South Mission Beach Qld August 2nd 2023

South Mission Beach Qld August 2nd 2023

Lot of really heavy rain overnight, but by 7am, it had stopped and I thought I might risk a beach walk. Well tome more exact, a walk from the end of South Mission Beach, across the headland via the Kennedy track and down onto the beach at Luggers Bay. The start seemed reasonable, the first 200m is a fantastic boardwalk. The track then climbs steeply upon a 'few' steps and down and up and one and on for about 1.2km. Finally at the end the track drops down onto the beach via a large set of stairs. The first time I came here in 2015 there were no steps, they had all been blown away from the effects of the then most recent cyclone.

Looks promising enough. Kennedy track, South Mission Beach Qld

On more recent visits the stairs have been well and truly present and access to the beach and beyond was made exceptionally easy.'

None of which prepared me for todays surprise, the ocean was swirling about the bottom step! I checked the tide and found that high-tide was still an hour away, making any access to the beach impossible for the next few hours.

But, the beach and steps awash with the ocean. Kennedy track, South Mission Beach Qld

The rain had set in so we drove over to Tully, which was living up to its reputation as being the Rainiest place in Australia with an average of a drip over 4 metres of deluge a year.

Tully doesn't lookalike it's changed since 1926, which is when a lot of the shop fronts proudly display as their year of opening. We found the only open cafe and drank excellent coffee and ate excellent carrot cake, So that's changed at least!

Beautiful sodden down town Tully. Tully Qld

As we were out and about we headed a few kilos up the road to El Arish which boasts a great old pub and serves very acceptable meals. I chose the steak sandwich and Judy the fishburger. We sat out on the terrace an watched the rain flood down for an hour or so.

Novel way to pull beers in the Hotel. Tully Qld

El Arish Hotel, Tully Qld

El Arish Hotel. Tully Qld

Finally we had to work our way back to the van park where we found the groundsman busy with his little mini-backhoe busily digging emergency drains in an attempt to stop some of the vans from floating away. Well not quite float away, but at least lower the water level enough so the occupants could get in and out.