Townsville

11 July 2015

I made a terrific prediction last night, there would be no rain when packing up this morning. Considering the rain last night and over the last couple of days it was more of a hope than anything else. Well it came to fruition. The rain stopped around 4:00 this morning and although most things were wet it wasn't raining.

We were packed and ready to leave just after 8:30 but decided to hang around and play in the same and paddle in the water considering it was the first time at Etty Bay that going to the beach was worth it. We left just after 9:00.

Our first stop was at Mission Bay. By the time we got there the weather had cleared perfectly. There was no breeze and the sun was beaming. The beach was perfectly white and the waves gently lapped at the shore. Walking down to the beach there was a huge red flag in the centre of the beach. I wasn't sure it that indicated the beach was closed or not. It didn't really matter if it was closed, we didn't have bathers or towels handy so we were on lay paddling and walking.

There were very few people on the beach and with the tide out the water was around 50 meters from the coconut trees. There was a couple 100 meters or so looking back and staring in our direction. We were the only ones on the beach and they seemed to be staring for quite some time, eventually I looked around and saw a guy standing next to the flag with a parachute. The red flag was a signal for the sky divers landing point. Looking up there were 15 or so tandem sky divers all landing on the beach about 20 meters from where we were standing. They came in silently and with my broad brim hat I had no idea they were coming. It was a fantastic display. One of the guys grabbed the flag and they were all gone in no time at all.

We walked along the beach for a while and decided to head back to the car. The beach was beautiful and went for as far as the eye could see. It was the first read time we have spent at the beach since leaving Yarragon.

We found a little cafe type bar for lunch. It was terrific, very child friendly. Ethan played pool for the first time in his life, we listened to the music and took in the hippy ambiance. We all had a terrific time.
We left Mission Bay and had a very quick stop in Ingham, toilet and a play in the park before arriving in Townsville.

The Walkabout Big 4 is having major road works happening right out in front of it and the GPS was having a difficult time getting us here. We drove past it several times before locating the entrance. I started setting up, Cate took the kids to the park and then we went into The Strand for dinner. It was a perfect night to be walking along the beach. Several life guards and parks officers were putting up signs telling of a recent crocodile sighting and closing the beaches. With the way they were working I'd suggest the sighting happened less than half an hour before we got there.

We found and ice cream place for desert then back to the camper.

Again it was very difficult to find the place with the road works happening but I'm sure I'll be right from now on.

It's interesting to note that Townsville is an considerably drier than Cairns, and even Mission Bay. Everything here is much browner and appears like it did when I was driving up through the centre of Queensland. It seems less humid and there are definitely less mozzies than there was in Etty Bay. I look forward to the next few days here.

12 July 2015

Cate said this evening that today was her Groundhog Day, again. It was a wonderful day. Throughout the night it was very windy, in fact I thought the awning would be flapping around, I woke more than several times due to the noise, but it wasn't. After a quick breakfast we headed to The Strand and spent all day there.

By the time we got there, around 9:00, the wind had died completely. We walked along The Strand and found the local swimming hole / pool with a playground where Ethan and Aisha ran around and had a really ball.

We played on the swings and paddled in the pool. Cate and I got a coffee / soy hot chocolate then wandered up to Kissing Point.

Before we went the Kissing Point we had lunch at a local cafe. We shared a fruit platter, french toast and a crasaunt. The bay in the back ground and wind non existent and the sun shining proved to be a perfect back drop.

We walked up the steps to Kissing Point and when we got there I spotted what I think is a crocodile. I did take a picture but it was so a long way away and when I zoomed in its difficult to see exactly what type of animal it is. I followed it for a while but it disappeared and reappeared and I only got 1 shot. I did tell the local life guards when we got down from Kissing Point. They were very interested in seeing the photo I'd taken. There had been a croc around the area for a while evidently and I was the first to take a photo of it.

Cate, Ethan and Aisha had started walking to the other end of The Strand while I spoke to the life guards. I eventually caught up with them and we had a very pleasant walk along the fore shore. We made it to an ice creamery and ate ice cream.

We had the most please walk along The Strand from one end to the other and finally arrived at a water park for the kids. Cate and I had a chat with the life guard, ironically from Leongatha, before hearing back to the car. We found and other park for the kids and I went and got the car.
We decided to go to the NQ aquarium and had a tour of the turtle hospital. It was great to see Ethan and Aisha intrigued with the turtles and we had a little time to have a look around. We mush have really rushed through the aquarium, we did it in about an hour.

Leaving the aquarium we went back to the camper for dinner and the normal routine.
It really was a wonderful day and besides the wind in the morning the weather was perfect.
Tonight the wind has sprung up again but the temperature is still so much better than it would be at home.

13 July 2015

Today we went to Magnetic Island. It was a perfect day and one of the best we have had since leaving Yarragon. Up early we left the camper around 8:30 for the ferry to the Island leaving the mainland at 9:30. It's a short 20 minute ferry ride to Magnetic, Ethan was a little nervous due to the ferry ride to Green Island but there were no problems with the trip. It was very windy again last night and still windy when the ferry left but it was relatively calm.

Arriving at Nelly Bay we hired a "Topless" car, it was pink and the kids were very excited to be travelling in it. Cafe wanted to go horse riding and there is a ranch near Horseshoe Bay so we headed there. Unfortunately no one was there and they weren't doing their afternoon ride so we went to the beach.

Arriving at Horseshoe Bay we went for lunch. A beautiful cafe on the beach for salad and nachos. Nachos are the kids (me included) new favourite meal. The food was terrific and the sun was awesome. We wandered to the beach and spent the next several hours playing in the sand the water and the kids were collecting "treasures". They found found some dead coral and other shells, even several hermit crabs in the shells to have a look at.

The day was truly perfect. The wind was non existent, the sun was hot, the water was warm, perfect.
We left Horseshoe Bay and went to Arcadia Beach which again was perfect. The beach was narrow but picture perfect. There were swings and a park for Ethan and Aisha to play in. Cate went and stood in the water for a while soaking in the ambiance. We pushed the kids on the swings for a while. Cate and Aisha had a moment today when Aisha wanted to push Cate on the swing. It was terrific to watch them interact and laugh while Aisha was pushing Cate, it was beautiful.

We then went to Picnic Bay and walked along the peer. Cate was nervous with the kids running along the peer, it was low tide and it water was a long way below the peer and one side had no hand rails.
Deciding to leave the island at 4:30 we went back to Nelly Bay and boarded the ferry for Townsville.
We ate dinner at the Seaview Hotel, calamari and chips and pizza for dinner. It was the first time I can remember taking the kids to a pub. A couple of guys were playing pool and the kids wanted to watch so Cate put them on a bar stool and they watched them play. They were clapping the good shots and I explained the rules to them. After that Aisha had a dance to the music that was playing. We left the pub and went to an ice creamery for dessert.

Back at the camper for a bath then bed. It was an amazing day and we had a terrific time.
Today school went back and it's the first time in my life I've been on holidays when school is in. I can definitely see a difference in the people who are on holidays. There were very few kids on Magnetic Island today, there were a few but no where near as many as the last couple of weeks. There are no kids in the caravan park tonight, every one here has no kids or are at retirement age.
There is a cold snap in Victoria at the moment but the weather here is amazing. Hot during the day and very mild at night. The perfect weather for sleeping.

Tomorrow we head to Airlie Beach, it's a shame to not spend more time here but I'm sure the next stop will be terrific.

A foot night tonight. As mentioned previously, most of the people I have have spoken to have been to Cape York (affectionately called "The Tip") well we made it to the tip today!