I never cease to be amazed with technology today; that we should be able to chat with my parents or our kids via internet at no cost but our internet usage charges, send copies of documents, read them and comment back with an exchange of the same, all within seconds. And yet I also know that when I reread this blurb in the years to come, I will chuckle at my naivety or rather my appreciation of what will then seem so primitive. For now, I am ever appreciative.
We have had a wonderful day, spent mainly walking in the bright sunshine about this wonderful city. The morning began colder than we have had lately, 11 degrees. One of our fellow campers joyfully told me that last night was the coldest all parts of Australia had experienced all year. Obviously that fact had been imparted on some radio report, just to cheer everyone up. The sun soon warmed up and we sat out under the awning drinking coffee in the sunshine even before breakfast.
After bidding farewell to the Perth brigade, who were still packing their camp “city” (they do carry an amazing collection of things, all of which we are envious but most of which we would rather sacrifice for space and less weight), we headed off into Townsville.
Our first port of call was a post office in an outlying suburb which a very helpful woman in the Information Centre yesterday had suggested. She herself is currently battling with the postal service on behalf of friend’s redirection of mail, and was most sympathetic to our dilemma. The call to this satellite office was unfruitful, but did take us to another part of the city which we may not have otherwise visited.
From there we drove to the foreshore. The Strand is a manmade parkway comprising a sea water rock pool, strained of stingers and other undesirable marine life, a promenade of about two kilometres, children’s playgrounds, both regular and a water park very like that we saw at Mackay, barbeques, toilets, changing rooms, an icecream “factory” where one can choose the combinations and makeup of one’s favourite dairy indulgence. A camera crew was putting together some kind of film at the children’s water park, the children were being directed to “move around” then to wait, and then do it all over. We were not prepared to wait around too long, and I am sure the kids were cold and over it all by the time the final take was done.
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| Towsville marina area |
I was amused (and interested) to see a notice along the walkway that advised that Townsville was the Capital of Skin Cancer in the world. The half dozen semi-nude bods on the sand below the ever vigilant life guard were more intent on tanning than heeding such advice.
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| Dead shopping trollies |
We walked the length of The Strand, there and back, then sat on a bench eating our lunch, clad in our pullovers and hats. While it was lovely and warm in the sunshine when out of the wind, we found it unpleasant to be less than well wrapped up.
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| Fathers of Townsville |
After lunch we walked into the CBD, along East Flinders Street and Flinders Street, part of which we had walked yesterday. We called at the central post office again with no success, and then continued on our way across the Ross River and along Palmers Street on the south side of the river which is lined with hotels and restaurants, all the time impressed with the buildings, ambience, with everything our eyes fell upon.
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| Dying dinghy |
Back in the cruiser, we hunted out the Castletown Shopping Centre, purchased bread and a couple of other bits and pieces, then returned to camp. There we took advantage of the continuing beautiful day and walked about the camp and rodeo facilities. We were intercepted by a lovely fellow camper whom we initially took to be the proprietor, the husband of Joan (who is not the “caretaker” after all), but instead he was a well seasoned traveller and resident of the general area who proved to be a mine of information and the best PR that this camp or in fact Townsville could have. We have booked a further two nights, although checking the long term weather forecast for the area on Google tonight, we may think twice about some of our planned trips, especially those that may include boats.
We have had a wonderful day, spent mainly walking in the bright sunshine about this wonderful city. The morning began colder than we have had lately, 11 degrees. One of our fellow campers joyfully told me that last night was the coldest all parts of 
After bidding farewell to the 
Our first port of call was a post office in an outlying suburb which a very helpful woman in the Information Centre yesterday had suggested. She herself is currently battling with the postal service on behalf of friend’s redirection of mail, and was most sympathetic to our dilemma. The call to this satellite office was unfruitful, but did take us to another part of the city which we may not have otherwise visited.
From there we drove to the foreshore. The Strand is a manmade parkway comprising a sea water rock pool, strained of stingers and other undesirable marine life, a promenade of about two kilometres, children’s playgrounds, both regular and a water park very like that we saw at Mackay, barbeques, toilets, changing rooms, an icecream “factory” where one can choose the combinations and makeup of one’s favourite dairy indulgence. A camera crew was putting together some kind of film at the children’s water park, the children were being directed to “move around” then to wait, and then do it all over. We were not prepared to wait around too long, and I am sure the kids were cold and over it all by the time the final take was done.
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