Last fling with the HardFirms....our week in Townsville!

Arriving in Townsville was like returning home from a bloody long holiday.  We headed straight to Rowe's Bay Holiday Park and booked in, surprised at the nightly rate of $35 per night.  Caravan sites are already proving to be a lot cheaper over on the east than the west side of Australia.  While we set up, all the kids set off to the playground for a play, they were gone for over an hour which let us all relax with a few beverages.  Whilst sitting down enjoying a coldie, we looked over to see that some old travelling friends were set up just across the road.  We headed over to make sure and say hi to Sparks and Simone, whom we met and befriended at Narrung and Farm Beach in SA.  Such a small world!  Melissa and Hayden were set up just down the road so not to far for the girls to annoy the kids!

That afternoon we made our way over to Riverside to the Greek Festival to surprise Ton and Cam. They had no idea that we had arrived, and it almost killed me not posting our day on facebook!  We arrived and headed off in secret search of their tent where they had set up to face paint and fake tattoo.  We knew the area they were around, we must have looked like absolute idiots creeping around the festival, spying everywhere and on the look out not to be seen by them or the kids!  We saw their tent and creeped over, springing around the corner, in which case l think Ton nearly fell over in shock!  They were so happy to see us, and of course, we were too.  Jordyn and Riley were equally as excited to see the girls, they all squealed so loud and jumped up and down, hugging one another.  So stunned to see us and unfortunately they were in the middle of a rush of customers so the excitement had to be put on hold for a catch up.  We took all the kids over to have a feed and watch some of the festivities unfold on stage with all the dancing. This festival was so big, such a crowd.  They had everything Greek on display, with traditional singing, dances and yummy food.  We gorged on calamari and chips and also some kebabs.  We took the kids over to have some rides, catching up with the Beatons also. The kids loved going on the huge swing ride, you could here them all squeal over the music!!  After we had done the show ride thing, we moseyed over to Ton and Cam, who had settled down, and had a chance to catch up.  So love these guys, have grown really close to them and have enjoyed so much of our last years travels with them.  Have missed them terribly, so was great to be back in the presence once again.

Boo, Jordyn, Lara and Meg..

The swing ride they all had a ball on...

The following day, we farewelled the Beaton's who were heading north to Cairns. The night before we had arranged to have Jordyn and Riley for the day while Ton and Cam did the last day of the Greek Festival.  I think the kids were over it and just wanted to hang out with Boo and Meg.  So l headed over with the girls to pick them up, calling into a shopping centre nearby to get some food for the day.  We came across a Frozen themed play site in store which ended up amusing the kids for an hour playing in the fake snow and grabbing some colouring activities for later to do together.  We got back to the park and the kids amused themselves as usual with playing Lego.  I took them to the pool to cool off and have some fun.  They play just like they are all siblings, so funny to see how comfortable and close they are together.  After lunch, l headed off for a walk along Rowe's Bay up towards Pallarenda.  So good to be back out in the great outdoors of Oz, still unable to run but my hip didn't play up too bad which was a good sign.  The rest of the arvo went pretty quick and before we knew it Ton and Cam had arrived to pick the kids up.  It was again, a quick catch up as they had to go out to dinner with other friends.  We were catching up tomorrow and heading out for an explore of Townsville, like old travelling days!

The kids with Olaf....

Meg was so excited, she is Frozen crazy!

Fun in the snow....in the tropics!! lol

Boo not sure about the texture....

Loving being back together....laughs all round!

Fun in the pool....

The local lizard that hangs around the pool...

Jordyn's handy face painting work....

Can you see the resemblance?

The morning was pretty chilled with having to get back into school routine and get some tasks completed as we were a bit behind from our overseas trip.  The girls are having their usual struggles with us to get back into school.  Was good to actually do nothing, had been a pretty full on couple of months and it was starting to catch up with us, feeling a tad tired.  Our explorations of Townsville with the HardFirms had been put on hold, and we decided to catch up with them for dinner that night instead.  We went out to the Fish Inn which was a seafood restaurant overlooking the rock pool.  Such a nice restaurant and the food didn't disappoint either.  They really got into the fish and chip shop theme with all fried chips being served in miniature chip cooking baskets.  So cool!  While the adults enjoyed some beverages and quiet time to catch up, the kids went off to check out the playground and flying fox close by.  We could see them from where we were sitting, although it was on the other side of the rock pool.  Unfortunately, our quiet time didn't last long with Meg crying so loud and Jordyn carrying her back to us.  Seems there was a meanie boy who pelted the flying fox into her face, Meg obviously came off second best!  Jordyn was so amazing and looked after her, poor Meg, always an incident!

What a feast....

Having set plans in stone the night before with the HardFirms, after school in the morning we set off meeting up with them in town.  We headed off in convoy to the Mount Surprise Lookout, which l didn't even know about last time we were here.  We took the long, steep winding road up to find a spectacular lookout over Townsville.  Another great perspective other than Castle Hill to see the town and surrounding country.  It was a little hazy, hence the photos not being as good as l'd like, but still, great views.  The kids weren't really into it, l think they a little tired.  They had more fun looking at the bush peacocks instead.

Meg growing up so fast, now making her own breakie!

School work...yay!

Hazy views from the Mount Stuart Lookout...

Parents of the year we are.....

Playground fun at the Rock Pool....

Ton and l....gonna miss this chick!

Meg's turn for the dishes...with the help of standing on a step!

Next stop was the rock pool, where the adults lazed about while the kid all took off for a swim.  Was nice just lazing on the grass, l was feeling a little out of sorts.  I didn't know whether l was a little jet lagged still or if l was silently upset that our adventures with Ton and Cam will be coming to an end.  We were both heading if different directions, us going north and them south.  They have been such companions, so easy to travel with and have been really instrumental in helping me develop and heal from past experiences.  I was really going to miss them terribly.  The afternoon wrapped up and we headed home.  I decided to head out and go for a evening walk up to the Strand and back to wear my new shoes in. Apart from the job to wear the shoes in, the walk helped brighten me up alot, maybe just needed some alone time to sort myself out.  I love the atmosphere of Townsville, On the Strand l saw alot of people and families out and about, having fun, getting in the great outdoors and exercising.  Definitely helps to motivate me to get back into my exercise, maybe that will help clear my head too....The sunset on the way back wasn't too shabby either!  Pity by the end of the walk though my feet were wearing two huge blisters. Probably should have but some band aids on them before l left l suppose.

I woke to my last opportunity to conquer a walk up Castle Hill.  I had wanted to accomplish this since our very first time we stopped in Townsville back in late 2011!  Amanda and l had spoken about it all the time back then but never got around to it, and in hindsight, we weren't as fit or healthy as we are now.  Before l could do that though, we had to say our goodbyes to the HardFirms, not knowing when the next time we would see them again.  It was short and sweet, l think we were all feeling it and didn't want to loose our shit in front of one another.  As we each gave the hugest hugs, we farewelled each other.  As they drove away, l lost it and had tears streaming down my face, Marty having to give me a hug to help me though it.  I feel that l have said farewell to a soul sister, which l feel blessed to have two in my life now, Dusk being the other.  We had left it that it was not goodbye, by farewell to later.  Here's hoping!
I had to get my shit together and my brain back into mode to get the task at hand completed.  I so wanted to tick another thing off my bucket list, With my re-found determination, l got Marty and the girls to drop me off and l set off up Castle Hill, having heavily band aided my poor blisters from the day before.  I took the road on the way up, surprised at how many people were going up and down, even cyclists and mums pushing prams up.  Some were even making their little kids walk, bloody new age child abuse l reckon, lol!  The views were amazing, taking in all aspects of Townsville.  Once reaching the top, and by top, l mean the highest platform up on the hill (there are a few viewing levels), l was looking forward to cooling off in the water mist spray at the top.  My luck of course that it was getting some maintenance on it that day, so had to just fill my water bottle up with some cold water from the taps instead.  So bloody hot up there, l had sweat drenching my top.  Having cooled down a little, l decided to take the goat track on the way down, seeing it was both partly shaded and a new track to discover.  The path was man made but was done with the land, so alot of rock steps and dirt paths.  Half way down my hip started to niggle and my band aids had rubbed out of place, leaving my blisters hurting badly.  I reached the bottom of the hill in good time, having done just over 5kms in 50 minutes, the highest elevation was 286m.  I waited in the car park for a while to be picked up, unfortunately my phone had run out of battery so l couldn't call Marty to say l was ready to be picked up.  I had finished my water, my feet hurt and it was so hot.  I couldn't sit any longer so continued to walk down along the road, thankfully they turned up not so long into the extension of my walk.  I was on such a high completing the walk, felt great and that l had lost another cloud looming over my head.

Views from my walk up Castle Hill....down below is Rowe's Bay.

Made it to the top!!! Yay for me.

Panoramic views of Townsville below...

Start of one of the goat track down Castle Hill...

Afterwards, we enjoyed a great time at the pool together before setting off as The Strand for a short walk (which l did in thongs!).  We headed up to the Jezzine Barracks, a new addition to the town since we were last here.  Its an area dedicated to showcasing the impact of war that has been in Townsville.  A really great walk, discovering alot of history along the way with breathtaking views over the ocean to Magnetic Island.  I never knew that Townsville had such war history.  We knew the impact that war had on Darwin, but never Townsville.  There was a lookout named Kissing Point, which we couldn't resist having a snog in front of the sign!  Probably not an original thought.  Kissing Point is actually home to the military barracks that were used in WWII to defend itself against the Russians.  The board walked area has statues and old cannons along with in depth written history to read along the walk.  It even has alot of aboriginal culture put in place with sculptures of  the rainbow serpent and local tribe memorabilia.   After reaching the top of the hill, we took to the rocky stairs and headed down to the Strand.  Even the Strand had had a revamp since we were last here.  There were some quirky art monuments and objects, the girls having a giggle at the beer and boob metal chairs.  We bribed them with getting an ice cream at Gellitisomo to get up to the marina end of the Strand.  Back at the park l left Marty and girls in the late arvo to head back out for another walk, this time l clocked up 10km in a total of 1 hour and 15 mins!  Not bad, considering my double sock method and band aids only held off the pain from the blisters for three quarter's of the way!  The gorgeous views and scenery kept my mind off them though, seeing people out exercising, families down watching the kids do little nippers in their stinger suits, and people swimming at the rock pool and training in the park.  Such a healthy and active lifestyle here which seems to be family and community focused.  On my way back to the park l reflected, thinking that if our planned work stop in Mackay didn't work out then maybe we could come back to Townsville?  We had heard the the work side was pretty slow here though and there's the bloody midges which had been hammering everyone.  But l do love being back here, its an awesome town.  Food for thought anyway.

Let's annoy dad!!!

View of Castle Hill from Kissing Point Fort...

Time for a smooch.....

Magnetic Island....

Rock Pool below...

War canon to protect the town....

Kissing Point barracks...

Beer and Boob chairs...

Palms lining The Strand with 'Maggie' 

Island in the horizon.

Meg getting right into character...

Marty looking very comfortable in this pose!

Couldn't help myself to do a selfie!

That water is not looking too healthy!

Red Baron seaplane....

The marina....

Enjoying a treat....

We have had a great few days feeling much at home in Townsville.  Tomorrow is my birthday and we have made plans to celebrate with finally going over to Magnetic Island....we are all so excited!

Bell Xxx