Two months in Townsville.

[drron]

We now headed to Picnic bay for lunch.There is a lookout over Picnic bay.I thought I could get there from the road.Whilst I attempted that mrsdrron stayed with the car overlooking Rocky bay.

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She was expecting to see me on the lookout.

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I meanwhile headed up the road to where I had noticed a track head off into the bush.

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[drron]

As I struck out from the road I soon realised this wasn't the main track to the lookout.It got rough pretty quickly but still good views.

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I managed to scramble to the top of that rock.Got a view of the lookout but it would have been a scramble downhill then up again so I just appreciated the views from there.A raptor did slow down over me.

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[JohnM]

Friends of mine own some properties on MI. Bringing back memories of a pleasant long weekend there in one of them a few years ago.

 

[OATEK]

Some lovely shots there drron.

 

[drron]

Pleasant views from our lunch venue at the Picnic bay hotel.

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We started lunch with oysters kilpatrick.

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They were a little overdone so we were a little worried.However our seafood mains were really good.garlic prawns for mrsdrron and salt and pepper squid for me.

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And washed down with a sav blanc.

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[drron]

Mrsdrron caught this old geezer looking stupid-

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He thought there was a hint of Japan in the old jetty.

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[drron]

After lunch we drove back to Nelly bay and walked out on the breakwater opposite Peppers.

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On the other side of the ferry terminal to Peppers is the Grand Mercure.

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The other side of Nelly bay.

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On the breakwater is the helipad and a part of an old wreck.

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[drron]

So then it was dropping the car back and catching the ferry back to Townsville.
Can recommend MI car rentals.Very friendly.
Peppers-not a bad place to stay as right next to the ferry terminal.Buses to Picnic bay and Horseshoe bay leave from in front of the ferry terminal and you can get a day ticket on them.So really access to most of Magnetical island except for West point.
The pubs are quite OK for meals.But dont like that they have a surcharge for all CCs.
A lovely spot and I will try and get back for a day to walk from Horseshoe bay back to the ferry terminal.

 

[drron]

Monday night and time for a meat fix so it was Ribs and Rumps.A rib platter for mrsdrron and the mixed grill for me.

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The leftovers made dinner for Tuesday.
On the way back to our unit mrsdrron took a few shots of the sky.

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Then on the Strand decorated containers.

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[drron]

Wednesday night and a real find.We went to G Y O-a Japanese tapas restaurant.We started with sashimi salmon and grilled scallops.

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Really good.The salmon was of excellent quality.We then chose a japanese winter special-sukiyaki.

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Done differently to most but very good.It made me remember one of our surrogate granddaughters saying "why do they call it sukiyucky.it should be sukiyummy."
Washed down as always by a sav blanc.

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Strongly recommended but very wise to book.We booked the 2 nightswe went and our second visit was on saturday.Unlikely then to get in if no booking.

 

[drron]

The next night we went across the road to the Lotus Saigon for Vietnamese food.started with freshh spring rolls-forgot to take a pic.Then Lemongrass beef on noodles and a Vietnamese pancake with pork and prawns

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Not good and not recommended.

 

[drron]

Now I left my camera on the table at the vietnamese restaurant.fortunately the good people of Townsville are honest so the next night I called back to pick it up.We then had a bit of a walk along the Strand before we went for dinner on friday.Lovely views.

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Love the swimming pool building.

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[drron]

Dinner on Friday night was at the Pier Restaurant.Tries to be an upmarket restaurant.It is over the water at the marina and does advertise itself as a seafood restaurant but the seafood choices are limited.Naturally a bottle of Sav blanc.Mrsdrron had the coconut prawns with mango sauce and I the cauliflower and cheese croquettes.

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My dish was disappointing.Not much cauliflower.
For mains we both had the barramundi with prawns.

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Not bad but pretty plain and we didn't think this was good value for the price you paid.
Not recommended.

 

[drron]

Back to the unit and a short stop at the old railway station.Across the road a fine old hotel.

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The 20th century railway station is a magnificent old building.Leaves the 21st century new station way behind.

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[drron]

Saturday and the obligatory visit to Castle Hill.Some great views including the airport.

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[drron]

We continue around Castle Hill.The grey unit block is where I am quartered.

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A lot of raptors.

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And the Super car track.

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So that is the port and casino.

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[drron]

The marina near the casino.

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And the wartime observation post.

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On the top is a Frenchman who wasn't going to move.

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Now on the way down.

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[drron]

We then drove to the northern suburbs of Townsville.We ended up at Bushland beach at low tide.

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We visited the local convenience store which gets good reviews for it's fish and chips.Certainly large pieces of fish but moist and tasty.Comes crumbed unless you ask for something else.ours came with half a scoop of chips!

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So if you want reasonable fish and chips by the beach this place will do.
We then drove to South townsville to see the new $1.3 billion stadium for the Cowboys We did get a different view of Castle hill.

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Then back to the unit and a cappucino at Max Brenners.

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[drron]

Mrsdrron's last night here so back to GYO Japanese restaurant.Now it is common knowledge that wines with a pretty label tast better.

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We started with fried oysters and salmon sashimi which I nearly completely forgot to photograph.Both excellent.

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The soft shell crab and eggplant with miso paste.

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Finally ginger pork.

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Definitely our favourite restaurant of the week.

 

[drron]

Sunday and a change of apartments to the Jacana units on the Ross river.A bit smaller and wifi reception a bit patchy.

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But a much nicer view.

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It was then time to take mrsdrron to the airport.I then went to the Strand and had fish and chips at Rock,Paper,Scissors.Pretty good too.Took them over to Anzac park.Peaceful.

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