Julie and I were supposed to be hiking the 5,000km Continental Divide Trail in the US in 2020, but COVID-19 derailed that plan. Instead, we will have an adventure in Australia, circumnavigating the country on our bikes, a distance of about 16,500km taking approximately five and a half months. We will use minor roads where possible and occasionally catch ferries across rivers and inlets to avoid busier inland routes. We will camp some of the time and stay in motels, hotels, etc, at others. There will be stretches of up to five days with no accommodation or resupply available, so we will need to be self-sufficient.

Round Australia Bike Ride - Day 023 - Townsville & Magnetic Island

Day:  023

Date: Friday, 24 July 2020

Start:  Townsville

Finish:  Townsville

Daily Kilometres:  0

Total Kilometres:  2434

Weather:  Mild and sunny all day

Accommodation:  Motel

Nutrition:

  Breakfast:  Apple danish

  Lunch:  Turkey, cheese & cranberry sandwiches

  Dinner:  Chicken Parmigiana, chips & salad

Aches:  Nothing significant

Highlight:  A picture perfect day for our excursion to Magnetic Island

Lowlight:  None

Pictures: Click here

Map and Position: Click here for Google Map

Journal:

Leaving the motel around 7am, we bought some breakfast at a nearby bakery, and caught a local bus into Townsville's ferry terminal on a cool and brilliantly sunny morning.  The bus air-conditioning system could not be turned off, so it was a very cold trip with the windows fogged with condensation. 

We were comfortably in time for the 7:45am ferry to Magnetic Island, a 25 minute ride across smooth aquamarine seas with mainland mountains and mountainous islands blue silhouettes on the horizon.  Magnetic Island had a very laid-back vacation feel to it and many of our fellow passengers looked like day-trippers.

After a quick check of a walking trail map, we decided to start by taking a short bus ride to the trailhead for the well-known Forts Walk and were walking by soon after 8:30am.  It was a perfect morning for the bushwalk which visited various World War 2 fortifications built on an island mountain top to defend Townsville against the Japanese who bombed in Townsville in 1942 and operated submarines off the coast.  There was also some personal interest, as I know that my father spent some time stationed in the Townsville area during the war, though I don't recall Magnetic Island being mentioned.

The various concrete emplacements, with descriptive plaques, were scattered within the serene bush setting and some commanded spectacular coastal views.  Today, it looked like a great place to be posted, but I suspect it was not much fun at the time.  The very pleasant hike was made even better by some koala sightings close to the track.

After completing the 4km Forts Walk, we decided to follow another trail 6km back to Nelly Bay and the ferry terminal.  It was also a beautiful walk with many great views over the ocean and down to Horseshoe Bay.  It passed through a variety of forest types ranging from arid to jungle amidst boulders and bird calls.  Excellent.  The hike finished with a road walk down to the shoreline past appealing holiday cottages and grander holiday homes.  It was not hard to imagine spending some leisure time here.

Back at the marina, we bought some sandwiches and ate them by the dock before going for one last short walk along the coast to the inviting Arcadia Beach, spending some time admiring the view and day, and then returning to catch the 1:35pm ferry back to Townsville.  Holiday-makers, intent on getting an early start to their weekend, poured off the incoming ferry dragging various bags and buggies.

In Townsville, we caught a bus to the bike shop and picked up our serviced bikes with their new (almost) puncture-proof tyres, and enjoyed a chat with Mick, the proprietor, before returning to our nearby motel.  We then spent a lazy few hours, before meeting Robert, a former Terrigal Trotters running club mate who now lives in Townsville, for dinner in the adjacent pub.  A very pleasant way to end an excellent day.

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