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Typically the weather was fine as we packed to leave Cairns and we got a bit of a sweat on.On the journey down to Townsville we stopped at mission beach, yet another picture perfect tropical sanctuary, with a few people parachuting on to the beach.We had another stop at Paronella Park, a very obscure ruin of a building built in the 1930's of mainly concrete.It was a hideously ugly building but its state of ruin dig beg for a little sympathy and make it quite photogenic.
We got to Townsville and found a nice campsite next to the beach with islands out to sea and some suspicious looking clouds overhead.It was again a beautiful place and I was looking forward to exploring it.As if on cue we got out of the car to set up and the heavens opened.We settled for the night as we had big plans for the day ahead.
Morning came bright and sunny and we were eager to make the most of it.We planned to take a trip to Magnetic Island or 'Maggie' as the locals affectionately know it.It is called so due to old Capt Cook and his troubles again.When sailing passed the island his compass went a bit t*** up (a technical nautical term, so I'm informed, used for the description of defective instruments) but once passed started working again.He put this down to the island having some sort of magnetic field causing his instrument malfunction.It all turned out ok in the end and they made it home.Can you imagine they didn't, Australia would most likely have become a French colony… Non-Wourrie'es Mayeete…Doesn't bear thinking about.
We got to the ferry terminal and bought our tickets and arranged to hire a car when we got to the island.The ferry ride was both quick and uneventful and the views were good but a slight haze made them somewhat limited.We left the ferry terminal, crossed a car park and saw our car; it was a Mk 1 moke in a fetching green and primer.It was love at first sight.I've had my fair share of s*** box cars over the years and it felt as if it could easily have become a successor.With a map in hand we set off on a discovery voyage of Maggie.
We drove around, crunching our way through the gears, feeling like we were hitting speeds of about warp 3, a little disappointed to look down at the speedo reading about 35-40 kmph, the engine screaming with the sweet grinding caress of metal on metal. I loved this car.We hit the northern most accessible beach called Horseshoe Bay, named for obvious reasons.It was Idyllic with an eclectic collection of small pubs, cafes and shops along the esplanade of a very nice beach (no swimming, still in death water).We stopped and had an early lunch taking in the views.
We drove around Maggie Island stopping at its many lookouts and beaches along the way.I found a small shipwreck at a picnic bay.It was an old wooded structure sticking out of the water framed by the fallen rock of the headlands and it looked quite magnificent.Time had overtaken us yet again and before we knew it, it was time to regretfully return our newfound mode of transport and depart for the mainland.On our return journey, looking at Townsville, it occurred to me that the rock formation in the middle of the town called Castle Rock looked remarkably like Tracy Island from Thunderbirds.Giggling to Gem hoping that thunderbird 2 had some errands to run and we'd maybe catch a glimpse.No such luck.
That evening we met up with a friend, the illustrious Mr. Spraggs, who'd moved to Townsville around Xmas time and seemed happy with the decision to do so.He marveled at the Ponda Rosa for all of 3 seconds, we chatted and made our way down the Strand, a collection of bars and restaurants along the sea front.We had a beer but Mark had to go.We said our goodbyes and we went back to the van via the chip shop. We'd promised ourselves a fairly lazy day the next day. We both felt tired but not the kind of tired sleep could remedy.I think the fatigue encountered as part of the nomadic lifestyle was setting in, but it was worth it and we were both in good spirits.
It was evident that we were on the final leg of the journey, south all the way back to Sydney…hoping the next leap would be the leap home…(sorry got a bit carried away with 90's TV shows again).I noticed a map in a bookshop and was astonished by the distance we'd traveled, it didn't seem possible. But we'd done it.
We climbed 'Tracy Island' more commonly knows as Castle Rock (for reasons of national security I'm sure) and enjoyed the views it offered (When I say we climbed what I mean is we drove nearly to the top and then walked 50 steps to the summit).The city was spread out all around us with Maggie and neighboring islands out to sea.It was a nice but surreal setting, like someone had pointed to a place on the map in the middle of nowhere and said, " Yes, there, that's where we'll build a city".I'm sure it does have history and a reasoned existence but, I'm sorry to say, all of which I'm quite ignorant to.
The afternoon was spent looking around the shops, Gem would be delighted to tell anyone who will listen about her bargain shoes I'm sure-"They couldn't be left there at that price".
It seemed obvious that the recent majority of money was spent developing the water frontage and esplanade of the city, the town center itself somewhat lacking in any style. The outdoor McDonalds however reasonably impressed me. Post shopping we laid beneath a palm tree at the oceans edge and watched the world go by…now I'm living!
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