Bowen

First stop for the Red Elephants was the Big Mango a quick photo opportunity then into Bowen itself.  We are very spoilt and have a site right on the water and have had our evening cuppa's outside every night with the full moon looking out to sea.

Bowen's Big Mango

On arrival we heard that it was the lowest tide for the year.   Well actually this happens twice a year, so on this super low tide you are able to walk out to this island with a old lighthouse.  LETS DO IT!!  We and the rest of Bowen where taking part in what felt like a pilgrimage to this island.  It was a great atmosphere as a never ending string of people, young and old and even a few pooches where walking out ankle to knee deep in water.  We only had a limited time before the tide changed and we would have to high tail it back in.  We came across some amazing starfish that where as big as a diner plate and hard and spiky.

looking under the starfish

Grace and her Starfish

Lighthouse Island

Today we discovered the idillic Horseshoe Bay.  A beautiful little bay with beautiful sea green water.  It seems that all the walks we do involve going UP and STEPS  this was no different but boy was the view worth it.  Looking out to sea and seeing some of the northern Witsunday Islands and down to Horseshoe Bay.  We then decided to walk on to the old WWII  Radar bunker/lookout, this supposedly was 500m but seemed a lot longer and went UP and involved STAIRS and clambering over rocks.  But again  it was worth it for the view.  We explained to Grace and James how it would have been used during the war years.

We returned to Horseshoe Bay somewhat hot and thirsty.  The beach inundated with the over 60's the Red Elephants brought the average age down somewhat and turned up the volume of this quiet but popular  little haven.  Needless to say we all had a refreshing dip.

Horseshoe Bay

Today we went for a day trip to Airlie Beach, let me just say not a Grey nomad in sight.  Backpackers everywhere in little cozzies all shapley and tanned.   Pete and the kids had a swim in a man made lagoon while I went for a walk around the boardwalk to the Marina where I discovered the other inhabitants of Airlie beach the yachtie's.   I think Airlie beach is the type of place that although pretty would be go go go all the time.  It was lovely looking out to the Whitsunday Islands but we both decided give us our small towns and Grey Nomads any day.

Airlie Beach