimming in the pool.  We even cracked open the coconuts and had a feast of fresh coconut.  Been chatting with many of our caravan neighbours and finding out lots of interesting things about Mission Beach.  I like chatting to new people they always give you some great tips about travelling.

Had a busy morning working on school tasks.  Kids are learning so much on the road about the different areas they are visiting and about the industries around those towns.  Sugar cane is again huge in this area.  And they are not quiet ready to cut it down yet so we still are unable to see the cane mills in action.  Chatted to a lovely couple again today.  Mick and Susie.  A really nice pair.  They are really easy going couple and have given me a few good tips.  We spent the early part of the afternoon taking a circuit drive via El Arish and Tully.  Se stopped at Tully to climb the Golden Gumboot and read about Tully's amazing record.  7.8metres of rain in one year.  We continued our drive down to South Mission where we were able to get out and take a good look at Dunk Island.  It was pretty badly damage in the Cyclone and they think it will be at least a year before it reopens.  Wow...long time but all the rubbish and building supplies on or needed on the island coming and go out on the ferry.  Returned back to camp for an afternoon swim.  Mick and Susie came over for happy hour and we had a really good time chatting and find out about each other.  We told them we were off to Paronella Park(Mena Creek) tomorrow and they had thought they might go also.  If they do it will be nice to catch up for another happy hour.  The kids really liked them also.