Townsville Queensland

Log 3

Townsville 19 June 2008

A birds eye view of Townsville Queensland from 5000 meters shows thin trails north and south with a further trail heading west along the cook river inland to charters Towers 140 km and beyond to Mt Isa . The Bruce Highway, Route 1, being the main highway north to south along the pacific coast North is Cairns a further 350 km and south is McKay 400km

The Coral sea is dotted with a myriad of Islands. The Whitsunday Group is further south about 200 km . Magnetic island is Just off the coast a few km . Cape Cleveland provides a southerly protection jutting out into the Coral sea 15 kms

The Ross rivers meanders on the southern aspect of the city . Several weirs hold the waters making it an ideal environment for the abundant bird life and a vast array of flora a fauna

Townsville Pop 130,000 is the hub for Nth Queensland, An Airforce Military base is to the north of the city and sharing the runway with the Townsville international airport .

Castle Hill, 286 meters, stands proud over the old town and Port , From here I could see the main roads running out like spiders webs for the city center. An other city of Thuringowa is now linked to Townsville and sprawls away to the South West

The Port and Harbour as been developed recently to accommodate pleasure craft and a ferry terminal which service Magnetic Island. Rock and cement have channelled the river mouth into Clevland bay ensuring big coastal traders can safely tie up at the to the commercila / industrial port.

The Old general Hospital which has passed its 'Use buy Date' has been replaced with a Brand new Building on the outskirts of the City near the James Cook University. The Mental health services are attached to this Complex. It is hear that i have a placement as an agency Nurse for the next few months

I flew up from Brisbane on Sunday and made my way to my new accommodation in Riverside gardens. A new area along the north bank of the Ross river. I'm fortunate to have my accommodation sorted by the agency . I'm in a shared arrangement with a Radiographer who also works at the Hospital .

Although the Hospital is about three Km away from my flat and there is a hourly bus service to the gate of the accommodation I can see that i will have to arrange transport to be able to get about . The main shopping centers are about 5 km away and although I have walked the area to orientate it is too far to go shopping on foot .

There is a marked contrast in the security measures taken on the Aussie Sunbus Service to the London Transport service,

The Driver has his money in a tray beside his ticketing machine . Notes in $20.00 and $ 50.00 are on full display to the public. I engaged the driver in my observation and mention that the money would be stolen in London . He then told me of an incident recently where a bloke did grab the money . He had not been successful in his robbery attempt as he had utilized a 'Pass Voucher issued by the Social Welfare Dept with his name on the voucher t to ride on the bus free . The Police were able to pick him up before he has spent the money.

My cunning plan was to buy a scooter which will has entertained me yesterday and today. I have been able to take five different bikes for a trial and charged of in different direction trailing them This has helped the orientation process. One Salesman encouraged me onto a Kawasaki 1100 cc machine . I had no intention of buying a stallion for a simple commuter but I did have my ears flapping as it slipped up to 160 km / Hr in a blink of an eye . It took longer to slow it down to 100 km/h than the bike took to reach the Ton.

Most of the Scooters for sale are generally 'Chinese Replica' have found they don't have the ease comfort and power of the Gillera that I owned to zoom around on, in London. I have now splashed out on a brand new 24 speed push bike , much better for my health and surely better that the Kawasaki stallion.

Bush Turkey, Wallabies, Galahs, Cockatoos and Parakeets past the balcony of the flat as they go about their business, I will organize a Bird feeder in the trees to be able to observe the array of bird life more closely. I has been cold today buy Queensland standards only reaching 27 degrees at 1400hrs . I sit on the baloney in a teeshirt and shorts as i write this log , 17 degrees at present 1800hrs

Tomorrow will be my orientation to my new placement

I wonder what will happen next

Alvin