From Airlie Beach to Townsville, the big smoke.

Any body after a cheap sailing boat?  There were several boats that were damaged at Airlie Beach, from the cyclone Ului.

 

 

Yesterday, we headed out to the reef.  Now, I promised no pictures of anybody in stinger suits, so I’m holding up to the promise, so this is the only pictures you’ll see.  I do have previous pictures on the slideshow, but they ARE early pictures, so you’ll have to dig through them.

 

This morning we headed to Townsville.

Here’s Bowen, affectionately known as “Bowenwood” after the movie “Australia” was made on site.  It was also Ron’s birthday and by pure chance, he received a phone call from his son in America.

It was by pure chance that when I headed back to the car, the phone rang and it was their son, Mark, wanting to wish his dad Happy Birthday.  It was great to hear his voice.

This is the lighthouse at Bowen.  There was a beautiful scent coming from some native trees.  I then found out that it’s the Caster Bean tree which can irritate the eyes. (HUH??..oops)  well it SMELLED nice.

View from a lookout.  We had 360 degree views and this is one part of it.

 

 

 

The ”kids” having a cuddle.

 

 

 

 

As we came down the mountain and turned back on to the highway, we saw this, a Toyota Landcruiser  coming up the train tracks heading to Home Hill.  Once he found out we were taking his photo, we got a honk.

 

And THIS sight brought excitement from me.  This is the Burdekin River.  I have never seen water in this river.  And with all the rain we’ve had it was full and flowing.  There was still room for more, but it was a spectacular sight watching this.

Well, we made it in to Townsville this afternoon.  We stopped to have some Crumbed Coral Trout and chips.  It was very nice and all agreed it was much better than the last lot we had.

We finished the day out on Castle Hill to “ooh” and “aah” over the city lights.  And because everybody was up so early, we’re all in bed early.  So with that,..I say Adieu…or Goodnite.