Our three nights in the Rockhampton area are over and once again we have managed to fit in quite a lot in the time here. On Friday we went into 'Rocky' for a look. We hadn't found a lot of touristy bits that we felt would tick our boxes, but we did want to have a look over the CQLE, which is the 'Gracemere Livestock' cattle selling facility. It is open to the public for viewing, so we just parked and climbed the steps to the 'Selling Arena'. Very impressive! The tourist brochure does say that there is a sale every Friday. We are not sure whether there was an actual sale on the day we were there, but there was activity in the saleyards, which we did enjoy. Not a lot of cattle in the yards, but there were some young cattle being brought in for weighing. Some nice big bulls in another yard that had obviously been sold and were waiting to go wherever. We were surprised that the cattle were being brought into the closer yards, in groups of six, by a stockman on horseback. This was the case until they were in the yards that had electronic gates.   There were shutes down the sides, which enabled stockies to move the cattle forward with a prodder! Later we asked someone what was happening as the cattle were being weighed twice.  The first weigh was a multiple weigh, in groups of six, and then they went to the other side of the yards for individual weighing. The annual 'Brahman Cattle Sale' is to be held at the 'Central Queensland Livestock Exchange' (CQLE) from the 6th to the 8th October. Rockhampton has a population of 115,000 and the town is definitely all about 'Bulls'.  Fibreglass bulls are everywhere in the town. There are six sculptures that have been placed around the town and then there is the 'BIG Aussie Icon' on the Stockmans Corner. He has been there since before 1983 and gets 7/10 on the Iconmetre. The book says that rumour has it that a lucky (or unlucky I reckon) council worker has the choice job of replacing the bull's testicles. Apparently they disappear from the city sculptures on a regular basis, but nobody's ever admitted to taking them! The bulls that have been strategically placed around the city, each represent a breed that is bred and grazed in the region. There are Brahmans, a Santa Gertrudis, Droughtmaster, Braford and a Romangnola. There are also businesses that use 'bulls' to promote their business. There are quite a few on roofs and awnings. Rockhampton is said to be the 'Beef Capital of Australia' and the sign at the Gracemere CQLE said that one third of Australia's cattle can be found within a 500 km radius of the city. I said to Peter about what I believed I had read and his response was "No! In Queensland"! So we went back and had another look and sure enough it said 'In Australia'! The Gracemere saleyards are the largest stud selling centre in the southern hemisphere. We had lunch down on the edge of the 'Fitzroy River' which runs through the centre of the city. The Fitzroy River has the largest catchment area of a river flowing to the eastern coast of Australia. The catchment area covers 142,665 square kilometres. There is a great number of heritage buildings along Quay Street, which overlook the river. We found a very nice Needlecraft shop in one of these buildings and I just couldn't resist buying a couple of pieces of fabric. As if I haven't got enough back home! And to top it off, Peter found a bright colourful roll of fabric with reef fish on it. So we purchased half a metre of that as well. Sometimes you just have to do these things and the lady who owned the shop was really lovely. Not making any money, but loves what she is doing.  She is providing for the interests of women in 'Rocky' and the likes of me! Peter also found that Rockhampton is the birthplace of 'Rod Laver'. He found the bust on the riverbank walk, so he came back for the camera. He just had to have a photo of 'Rod the Rocket' born on the 9th August 1938.Other things we found of interest in Rockhampton was the 'Tropic of Capricorn Sphere' at the front of the Visitor Information Centre. In actual fact the 'Tropic of Capricorn' is a little south of Rockhampton, but it creates something of interest putting it there. We drove to the top of 'Mount Archer' which provides a spectacular backdrop to the city. The mountain is 604 metres high and is part of the Mount Archer National Park. There is a picnic area up there and that was where we saw a cane toad. There are three less now of the million that are in Queensland. The 'Vehicle Toad Busters' had got them. I wonder if the recent rain in the area had brought them out?When we got back out to the coast again, we went to the town of Yeppoon. A very nice little area and the development on the foreshore was very neat and tidy. But someone had pulled the plug on the ocean! The yacht club had been sailing and they were all bringing in their yachts. They couldn't sail them to the beach, there wasn't enough water. When we got back to Kinka beach, we decided to walk out on the mud flat. Well that was what it was! A mud flat! We felt as though we could have walked to 'Great Keppel Island'. I got some great sunset photos. Yeppoon is at one end of Keppel Bay and Emu Park is on the southern end. Captain Cook named Keppel Bay and there is a 'Singing Ship' on a hill at Emu Park.  It commemorates the discovery and naming of the bay. When a gentle sea breeze blows it produces a musical sound through the fluted pipes. These smaller towns are certainly looking for different ways to attract the tourist and when they can associate it with 'Captain James Cook', it is that much better!Between the two towns is Rosslyn Bay and Kinka Beach. A very large Marina is at Rosslyn Bay and it is from here that the ferry leaves to go to the 'Keppel Isles'. Queenslanders certainly have so many islands within easy access along the coast for camping or resort holidays.We have really enjoyed walking along the 'Kinka Beach'. You certainly wouldn't come to the area for swimming, but the beaches are really firm to walk on and there is the odd shell or two. Peter has quite a collection. Not sure what he intends to do with them when we get home. Probably put them with the ones I have collected from the north of WA and not done anything with as yet!

Saturday was washday. Our planning for the next few days has not come together well and we are feeling annoyed that our calls have not been returned. Even looking at the map and considering alternative routes! Who knows what the next couple of days will bring?  24 photos