Two months in Townsville.

[drron]

Seeing I was a little early for dinner at my club I diverted a little north to see a bit of Townsville history.It has become much discussed lately.

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Yes QNI and Clive Palmer.He popped up everywhere in my 2 months here.

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On the way to the Cowboys a sign that took my fancy.

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You wouldn't think there were enough diabetic GPs in Townsville to have their own clinic.
Sunday night at the Cowboys is steak night for members-all steaks $19.90.I had the 300Gm ribeye.Comes with sauce-mushroom for me plus chips and salad bar.

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Obviously not the greatest steak I have had but great value.I ordered medium rare and as I expected it came out rare-just like argentina everyone says order 1 grade up from the one you want.

 

[drron]

So my time in Townsville has come to an end.actually sad to go.The winter weather here is perfect.There is a lot more to do here than I imagined.If you like bush walking and bird watching the place has an endless varirty of places to go.
Add to that finding a couple of really good restaurants-GYO and Wild Rice.Discovered the Cowboys club a bit late but it is a good place for cheap reasonable food-and for $6.60 for a years senior membership a bargain.That is for over 55s.The young ones have to pay $10 a year.
I can reccomend the Jacana apartments if you have a car.A restful spot with river walks at the door.
And to end a view from my balcony after 5pm on the last 2 days of my stay.

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I may come back to this TR as it looks like I may be back for another 2 months next year.

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks for some very interesting - and scenic - photos of Townsville. You need to spend a few weeks working in W.A. - Geraldton or Albany perhaps - to round off your reports.

 

[drron]

I have spent 3 weeks in Geraldton and 2 in kalgoorlie working-they featured as the preliminaries for other TRs.However WA locums just haven't matched my availability.And of course they only want to pay my airfares from Perth to the job.
However I have decided Aussie locations should get a little more promotion.You do learn a lot more when working in a place.
So if I do get back to WA I certainly will feature it.Hoping for Bunbury.

 

[JohnM]

Busselton, Margaret River or Albany would be better than Bunbury (but may not have the level of hospital that fits with what you do).

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks Ron,

Its the places that you least crave for that can surprise you the most !!

 

[drron]

Busselton, Margaret River or Albany would be better than Bunbury (but may not have the level of hospital that fits with what you do).

Yes it is just that Bunbury often comes up with a position.Haven't seen the others advertised so you go for what you can get.

 

[JohnM]

Bunbury is not so far from the better spots anyway.

 

[drron]

I am back in Townsville for another 5 weeks.The weather is not as perfect as it was last year with a little rain the first week and in the third week the temperatures in the morning fell to single digits.But now to the first sunday.saturday was a littlewet so my major exercise was the Sunday.Decided to walk down the Ross river to the Bowen road bridge and back with a couple of little side tracks.by the map this was 22 Km.The longest walk I have attempted for a while but basically flat.Starts out with my view from the apartment.
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I hadn't gone far when I came across a normally shy local-a freshie.
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The tortoises weren't worried by it's presence.
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there was some evidence of the floods earlier this year.
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[drron]

There are quite a few information boards along the walk.
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more evidence of the flood.
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Another local.
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[drron]

You pass some sculptures and trees obviously loved by little boys.
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A lovely building plus views to the flanking hills.
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Peaceful doves.
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And majestic trees.
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[drron]

You skirt the Palmetum and Botanic Gardens.
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Another local.
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At times you are on a suburban street.This garden has a great use of colour.
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A pied cormorant.
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Another weir and a very large home.
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[drron]

Downstream from the weir quite a few fishing.
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Then the river widens into a flood plain.
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But this is great for the paradise bee catcher.There were hundreds of them.
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[drron]

Getting to the tidal part of the Ross River.
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This is what Townsville council uses as it's carbon offset for all it's emissions.
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Reach the half way point at the Bowen street bridge.A lot of work going on here-I presume going to be a duplicate bridge.
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[drron]

Heading for home.
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Some old mango trees in that last shot.

 

[drron]

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Somebody knew my plans.
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[drron]

Have a feeling there is something missing here.
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Some more locals.
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Basically back to the start.At Riverway Park there was a phillipines festival.So a late lunch of pork adobo.
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[drron]

Time to get back to this report.A couple of busy weeks at work as well as a little emotionally draining.I have put up a separate thread for the restaurants that I have been to here.some are pretty good.

Townsville restaurants

Just thought I should collate the restaurants we have tried here in Townsville.First though what may be descibed as "street food".In fact the first two describe themselves that way. First the Souvlaki bar on Gregory street.Here I had the plated lamb souvlaki.$30 but a large serving.Quite...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

So on the last Saturday mrsdrron was in Townsville we had an easy day.She had had a very stressful week before coming up and really needed to have a day or two just chilling.Up fairly late and got some fish and chips and ate them on the Strand.A really great place in winter.just a taste.
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We then drove up to Pallendra at the end of Rowes Bay.I did a bit of that earlier in this thread.But the views from there are magnificent as well.especially back towards Castle Hill.
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[drron]

On Sunday I had to deliver mrsdrron to TSV about 1130.So this meant I could get to the Jezzine Barracks Museum.On Sundays it is only open 0900 to 1300.During the week I am working and on previous Sundays of I would make it a day trip for a walk.An hour was not long enough.It is free entry though.So some pics.
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[drron]

An interesting display of WW2 in Townsville.
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And the history of the barracks
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And some general pics.
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