3rd -5th May 2006 Magnetic Island Leaving Townsville behind we catch the ferry over to Magnetic Island named so because of Cpt Cook AGAIN!! as he sailed past the island his instruments/compass went funny so aptly named Magnetic honest guys!! As we arrive at the ferry terminal it looks like a building site NO it was a building site Loads of new des res apartments going to spoil the island anytime now. We are off to find our accomadation only backpackers but HEY thats a bed for 2 nights and we are very grateful these days Mark is even more grateful as we share a dorm with 3 lovely young ladies mmh no wonder he looks like he's wearing too well!! Soon as we settled we are off on hire bikes to west point out of the B.P. and up the biggest hill on the island with heart in mouth cant get anymore oxygen in I stop to regain control Mark is cussing about his gears!! Oh what fun!! We get over the hill and whoosh all the way down wind in hair flies in teeth forgotten what a pleasure cycling really is. off the sealed road onto MUD puddles knee deep well they were when I fell off several times it has to be said front wheel just refused to get out of the sand!! Bl...y bikes!! We arrive at West point sitting lazyily under the first tree we could find and Mark spots a Dugong We had to use bino to see him clearly as he was grazing his way through the Seagrass he lifts his head so we get full frontal thanks mate. Cant stay back on bikes to return through the puddles once more stopping off at Cockle Bay & Picnic Bay sounds like a good place to stop for lunch and recovery. Onward back to B.P. Remember that big hill we just flew down well I say no more!! We spend the evening with the girls and loads of others who are relaxing during happy hour (See Photo) Still wanting a lovely clean bed the evening is not too long. Day 2 We decide not to take out anymore bikes, we catch the bus to the most easterly point on the Island after yesterday going West. Today its by foot. We start off at Horseshoe Bay walking acroos the sand first creek of the day and too deep to paddle shoes are off, oh no!! not this early into it but you get used to it over here shoes on, shoes off. Balding Bay our first find supposedley nudist beach but dont get interested nobody was there and we didnt Not with the stingers out here!! next stops Radical Bay, Florence Bay, and Albert Bay all lovely just a different angle on the same view the Ocean!! Albert Bay leads us onto the Fort Circuit got to be done eh!! Here was the sea defences for the WW11 protecting Townsville Harbour Entrance, Lots of history and well worth the climb.. then onto Arcadia the next village from ours we stop for small beverages have BIG ones instead and catch the BUS!! well we can do what we want!! about 25km walk thats enough. Mark needed a few happy hour drinks for recovery purely medicinal of course!!. Day 3 Was a bit of non event the weather has changed it raining the sea is rough so no Kyaking as planned Swimming pool to bl...y cold so returned to mainland and off to Rollingstone for the evening.