Mackay

We arrived in Mackay late afternoon of 24 July, setup our tent and then rested.  Next day, Friday we had a tour at the Sarina Sugar Shed, a miniature sugar mill and distillery in operation.  We learnt that brown sugar is white sugar crystals with molasses sprayed on!  Samples of rum liqueur and other spirits made using the ethanol they distill from the sugar cane. The ice creams were absolutely delicious - Neil had a rum flavoured one and I had mango.  From Sarina we drove through to Homebush, Eton and Marian through sugar cane area to Finch Hatten where we stopped for a very late lunch at the show grounds.  After lunch we drove up the escarpment to Eungella, 12% gradient and the truck was in first gear part of the way going up the steeper sections.  The view from the top was panoramic looking over all the cane fields in the valley we just drove through.   The chalet also offered the same spectacular views while we enjoyed a coffee. On the way back we stopped off at the Dame Nellie Melba House in Marian,  this house was supplied to Dame Nellie Melba's husband as he was the manager in the sugar cane mill, before she became famous. Back at the caravan park enjoyed a dinner put on by the owners of the park.   The evening was spent enjoying the company of many caravanning guests,  some who survived the trip to Cape York - one particular family shared their experiences with us.