Articles

2002 Off Centre Rally - The Big U
Submitted by David Drummond, 3:640/305

Day 13 - Friday 15th August (Burdekin Falls Dam to Mackay)

We decided to risk the road to Collinsville, as it was reportedly in good condition, having been graded recently. Firstly we went back to the lookout to take some photos, then down the hill to the bottom of the dam wall. We stopped where the water gets released from the dam, to talk to a local woman who was fishing. There must be fish around there, as there were lots of pelicans hanging around. Did you know a pelican's beak can hold more that its belly can?

The local woman told us the road across the bottom of the dam wall was only open for 3 months last year, as there was that much water spilling over the dam wall. The road only looks like a footpath from the lookout at the top, but in fact it is about 3 lanes wide. By golly, it's a big dam when you look at it from down there! On the other side, we stopped at the top to walk out on the buttress, and take some more photos. We must come back to this place for a longer stay.

The road turned to travel almost straight away. It was very steep - up and down and up and down. It flattened out to a degree after a while, but was very windy with lots of dips into dry creek beds. Not a speedway - for us at least. Although the two Als and the Turton boys would absolutely love it. I took the corners and dips much slower than they would, but enjoyed it, all the same.

At a main intersection, we came across a couple of 4WDs who had stopped for a cuppa - the first vehicles we had seen so far. Our way was clearly signposted, so we continued on.

We were a little concerned about the sharp stones and the worn rear tyre on the PD, but were okay. At one stage, the road climbs over a range which was quite spectacular. Otherwise, it was generally quite a pretty drive. My yellow fuel light came on just as we came into Collinsville. We fuelled up, chatted to a local fellow whose son had motorbikes, then followed the seal to Bowen. I was amazed at the fields and fields of tomatoes. Then it was a matter of following the main highway to Mackay.

We went to Eimeo Pub - too late for lunch, but we had a drink outside in the wind, looking at the great view, eating our snack packs. Then we went into Mackay, found a motorbike shop and finally changed that worn rear tyre.

I had wanted to catch up with an old work-mate, Michelle ("Tuggy"), and she asked us to stay. We found her place without any trouble. In all went out to dinner at the Shamrock Hotel - Tony had the 1 kilo T-bone and ate it all up. I had a carpet bag steak, but couldn't finish it. We showed them our photos (in the digital camera), back at their place, on Tony's laptop, and he showed us his photos from the Moranbah mine where he worked as a mechanical engineer. We all had a great night - not to mention the luxury of a real bed!