Reporting From The Tropics!

Just popping in to say "G'day!" and let you know I'm still alive and enjoying the first of our two weeks' holiday in tropical north Queensland. I have to just get this out of my system ... I'M WARM!!! Tee! Hee! Hee! We've had wonderful weather and seen some fabulous sights ... Which I'll share at a later time ... when I have more user-friendly access to internet/laptop etc ... had hoped to post from my iPad, but even though I can add text, I can't seem to work out how to add photos to posts from my iPad ... any hints gratefully accepted!! :0)

Yesterday we caught the ferry from Townsville across to Magnetic Island ...

Here is the view looking back at Townsville from Magnetic Island's boat jetty. My Beloved Geek Boy visited the island a few times growing up and the last time was about 22 years ago. At that time, this was the main landing spot for all boats and ferries. He's seen a LOT of changes on the island between that trip and this. :0)

Today, GB wanted to visit some WWII fortifications ... it wasn't til we were on the track that I discovered the walk to them was all UP-HILL!!! EEK!!! So ... I struggled to drag my unfit body up that hill to see one of the lasting reminders that the war came VERY close to our back door here in Queensland. Townsville was a major staging area for troops heading to New Guinea and Magnetic Island was considered the perfect spot for a 'just in case' lookout and gun station.

Here's GB leaning against the gun powder storage bunker. All pretty grim looking and it made us wonder who the poor suckers were who got the job of carrying heavy artillery, ammunition and other supplies up that steep hill, cos I had enough trouble hauling myself up the steep gravelly path!!!

However ... we did decide it was a pretty place to spend the war ...

There are just so many gorgeous views to enjoy, so many fabulous colours to take in ... we may both yet send those post cards to our bosses telling them we'll be back in spring! Tee! Hee! Hee!

We're back on the ferry and over to the mainland again tomorrow for a fun meet-up with the lovely Jenny from Elefantz, before we head further north for the next part of our holiday Jenny and I have chatted back and forth for a while on blogs and emails, so it will be exciting to meet up in person ... it's ALWAYS fun to meet blogging buddies in 'real life'! :0) But right now, I'm going to finish my cup of tea and listen to our noisy neighbours ...

These Bush-Stone Curlews were sitting in our garden when we came back from our big hike up the hill. It was pretty funny to watch when we came close ... they both just froze like this. It was kind of a Star Wars moment ... you know ... "These are not the droids you seek!" Tee! Hee! Hee! There are hundreds of these funny birds on Magnetic Island and during the day you'll see them lazing around the gardens, trying to blend in with the mulch, but once the sun goes down, you hear them ... The Curlew is also known as the "screaming woman" bird because they have an eerie, high-pitched, screaming kind of call. Apparently this has freaked a few people out over the years and it's not unusual for police to get phone calls about someone screaming in the bush! :0) I actually find it kind of soothing ... not sure what that says about me! Tee! Hee! Hee!

OK ... off to drink tea and listen to the curlews scream ... Oh! And enjoy being WARM for a while longer! :0) Hope you're all having a fabulous week so far ... even if you're not enjoying holidays like we are at the moment! :0) Til next time ...

TROPICAL BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS