townsville

Fri 05.10 - Woke at 6am as we were arriving in Mount Isa. A mining town in the middle of nowhere. Karen, fair play to you, for working there. I'm sure you enjoyed every minute of it! We stopped at various towns for breaks. I didn't really pay attention to what their names were. Finally arrived in Townville at 6.30pm after 20.5 hours on the bus. But we had arrived on the east coast, and there would be now more long journeys like that one.

We made our way to Globetrotters Hostel, only 50m from the Bus Depot (or Transit Centre as they call it here). Elderly husband and Wife run it and they are mad.

It was Claire's Birthday, so we went for a meal to the Shamrock bar, and then on to Molly Malones for a drink. As you can see theres no shortage of Irish Bars in this town. Claire starts work in the hospital Monday week.

Sat 06.10 - Paid another night in the hostel and went to put on a wash. Met Kirsty in the corridor. She was the girl that Claire was replacing in Bunbury and we had went to her leaving do!

Later we went for a walk along the Strand on the seafront. Definitely nicer than the Strand in Derry! Loads of people powerwalking, jogging and rollerblading. went back to hostel, dinner, watched Apollo 13 and went to bed.

Sun 07.10 - Checked out and caught bus to Mission Beach at 12.45pm.

Sun 07.10 - Sat 13.10 - Go to Mission Beach / Cairns Page

Sat 13.10 - Arrived back in Townsville at 5.10pm. Went back to Globetrotters. Beans and Toast for dinner, watched a documentary on the History of Islam, taught Claire chess. We shared a dorm with an American couple who dont speak!

Sun 14.10 - Packed bags, went to Mass and then went and collected keys for the flat that Claire got as part of her job. Went back to hostel picked up bags and got taxi to flat. Great 2 bedroom flat with washing machine,dryer and TV. Claire saw a large spider and a gecko in the toilet so shes not to pleased with that.

Mon 15.10 - Anthrax scare in Townsville. Thats a bit of a worry.

Wed 17.10 - Shane, Pauraic, Eamon and Bob arrived from Tully were they had been whitewater rafting. Watched their recordings on the camcorder they had. Cool. Claire and I annoyed we didnt get one. Shane shaved his head COMPLETELY bald. Looks good.

Thurs 18.10 - The lads hit the road for Mount Isa at 8.20am

Fri 19.10 - Claire and I went to party in old hospital, a farewell sort of thing. Not very exciting. Walked to Mallo Malone for another couple of drinks and went home. I stayed up to watche the second Ireland Australia compromised rules game. Ireland whipped their ass.

Mon 22.10 - Got call from Kirsty to say that she was back in Townsville. She'd booked into a hostel and that we'd meet up tomorrow.

Tues 23.10 - Met Kirsty at 10 and bought her bags back to flat. We went shopping for Xmas Pressies but weren't successful.

Wed 24.10 - We went to all the shopping centres in Townsville, still looking for pressies. We got a few things.

Thurs 25.10 - Kirsty got ferry to Magnetic Island to go and do her Open Water Diving Certificate. Both Claire and I will also be doing this.

Fri 26.10 - I rang Madden's house and the station was on. Amazing that I'm eating my breakfast at 9am and its midnight in Ireland! Michelle Schmucki our friend from Coventry, called to say she would be arriving in Townville on Sunday evening.

Sat 27.10 - Decided in the morning that we would walk up Catle Hill. We took the "Goat" Track. It was impossible. Turned back and decided to walk up the road tomorrow instead. We went to the Rock Pool in Townsville to cool down.

At night Claire got me to bandage a bread poultous to her eye. She looked like a soldier in a war film.

Sun 28.10 - Went to Mass. We had rucksacks for the walk up Catle Hill afterwards. The Priest, Father Holyoak, saw the rucksacks and guessed that we were from out of town and asked us where we were from. On hearing Ireland he told us his family history was in Kerry and Meath. When mass started we welcomed everyone, especially the 2 young Irish people. That was nice of him.

The walk up the hill took an hour up and we were drenched in sweat. Like eejits we did it in the midday heat. When we got back to the flat, we slept. At 5.30pm I walked in to Transit Centre and met Michelle. We caught taxi to flat. We hadnt seen her since September last year. We caught up on all the news.