The Magster comes to stay.

Last Thursday, my longtime friend from school, The Magster, came to stay. She often came to Mackay to visit her Mum in the past, but now her Mum is no longer with us, she came up from Melbourne for solely touristic purposes and she stayed with us for four days. So we played tourist in our own back yard. First up was lunch at the good old Ye old Eimeo Pub. I was a bit slack with the photo taking so no shots of the harbour, Lamberts beach and the botanical gardens, where we had a coffee. She also took in the delights of Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal from the lookout.
Also no shots of the lovely evening we shared with Sandy with a table full of nibblies and a few bottles of very good red wine.
On Sunday we went up the valley to check out the river rock to mountain top festival. The festival was underwhelming and it rained all day.
We did take in a bush walk at Finch Hatton Gorge though.

As far as Arulen Falls anyway as it was drizzling steadily.

Hey Debs, this is where you show your Mum which rock you jumped off of into the water.

In the late afternoon, we dragged KISA off the computer and went to the new Bluewater Quay, just east of the Forgan Bridge. This is a new bit of the riverfront development and it was quite impressive. I am surprised there were hardly any people there.

This is the new Forgan Bridge which opened a couple of weeks ago. The old one is on the other side. They are demolishing it and building another one so we will have 4 lanes. The fishing platform made out of the old rail bridge.

Looking east via the children's playground. You can see the Leichardt Tree and old Paxtons Building in the distance.

A water feature in the childrens play area.

This is what they built on the site of the Crown Hotel. They are called Crown Apartments. I think they start at about a million dollars a pop.Far cry from the Crown Hotel.

The Leichrdt Tree, where the old ships used to tie up in the pioneer days. There are BBQs and picnic tables beside it now.

This sculpture was interesting to a history nut like me. We went as far as the boat ramp and the start of the new Sandfly Creek walk. We went some distance along it, but as it was getting dark we turned back. The walk goes all the way to town beach. And no one wants to be near a place called Sandfly anything at dusk! We couldn't figure out if this was a sculpture or a space ship.

On Monday I had an induction for a new job that will start in a few weeks and The Magster caught up with another friend here. As it was settlement day for the sale of the house, the real estate agent came by with a couple of bottles of wine, and because it had been a torrid sale for her she shared some with us along with some cheese and biccies. Poor girl, I think she was happier than us it was all over! KISA, Margs and I continued the celebration after she left.

Marg went back on Tuesday, we had had a great time, lots of laughs, red wine and lots of fattening food. Can't wait till we do it again.