Day 58 Airlie Beach to Rockhampton

There was still a light drizzle around this morning when we packed up our site, and said goodbye to our lovely convenient and clean en-suite site.  We left the drizzle of Airlie Beach, and headed South for destinations unknown.  I think we were all a bit stuffed from a big day out yesterday, so we made no plans on where we would get to today.  We have plans to be in Brisbane on Thursday and a booked site which seems to be the only way to get a place to go at the moment.

It was around 140km South of Airlie Beach that we drove into Sarina which was to be our first stop of the day.  The Sarina Sugar Shed shows the workings and processes of the sugar industry, and gives a guided tour.  Funny enough though, Sarina doesn't produce any consumable grade sugar, but instead has a biodiesel refinery, and a distillery that makes ethanol based schnapps.  Don't know where I've seen this type of setup before.


We arrived just after the tour had started due to some very strategic road-works, but I don't think we missed all that much information in the video that they were showing.  Next we were toured around some of the old machinery that was used to harvest the cane, and we were taught about the growing and harvesting process.  We were then taken inside the sugar shed which is a miniature sugar refinery with the six processes represented to show how the sugar is extracted from the cane. 

The kids found the talk very interesting, and asked lots of questions.  They crushed some cane and let us taste the juice that was extracted from the raw cane.  A flavour somewhere between sugar water and grass clippings is best as I can describe it.  I always thought that raw sugar was less refined, but as it turns out, white sugar is the least refined, and they add molasses to the white crystals to flavour and colour the granules. 


We were then able to sample the chutneys, sauces and schnapps that they had to offer.  I can't actually think of any of them that I thoroughly enjoyed, and their schnapps was akin to the stuff that we would reprocess rather than drink at home, so I will stick with the BRU-ERY for my schnapps.  They made fresh fairy floss for the kiddies, which appeared to satisfy the munchkins for enduring an educational presentation.

In Sarina, they also boast the BIG Cane Toad.  Not quite so big as it could be, but worthy of a photo.  "Journal Standard" as Ashley would say.  We had some tasty pies from the local bakery, and we finally found Emma a cake and we sang her happy birthday.  She was most excited with that.  I wish I could say the same for the boys, but I think everyone is a bit tired and grumpy today...Mum and dad included.

We left Sarina, and Lisa took over the driving as I nodded off into a food induced passenger coma, but she too was exhausted.  After my 15 minute power nap, I felt not very refreshed, but took over driving duties again.

The rain was very persistent today, and the scenery was very reminiscent of the Perth hills with red pea gravel, various gum trees and grass lands.  At one point I saw a sign for Koala Crossing that had Drop Bears painted across it.  Still milking that for all it's worth.   There were only brief moments when the sun came out, but on one occasion, there was a full arch rainbow which it seemed we were driving under. 

At the end of a long drive, we have found ourselves in Rockhampton.  We have had to book into a Top Tourist park as the Big 4 was full.  Everything is muddy, underwater and slippery.  I should be thankful that we have a bay for the night.  Our adventure continues tomorrow, and we get to go to the home of Drop Bears...Bundaberg, the Johnsons are coming.  YEEHAAAA!