Wooli

Firstly I must just say how saddened I am by the events that have happened in Paris these past few days. How one human can be so cruel to another human is beyond my comprehension. Is there anything that me as one small dot in this huge world can do? Is there anything we as a country can do? Is going in and bombing them the answer? I don't know, all I know it is all wrong. My heart goes out to all in Paris, all in France and all my fellow humans who's lives will never be as innocent as we once were.

We didn't travel very far to get to our new location, I think we drove about an hour and a half!! I had never heard of Wooli, but another camper recommended we come and stay here and I am once again glad I took another travellers advice. Wooli is a tiny seaside village situated between the Wooli Wooli River and the ocean. Back on December 24th, 1861 when this area was declared a camping reserve it was called Wooli Wooli which means "two water". As the area grew in popularity houses, a public school, a hall and some small businesses were built. 

We were treated with a nice sunset on our first night in Wooli

The pristine Wooli Wooli river are acclaimed to be the most unpolluted river in Australia and its waters are  a haven for wildlife and the very yummy Wooli Oysters. The first oyster leases were established back in 1885 at a cost of 1 pound per year. These oysters are renowned as some of the best in Australia. I have eaten quite a few oysters (natural) in my time and must say after buying a dozen yesterday they are extremely tasty. 

The entrance to Wooli Wooli River was a bit choppy as the tide was going out!!

Off shore is the Solitary Islands Marine Park. The Solitary Islands Marine Park consists of five main island groups and other significant rocky outcrops and submerged reefs. According to information brochures there are over 280 different species of fish, four varieties of turtles and 90 different types of coral. During the colder months it is also a safe haven for the migrating Humpback and Southern Right Whales. It would certainly be a special place for any divers to visit although from what the locals say it is sometimes home to some large White Pointer Sharks!!! 

Windy, Windy Windy !!!

From what I can tell most travellers call into this village to do some fishing. We gave it a try yesterday and there were fish out there because something was doing a lot of nibbling on my line but alas I never caught anything. We were going to head out again this morning but the wind has picked up and it is a very strong 45km, so might wait to see what it's like this evening. 

1770, Queensland

In my Aussie Adventure research I had read and heard a must is the town of 1770, or as its official name is written Seventeen Seventy because it is so beautiful and one of the rare west facing beaches in Queensland. It has a permanent population of just under 80, that swells dramatically during holiday time and is situated on the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.

According to Wikipedia this is how the town gets its name.

Seventeen Seventy, also written as 1770, is a village in Queensland, Australia, built on the site of the second landing by James Cook and the crew of HM Bark Endeavour in May 1770 (Cook's first landing in what is now the state of Queensland). Originally known as Round Hill – after the creek it sits on – the name was changed in 1970 to commemorate the bicentennial of Cook's visit. The community of Seventeen Seventy hold the re-enactment of this historic landing in May each year as part of the 1770 Festival held in May.

I definitely agree it does look very nice and last night there was a pretty amazing sunset, but next time my visit won't be at the end of school holidays, on a Queensland long weekend and the night of the Rugby Grand Final when the both teams are from Queensland. The noise levels and excitement of the occasion didn't bother me at all because I was interested in the outcome of the game. But, there are just so many people here, I think most of Central Queensland have headed to this part of the world for the week/weekend!!!!! When we booked in we got the very last site available and it's a pretty big park. (We very rarely pre book where we want to stay, because we keep changing our mind where we are heading). Plus there are two families camped next to us, that seem very nice but OMG one of them can snore. I walked down to the toilet block and I could hear him three camps away. So that's why I'm sitting outside Myrtle at 6.30am listening to the birds, the garbage truck empty all the bins from this towns busy weekend and watching as the camper rise, have breakie and start packing up for their trip home. I have a feeling around 9.30/10ish there may be abut of a mass evacuation while everyone heads home. 

It's really funny what people are like around our country. Not to generalise but I find that people that are travelling in groups or are just away for a week or weekend don't tend to greet you easily, or sometimes even want to make eye contact as people who are on the road for months plus at a time. Long term travellers make eye contact metres away from you and not only is a good morning exchanged but more often than not a small (or sometimes long) conversation takes place. I find after I have been out on the road travelling for a while and I get back to the city I find out of habit I am saying hello to complete strangers on the street. Sometimes I get a hello back but sometimes I get a look of "who is that crazy lady talking too". Wouldn't it be nice if we could all greet at least one stranger everyday with a hello!!!! You never know it could be the only hello and smile they get for the day.