Well i thought it time for another update after a few days off.
We left the Sunshine Coast, heading north. We covered a bit over 1000 klm in 3 days, so not too bad.

As we had booked in for a week on Magnetic Island, i phoned around to find somewhere we could leave the car ans van. The only place seemed to be about $35 per day.  We were talking to another traveller one night, who told us about a camp run by the Seventh Day Adventists, so after a phone call, we booked in for 2 nights camping and one weeks van and car storage for the princely sum of $50.

When we arrived and checked in, the lady said, "have you heard about our no alcohol policy?" "Ahhh, no" i said. Well it turns out the SDA's do not drink alcohol!!! However, as we are non believers, we were told we" can have a sip as long as we are in the caravan".

It was very funny watching Cazza, cowering in a corner with the blinds pulled down whilst supping on her Yalumba Autumn Brown.

When i came out of the van, i noticed every other camp sipping a cup of tea in their favorite mug. So the next night i joined in and had a "cup of tea" sitting in the warm afternoon sun, i did omit to tell Cazza, so she locked herself in again, ahhh the peace!

However the last laugh was on me, as i got slaughtered by sand-flies, with over 40 bites. Only one thing to do, fess up and invite her out, where she ended up with a 100 or so bites. Sweet justice.

Had a bit of a laugh the other night, i was cooking out-side and Carolyn was peeling stuff inside,i could hear a lot of swearing and complaining. She poked her head out and said, that bloody $9 peeler i bought is useless, i have to go over the sweet potatoes at least 3 times to get the peel off. I told her to show me and this is what i saw.

As Cazza used it

Ahah, is that how you use them, with the plastic peeled off?

The SDA camp site

It was a really nice camp area, we chose the un-powered section, the toilet/showers were clean and the whole place had a great feeling.

The dress code up here is thongs, a skirt and a colorful blouse, Cazza wears much the same.


Today we caught the ferry to Magnetic,where i had booked into the Arcadia Village Motel, as a birthday present for pensioner Carolyn. Nothing but the best for her! Don't tell her there is a Peppers resort just around the corner (at $1100 per night, i don't think so).

This is a family run place, which has great reviews on Trip Adviser. The place is magnificent, and really does live up ti it's reputation.

Camped the night a Bowen

On the road

At last, we are now in the tropics

The old Alma Den at Arcadia, now just ruins

Alma Bay

Fat boy on the beach

Our coffee place at Magnetic

Alma Bay

The pub for tea. $12 roast, couldn't pass it up.

The exact spot my world changed 47 years ago. This is where i proposed to Carolyn.

Rock Wallabies        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

first visited Magnetic with my parents, when i was 4 years old. I have 3 memories:  old shed and a guy named Nicky who wore overalls and had a geasy rag hanging out of his back pocket. He started the old diesel generator. Swimming with dad and, dad taking me around the rocks to look at a ring in the rocks, where they tied the shark-net to protect the swimmers.

When i came up here in my early 20's, i was able to walk straight to that ring and show my mates. So in the next day or so, i am off on a mission to find and photograph it, if it is still there.

The other event on Magnetic i remember (which was also a life changing experience) was in 1970. I was living in Townsville, and spending a lot of time living on the beach at Alma Bay (Magnetic). I knew Carolyn from back home, and knew she was coming to the island on a Teachers College Trip, well the rest is history.