Final Chapter for Sailing Season 2014

Townsville 19th September

Today is the day we begin the trip home for the summer. Firstly we will spend four days in Sydney visiting Greg, Leisha and Jessica and checking out the new boat. A day or two on Sydney Harbour will bring back fond memories.

Since arriving in Townsville Peter and I have checked out the three marinas available for putting Rene to bed for the summer break. She is now berthed in to her pen in Nelly Bay Marina on Magnetic Island. She looks very secure there, tucked in behind the multi storey apartments and the background range of steep hills, hopefully out of the direct impact of any cyclones that may head this way over summer We have carefully and thoroughly cleaned her throughout and done our best to banish those nasty little mould spores for a few months at least. Peter is flying back to Townsville for most of December so he can help his family celebrate his father's 90th birthday, have Christmas with his family and of course check on his 'other woman' - Rene!

Townsville is a lovely place to visit, especially during the dry season. Being on a dry part of the coast the surrounding landscape is very parched and barren, so the numerous parks and gardens in the city seem to have a much greater impact than in other places. We have visited the Ross River on several occasions and admired the walking paths and parkland along both banks. Wildlife abounds - tortoise by the hundreds, pelicans, lilypad walkers, parrots and many others. Several reservoirs have been constructed along the river making huge billabongs throughout that part of the city.

Ross River

 

Interesting gardens there boys and girls

 

 



Since we were last here the council has completed the large parkland area at Kissing Point. This is an historical precinct with three groups of people represented. The Aboriginal history of the area is shown on the Ethno-Botanical walk, the military history at the Fort, Jezzine Barracks and the Military Museum and finally the early settlers are also represented. The coastal boardwalk affords beautiful views across Cleveland Bay. Connected to the Strand on the northern end completes a wonderful, landscaped, parkland area in the centre of Townsville city that is popular for recreation and tourists. It is a gorgeous spot and well worth a visit by any tourists to this part of North Queensland.

Andrew & Peter - The Strand in the background

 

We have had some memorable times in 2014. Looking back I remember the first day of sailing out of Lake Macquarie, when the day was superb as we sailed to Port Stephens.   During the night a huge swell developed and we found ourselves anchored, with many others, just a little too close to the breaking waves in Shoal Bay. New South Wales taught us the importance of getting it right when crossing bars at the entrances to the huge river and lake systems on that part of the coast. We began to meet many more people than last year, and their pets, so socialising became part of the deal - especially sundowners.  Queensland has the islands and reef. We have visited many islands, but still have many more to explore. Here we learnt about wind bullets, tides, currents and working with and not against them. I am looking forward to next year when we will continue further north and who knows where from there.

For the dog lovers - an interesting sculpture at Riverside!!

 

 

 

Andrew - Nearly ninety years young

 

 

 

C U again in 2015