Cid Bimble
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Thu 2 Jun 2016 22:57
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Cid
Bimble
  It rained most of yesterday so Bear
did an oil change and I pottered about the estate. Today began with rain but
late morning saw a gap in the clouds, off we went for a bimble. The sun forgot
to shine but no matter it’s still warm. Ashore the tide was out so Bear settled Baby Beez with her anchor out, then
for the rest of the beach.
  Bear went to lean against the memorial
and oops......Back in position
for a pose.
 The plaque.
  Sawmill Beach
sign and behind it a picnic area and
information boards.
 This letter
marked the end of a chapter of Whitsunday Island history. In the early
1890’s, John Withnall built a sawmill on flat land here at Sawmill Beach. The
steam-operated mill used water from a low dam John constructed across Sawmill
Creek. Felled by hand and sawn by blade, the island’s hoop pine was shipped to
Bowen and Mackay as Queensland grew into the new century. John’s small workforce
included some local Ngaro men. The work was hard and hot.
  The steep terrain usually allowed
felled trees to be “shot” (slid) down to the water’s edge. In places bullocks and trams carted logs to the water. A steam winch
then pulled the floating logs up for sawing. After fourteen years of hard work
and sweat, a dwindling supply of quality and profitable
timber prompted John to dismantle the mill and shift to
Townsville.
Today, rusted tram rails can still be
seen, hinting to a past life as they slowly corrode. The old dam lies broken,
affording no barrier to summer rains washing to the sea, while hoop pines stand
proud above the rainforest, never again to fall from axe or saw.
 After reading, we went back out across
the beach and found the track to Dugong
Beach.
  Up some steps and we followed a well maintained path through some very twisted trees.
   Bear’s newest
friend, curled in an offended fashion, pooped
and began to uncurl...........
    So many
trees to look at.
  Bear hugged a massive hoop pine with an impressive termite
motorway.
 We popped out at Dugong Beach.........
   ............and explored for a while. Then back to the track passing the
campsite, toilets and picnic area.
  The floor of the
forest was fairly clear. We could hear the rain but with this cover very few drops hit us. The wonderful thing about this
side of the island NO SAND FLIES..........and no mosquitos.
   Fungi in
all shapes and sizes.
 Spotting these two
curlew in their camo jackets was difficult.
  Back on our
beach, we looked at the creek, then it started
to rain. We got back to Beez and the heavens opened for the rest of the
afternoon.
 The clouds were still
heavy at sunset.
 ALL IN ALL SUCH A DIFFERENCE
TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND
NICE TO HAVE A LEG-STRETCH IN A VERY RAINY
FOREST |