Two months in Townsville.

[drron]

When racing restarted the holdens were well ahead in under a lap.

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This time the 2 Red Bull cars remained close but Whincup just didn't have that little extra to get in front.

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And that was the last lap.
No more cars.Mrsdrron joins me on friday and we will have a weekend on Magnetic island.
The next week should see a few restaurant reviews.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

When racing restarted the holdens were well ahead in under a lap.

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This time the 2 Red Bull cars remained close but Whincup just didn't have that little extra to get in front.

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And that was the last lap.
No more cars.Mrsdrron joins me on friday and we will have a weekend on Magnetic island.
The next week should see a few restaurant reviews.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Yes i ařrive in TSV this afternoon

 

[drron]

So on Friday 13th mrsdrron arrived in Townsville.That night we went to Wild rice.A Thai/Lao restaurant.Nicely decorated.

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We began with coconut prawns and Luang Prabang sausage.

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For mains Marinated pork with a garlic sauce and chicken and cashews.

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The food was nice.After I had a chat with the owner-a woman from Luang Prabang with a familiar story.Her parents sold their paddies and oxen so she and her daughters could get to Australia-not by boat.She is trying to build a business to give to her daughters and then she will go back to Laos to fund a high school.
so pay a visit if in Townsville.

 

[drron]

Saturday and it is off to Magnetic Island or as I now know it-Magnetical Island.more of that later.
Off to the Sealink terminal.

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Typical Australia.A lot of people arriving at the terminal and boarding after the scheduled departure time.Sail past a place we stayed at more than 30 years ago.But it had a big red S on it then.

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Some fishermen returning,others leaving.

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Looking back at Townsville.

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Then out to sea.

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20 minutes later we arrive at Nelly Bay.We had hired a car from MI rentals and they picked us up from the ferry terminal and took us to our car.Good service from them-though nothing is really cheap on the island.

 

[drron]

After getting our car we headed to Horseshoe bay.It was school holidays so it was busy.The western end of the road alongside the beach is residential so a couple of parking spaces.Nice views.

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The eastern end where the shops and restaurants are was ultra busy and no available parking.So we drove around some of the other streets.We found by accident a road behind the shops with a bridge across the creek and easy parking.Found by turning into Heath street just past the koala park and driving to the end.

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We went to the Marlin hotel for lunch.interesting notices on the wall.

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[drron]

A reasonable place to eat.My only complaint is that virtually all businesses on Magnetical island have CC surcharges or are cash only.
Naturally lunch was washed down by a bottle of SB.I had the barramundi and mrsdrron the seafood platter for 1.Good value with oysters,prawns and a balmain bug for $22.

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Mrsdrron's meal came out well before mine and a pre lunch photo was missed.
Then went and sat on the beach for a while before going back to the car.

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Drove to Arcadia bay and sat on the beach there as well.

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Good views of Townsville.

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[drron]

So our car.A Cherry.Had a logo on the front that looked like CAP.It was missing the R.

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We tried to check in at Peppers but it was a little early and the lady who never makes a mistake had booked the next weekend.So we decided to drive to West Point via Picnic Bay until it was sorted.First Picnic bay.

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[drron]

Most rental cars can't be driven to West Point.It is an unsealed road but by no means terrible.Our Cherry though was able to go there.Basically not much to be seen along the drive until you get to West Point.However we did have a Wedgetail eagle fly straight across in front of the car.Several other birds of prey seen close up but only fleeting views.
Not much there but you can see a lot of the coast to the north.North of Ingham you could see probable cane fires and visibility poor.

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The actual point then more views of Townsville.

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Not really a bird of prey,more just prey.

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And a yacht in the wrong place.

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[drron]

On the way back to Picnic bay you pass a picturesque stream.

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The pier that served as the ferry terminal until the turn of the century.

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And how did this lifeboat come to rest on the beach here.

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Well it came from the Dredge Sir Thomas Hiley.I presume it worked on the new Nelly Bay ferry terminal.I found a picture of the lifeboat in it's working days.

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[drron]

Back to Peppers and we had a room with nothing further to pay despite this being the last weekend of the school holidays.Across from the lobby and next to the bar and restaurant.despite this a very quiet room.

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Across the canal a typical QLD canal developement.This one not that successful as it started in 2004.

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[jastel]

Could you hear the concerts properly from your unit?

This years race was a bit of a snoozer...and the Sunday weather is the more normal weather for this time of year.

A new thing to see is the Jezzine barracks complex.

 

[tgh]

Always wanted to go to Mag_i , we once re homed a Golden Retriever who had grown up there.
More please….

 

[drron]

Still a little more on MI tgh.Plus I probably will go back myself for a day to walk the eastern side of the island from Horseshoe Bay back to the ferry.

After checking in we had a short walk around the area.

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Then had our complimentary drink on the deck watching the terminal activity.

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[drron]

That night we ate at Peppers.I started with scallops and pork belly which was good.

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For mains mrsdrron had the pork chop and I a steak.Food was good but not spectacular and price a little on the high side.

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On checkout we walked past one of the 2 pools here-

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We went back to Horseshoe Bay first as we were told the market was a good one.Ho hum.But here is the reason i now know MI as magnetical Island.

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We had a cappucino at Noodies cafe.It looks like a place JohnM would like.Mexican and South American cuisine with a few bottles of Mendoza malbec on display.

 

[drron]

On our way back from Horseshoe bay we went out on the peninsula just before you get to Alma bay.beautiful views.

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[drron]

Our next stop was the old car ferry terminal.A narrow road leads to it.But again wonderful views.

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Here there are lots of rocks.in the afternoon rock wallabies appear here.

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[drron]

I then walked out along the rocks.

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When I got back mrsdrron had something for me to see.

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That next.

 

[drron]

Right at the shore there were a lot of fish.

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There were several different species,lots of colours and a rather large cod who didn't want to be photographed.
We then backtracked a little to Alma bay.A nice little spot with lots of activity-lessons for surfboards and scuba going on.

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[drron]

Back to Arcadia and Geoffrey Bay.A view of Amaroo cottages.

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Then this fellow appeared,showed no fear and walked up to us and hopped on the rock we were sitting on.

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And constantly darting overhead a pair of rainbow bee-eaters.Sadsly the light doesn't do the colours justice.

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