Townsville Qld 12 August 2017

Up at six again this morning to catch the 7 o'clock start of Parkrun on Riverway. last year I did the one called Northside, where I managed to get lost and where there were a handful of people. The one they call Riverway is, oddly enough, right next to the river. It starts in front of the stadium, does a bit of a circle out past the tennis courts then back to the river. First we go upstream and across a bridge and then way down the river to the next bridge, back across and back to the start. Rather a pleasant setting I must say and I managed to squeak under 40 minutes, so it's all good, as they say.

This area seems to be new and boast a stadium, arts centre and this humungous pool. At least twice as long as an olympic pool and an illusion finish at the end. Oh, and then theres another huge pool past that as well. And it's all open to the public all the time, acres of water and facilities and not a fence or a gate in sight.

New pool at the Arts Centre Riverways. Townsville Qld

Back at the van park, I had a nice long swim to round off my exercise for the day.

But what to do with the day? First we tried the wetlands, which due to the unseasonal lack of rain are almost dry, where we took some snaps of the wild life.

Red-backed wren. The Common. Townsville Qld

Great Egret. The Common.  Townsville Qld

Blue-winged kookaburra. The Common. Townsville Qld

Brolga coming into land. The Common.  Townsville Qld

The not-so-wet wetlands. The Common.  Townsville Qld

Next was lunch, and really there is no question about it: it has to be at the Longboard Restaurant, sitting out over the water's edge at the Strand. Yes, we know; it's a tough job but someone has to do it!

Longboard Restaurant. The Strand.  Townsville Qld

Longboard Restaurant. The Strand.  Townsville Qld 

Longboard Restaurant. The Strand.  Townsville Qld

Longboard Restaurant. The Strand.  Townsville Qld

Longboard Restaurant. The Strand.  Townsville Qld

After lunch we went to get fuel and ended up back at the pool from this morning, where apart from the pools there is a rather nice boardwalk along the river's edge. We stopped to stare out and were surprised to see a whole pile of turtles swimming about at our feet.

Turtles in the river. Townsville Qld

We had planned a swim back at the sea-baths back at the end of the Strand but the on-shore breeze was belting in so we had to settle for ice-creams at Juliettes, a bit further along from the pool.

Eat your hearts out! B&J in Townsville, Qld