21-09-2010

Another rainy day and there have been flash floods in the area "very unseasonal" we're told. But we didn't travel half way round the world to hear what people have been saying in England for the past 6 months. Anyway, batteries (mine, Amie's, ipods and cameras) are recharged and coughs and colds are on the wane. Uploading photos to the computer and organising the next stage of travel.

22-09-2010

Left Mission Beach and boarded the Greyhound bus at 11:20am heading to Townsville for a nights stay before spending 2 nights in Bungalow Bay Koala village - Horseshoe Bay Magnetic Island. Now I'm a sceptic and freely admit it. I know there's a trick to most things, so when I saw the backend of two cassowarys at Kuranda bird park, I was prepared to believe that there was such a bird. But I know with anamatronics, it's possible to imitate most things and invent a few new things on the way. Well imagine my "epiphany on the road to Townsville" when one of these strange, magnificent and truly unique creatures wandered across the road infront of the coach. Probably 5-6 feet tall, with a large horny head and vibrant blue and red coloured feathers on its head. A bit emu like but strange, almost prehistoric head. The horn is thought to amplify a sub-audible call to contact mates. The male incubates the eggs (3-4) and looks after the young for 6-9months. There are thought to be 1-1.5k left in the wild and the bus driver had seen 2 that day, his first for 2 years. I felt very privileged and maybe a little less sceptical. We drove 4.5 hours, mainly through heavy rain but blue skies welcomed us as we reached Townsville. We ate in a bar on the harbours edge and enjoyed an early night and a long sleep.

23-09-2010

Breakfasted on pink lady apples in our room. Too rich a meal for Amie who (after 2-3 bites) threw up. The first manifestation of her condition. Rapid recovery. Took a cab to the harbour and a 20minute ferry to Magnetic Island (Cook's compass danced a jig and that's how it got its name, according to the cab driver, though I'd take some convincing). It's a beautiful sunny day with a cooling breeze. We're accommodated in an A frame eco hut in the woods, where koalas and roos are said to rome free, but we'll see!

Just saw an 18inch black oranged leg turkey type bird wandering by the edge of the wood by our hut. Swam in Horseshoe bay (see blog photo). It has to be warm for Steve to swim and it was warm. Swam within the enclosed swimming area, which keeps sharks and stinger jelly fish out - seemed sensible to me.

Beautiful green, red and yellow parrots on the beach. We saw a large white cockatoo on the way back, which was great. Nestle believe that proper nutrition and physical activity are important in maintaining good health. Now I believe that cos they printed it on the back of the large pack of sweets that I bought for the bus ride!

Note to self: Will continue my boycott of nestle food stuff on my return to the northern hemisphere.

Just looked at my digital watch australia style (upside down) and it says LES. Thats 5:37.

We saw lots of possums around our accommodation. It was a struggle to see them in the dark and we pointed the camera in the direction of the noise and took photos with flash to see them in that instant! The photos just show 2 eyes lol.

24-09-2010

Walked along horseshoe beach after breakfast this morning, watched a sea eagle eat its prey in the tree above our heads, listened to 2 black cockatoos crunching their way into nuts on the beach and saw a flock of 10-12 black cockatoos land in a tree. We got back to the cabin and saw a kookaburra and then about 8 red kanagaroos and two baby roos. There were many lizards. The cries of the birds from dusk til dawn is deafening, will try to record them tonight. Over cast today, some light rain but the sun is trying to break through.

This afternoon we took a walk into the hills on the other side of horseshoe bay and the rain really managed to break through the clouds. We got completely soaked in an "unseasonal" downpour. I'm getting a little fed up with hearing that word!

We head on to Airlie Beach tomorrow and hopefully to some sunshine!