Day 47- Up nice and early to get the 07.15am transfer to the mariner, where we got on the greyhound bus and where soon back to sleep for 5 hours. Arrived in Townsville which we were not expecting to be the nicest place, based on word of mouth from people we've met. Into the hostel and out to look round the town to see what there was, and to book a night on magnetic island. Whilst on the Inet D came across Horse-Riding in the sea............15mins later we were booked up for the next day at 3pm. Sorted out the hostel and headed for our free dinner at Molly Malones, I say dinner but I mean Kiddies portion!! Back upto the room for a shower where we ended up in a 3 hour talk with our room mates 1 Italian and 1 German about conspiracy theories and who runs the world, a Very Big conversation which ended up konking us all out, early night for another early depart in the morning!!

Day 48- Hopped on the $26 return ferr. Just as we got comfortable the thing had ported already!! Arrived at our hostel at 10.30 where we told that we couldn't check in until 12pm, didn't sit well but hey so decided to have some breakfast.toasters didn't work and neither did anythig else in the kitchen not a good start!! 12pm dawns and we were then told our room wouldn't be ready for another 30 mins (horse riding starts at 2.30). In our room for a nice shower and we then headed on the bus to the horses much to D's delight and my insistance on that i'll be fine with a horse (or so I thought). "Danielle, this is you're horse", and yours is over there Anthony" she said whilst D was laughing out loud. Compared to the others it was huge, my first attempt at riding a horse and it's the biggest 1 on the ranch!! Whilst I was coming to terms with my stallion of a horse D was in love with hers, but it ended up giving her a little nip on the hand! With a 5minute brief on how to ride a horse off we set on our trail, with D still heckling and laughing at me! The first 10 minutes were fine and then the guides came up with " OK now lets go for a trot, just go up and down with the horse" Off we set for 5 mins of trotting which quickly resulted in a sore backside!! As we went through the park we saw a few kangaroos and D was starting to get back into the swing of things as she was soon of galloping (or something like that) whilst I followed behind not having a clue how to go up n down in time with Clyde (horses name). After a few more trots, and jokes made at my expense we arrived at the beach where there was a spectacular view as you came through the forest. Off we troted down to the bottom where there was naother suprise in store. "Off you get, do you want to go swimming with the horse"? " Yeah why not" The guide then took off the saddle and we were riding the thing bareback in the water. My horse then decided it was hot and with me off it it starts to roll around in the sand. Off into the water and it was time for some games on the horse.........around the world without falling off, the surfboard, tail-end surfboard and a dive into the sea, all completed we headed back to the ranch for a few pics. Walking back to the hostel like John Wayne we grabbed some food and chatted to a few locals whilst the season finale of lost ( i've seen 1 episode and D last saw season 3). Good night and headed back.

Day 49- After a few words with management about the state of the place and the fact they chrged extra for a pillow we headed back to townsville via the ferry. Back in the same room - the italian and German. Went to the beach where D topped up her tan, the frizzbee got it's first outing and a good pic-nic courtesy of D was consumed. Headed to Molly Malones again for some free food and then off to the monthly nightmarket. D heard the music and was instantly excited, there was alot of local stuff on sale, i.e honey, art, arts n crafts etc. D picked up a magnetic bookmark with her name on, and I watched in amazement as the "music" was a middle aged guy with a mic and radio cassete doing "Karaoke". good night at the night market we headed back as there was another early bus in the morning (5.30am)