83. Bluewater Rest Area, Bluewater, QLD

Place: Bluewater Rest Area, Bluewater, QLD
Month: November
Weather: Hot, humid, coolish breeze
Days Stayed: 3 weeks (Avoiding the fires)

This was another beautiful shaded rest area. We stayed here for a while until the fires died down in the south.

Oh My Goodness:
The open air camper! Just a bed net! (The ones that hang over your bed to discourage mosquitoes.

Close campers: Right under our awning. I've heard of camping close for safety, but this is ridiculous! Thankfully they left in the morning! Did they look at how big this park is- there's heaps of space!

Highlights:
Townsville Army Museum:
Father loved this. I had fun with the display boards outside, much to Gerard's disgust!
I sent him an email:
I'm in the army!I think Ill go to the nurse division! Nah! I'll stick with the guns!
Gerard: OMG Staaaaahhhppp Ha ha ha!

Magnetic Island(Gerard Recommendation):
Wew caught the ferry over and then hopped on the 'all day hop on hop off' bus. It took us up the hill to the 'Forts' carpark. Then we walked up to the fort. I sent this email to Gerard:
I made it to the top- I forgot to get the 'it's all uphill information'!!!
We saw 2 koalas in the tree right on the edge of the walking track. I was able to reach up and pat one of them- Amazing!
After the walk, we bused down to the beach and had chips on the beach- AHHHHH!!! Lovely and cool!

Castle Hill:
We drove to the lookout. Beautiful view across the water to Magnetic island and over the town.Gerard asked if we saw the angel.
Me: That's not an angel- its the saint! No wonder we didn't see it before- we were no where near it. Nothing wrong with our eyes!

Mount Stuart: (Gerard Recommendation)
We went to go up and have a look, however, half way up the road was closed due to fires. Why didn't they put the sign at the bottom???

RAAF Museum:
We went into the first building and the first thing I noticed was chairs everywhere to sit! Perfect!!! Then.... these RAAF matie's came in and started talking to Father. And Talking and talking and talking!!! I found a very comfy chair and if it wasn't for Mr Google I would have fallen asleep- He must have been talking for at least an hour. Then we went out to look at some more exhibits and another matie comes up- so off they go 'ooing' and 'ahing' about jet engines. I ask you how much can be said about said engine- apparently a lot according to those tow!!!- Don't worry, found a chair in the shade!

Te Boob Tree:
Down along the river, Father discovered the 'Boob' Tree! See for yourself!!!

The bush walk:
At the beginning of this park they had set up a bush walk, with poles every 100m marking how far you had walked. (I think the whole walk was only 1 klm long) It also had 3 low off the ground board walk bridges. It was lovely. I found it a tad nervy going through by myself, however, I did it anyway!

The possums:
A couple of nights we sat at the picnic table having a yarn with the neighbours and we were able to watch the possums going down and up the trees right near where we were sitting! There were heaps of them in and around the trees (And these lots of trees here!)

Oh My Goodness:
The Lawn Man:
One Matie, who had been there for about a month, watered his 'lawn' (everywhere else was gravel dirt and leaves.) By the time we had been there a few weeks he had quite a large area of green grass (even though there were water restrictions on). Next thing we see him mowing his 'lawn'!!! And of course, that attracted the 'locals' fellow campers! No Doubt to discuss the intricacies of lawn mowing!!! Well... what else can they talk about! Father restrained himself!

Highlights:
Mount Stuart:
We tried again and got to the top past all the fire burnt sections. Wow! Wow! Wow!!! What an amazing view! You could see right over the army barracks, city and Magnetic Island. On the track, which went around to the other side, you could see the mountains. Bea-utiful!!!