Two months in Townsville.

[drron]

This is my first week of 9 that I am working in Townsville.I was unsure whether I put my experiences in this forum or destination guides.However that seems to be more questions so a thread similiar to my ramblings in Tasmania.
First will be getting there.We decided to spend the night in Brisbane the night before my flight to TSV.Naturally it was going to be an SPG hotel not least because this stay puts me over the line to Life Time Plat with SPG.This was the first time we had a room on the river side.smaller than previous rooms but a higher floor.With river views!

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Well sort of a river view.Basically a view of large blocks of units.

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When we do this we go to dinner.Usually something close to the hotel.That night it was Spanish with Moda.Once again Google maps was quite misleading but we eventually found it.Now it was a Saturday night but the place was no where near full.mrsdrron started with scallops and I with mussels.

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For mains mrsdrron had the duck breast and I the paella.

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We finished off with a mandarin creme brulee and a cherry crumble cake.

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The food was OK but not good enough for us to want to go back.

 

[Stevo.1702]

Welcome!!! It's the best time of year to come visit. Don't judge too quickly - some of us are friendly.

 

[drron]

Don't worry Stevo I have worked in Townsville twice before but not for a few years.I agree a great time of year.I note from the forecast that the minimum here tomorrow is higher than Canberra's predicted maximum.
So back to last Sunday.A late start with breakfast at the hotel.I was dropped at BNE.Checked in,dropped my bag and into the QP until time to go to the gate for QF974.A big difference in crowd behaviour compared to MEL where if you arrive at the gate 5 minutes before boarding there are 2 long lines with the PB line longer.
Here in BNE no one lined up.Wheelchairs on.Several unaccompanied kids-first weekend of school holidays.Yet still no one lines up.Boarding called and a bun rush to the PB line so I stroll behind 2 others in the Y line.First old couple in PB line have a problem so all in the PB line have to wait.Once on board in my selected 7C all I have to worry about are the backpacks.I could have selected 4B or E but I decided to let the WPs have their shadows.Unfortunately for them those seats were taken by a couple of 90 year olds.

Uneventful flight and only a few minutes late into TSV.Fortunately I went and picked up my rental car keys as baggage was slow.The carousel stopped with about 12 of us still without bags.After about 3 minutes it restarted.My bag was out 3rd last-and for the first time I qualified for priority baggage on my own status for a while.

Then off to my accommodation-Q Paddington.Here my luck continued.The lift was out of service and I was on the 6th floor.So after taking my bags up and unpacking I decided I wasn't going out again to get groceries so wandered to the new set up next door.I went to Guzman y Gomez.

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Don't think I will be back soon.
So to my unit.

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The views.

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Now those views don't look much but they will be important this weekend.That to come.

 

[drron]

On Wednesday I woke early in time to see what i could of sunrise.

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At night what I thought was a pretty featureless view across the river turned out to be a view over a part of the course for the Super Cars this weekend.So no need to spend a fair bit of money to fight the crowds when i can sit on the balcony with a refreshing beverage and watch some of the action.

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[drron]

Got back to the unit after official practice for the main race had finished but then some of the Super2 cars came out.Just before that a couple of helicopters left.

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Another beautiful day up here.Now for the cars.

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And some of the Toyota 86 series cars.

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[juddles]

Drron, when I read the title I had a sense of dismay - that you were sentenced for some horrible crime. I lived in Cairns so you should understand this reaction of a Townsville stay

 

[Straubs]

Hey, it ain't so bad so up here! Though currently we do deserve our Brownsville moniker. But if Drron is locuming, he'll probably gain more than a few business class flights out of this stint, so likely well worth it. And as the well worn joke goes: I remember well the winter of 2018 in Townsville ... this year it was on a Tuesday!

 

[parsonstrish]

Hi Dr Ron, wondering if you will be doing outreach cardiology clinic? Guessing you will be locum in cardiac department.

 

[drron]

As a locum I am a General Physician so no cardiology outreach for me.
Juddles I actually like the place.Always good junior staff and students.Keep me on my toes.
Straubs I am a bit worried by Monday.A minimum of 10.how will I cope?

So to today.The first serious race day for the supercars.A bit overcast but temperature in the mid 20s.
First up were the seniors.Quite a few watching.

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QLD Rail gave their passengers a good look.

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Then an Assie special-the utes.

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[drron]

Third race was the Toyota 86 series.

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Lots of helicopter flights throughout the day.

 

[drron]

The Toyota 86 race was mostly a procession but a couple of close tussles late in the race.

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If there was a gap between races likely lads performed a few obvious stunts.

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Then the Super 2 race.

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Some more food options.

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Not every one finished.

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next the feature race for Saturday-the super cars over 70 laps.

 

[drron]

One thing that was very noticeable-the noise.A long time since I have been anywhere near to a super car race.much noisier than I remember.And the regular backfiring from all the cars.Missed 2 calls from mrsdrron when I was out on the balcony with my refreshing beverage.
The Red Bull holdens led from the start.They were in a class of their own.

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Within a couple of laps Jamie Whincup was alone at the front.The only time anyone got close was when the safety car came out.

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At least they could chase the third Red Bull car.

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[Stevo.1702]

I live in an apartment next to Woolies in town - and the noise was certainly noticeable for me.

Definitely don't have the views that you do though.

 

[drron]

A good view of most of the back of the course.I decided to try and get shots of cars at top speed down the back straight.Got some great looking shots but when downloaded they had a wire fence between my camera and the car.So only pics at that one corner are without the fence.

Late in the race there was a safety car.Made no difference to the holdens.First time round at full speed they had already opened up a lead.

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As the race finished the ibis did a fly by.

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Sunday and the clouds were gone.I woke up as the first race began.The Spirit of queenslander train arrived when there was a lull in activity.

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Looks like it is more punctual than it was in the 60s.

 

[Major]

I used to fly to TVL regularly for business but haven't been there for many years. It will be interesting to see the changes.

 

[drron]

Now I will get to more detail of Townsville itself but first more of Sunday's racing.first the classic cars.

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The helicopters were out in force-

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Then the Utes.

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The fellow on the wall was able to get going.

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[drron]

Sunday started with Toyota,masters and ute races.Then official practice for the Super 2 class and main race.Then the Toyotas,masters and utes came back for a second race of the day.So here they all are again starting with the Toyotas.

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The classics come back-

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And back to the utes.The previous races had basically been a procession but the Safety Ute came out early so the field bunched and there were some closer tussles.

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[drron]

So a break from the cars.Sunday was very busy in the sky as well.nearly a continuous line of helicopters landing and taking off from the middle of the park.

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[drron]

The 3 top cars for the shoot out for pole in the main race.and surprise-the Channel 10 coverage wasn't live.

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And the final race for the super 2 cars.Some close racing throughout.

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The crowd wasn't markedly different from the Saturday crowd but what a lovely day for the middle of winter.

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[drron]

So to the final and main race.From the start the Red Bull holdens continued there domination though they swapped positions.

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I had to put in a picture of the Penrite car-the first car in the next picture-as part of the team was staying next door to me.A great group of people.

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Towards the end of the race a safety car came out.

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