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It was a full day of adventures for this traveler on Saturday. It started off with a sunrise on Castle Hill and ended with a sunset over Horseshoe Bay, and so much happened during the day! I really set out on my own, I had stayed home all day with Emily on Friday because she was sick, and I started to think about what I wanted to do the next day. So on Saturday I woke up really early, drove to the base of Castle Hill and enjoyed the hike up the steep steps. I got there just in time to watch the sun rise over all of Townsville from the top of Castle Hill. It was magnificent; I thought I would be one of few up there since it was very early on Saturday morning, but apparently many people do this as I was far from being the only one there!
I spent some time just taking in the sights and rewarding myself for climbing to the top with the wonderful views. After started to head back down the path I passed people who were carrying weighted sacks on their shoulders up the hill, now that’s working out!
I got back to the house and packed myself a day bag since I was heading over to Magnetic Island for the day! Affectionately known as “Maggie” Island, is right off the coast of Townsville and you have seen it in my pictures from the Strand and Castle Hill since these spots provide the most spectacular views of the Island.
I drove to the ferry landing and bought my roundtrip ticket to the island and waited for the ferry to arrive! It was so exciting since it was my first full day exploring on my own. I really haven’t had to do much by myself since the Robsons are a very busy family and from sticking with them I have had some spectacular adventures! But with Heather out of town and Simon carting the kids to hockey and soccer games all day I figured I would step out for the day.
The ferry ride was about 20 minutes long and once I arrived I really didn’t have a clue of what I wanted to do first or how to get there. I grabbed a free brochure of Townsville and Magnetic Island and hopped on the closest bus! I
wasn’t quite sure if I needed to buy a buss pass from the welcome centre or if I just bought a ticket once on board so I just hopped in line for the bus and would ask the bus driver, while in line I noticed people paying for their tickets so I got my money out and it when it was my turn I handed him my purple Aussie $5 bill since I was pretty sure I had over heard him telling people that it was $2.70. As I presented my bill the bus driver looked at me and said, “What is this for? Snacks, chips, a drink?! “ I thought to myself what the hell do you thinks it’s for smart aliac?! But I politely said oh I am sorry but I would like a bus ticket to Horseshoe Bay (the sign on the front of the bus read “Horseshow Bay”), at which point he says “oh no worries, that’s where we are going anyways.” I just had to smile.
After arriving to Horseshoe Bay I consulted the map and decided to take a walk to some of the other bays next to Horseshoe, one of which could
only be accessed by the walking trail. I followed the very detail-lacking map and tried to follow the very vague instructions of how to get to the walking trail. I looked and looked and could not find the entrance to the walking trail. To compare the directions of what it was like was something along the lines of go to the north east side of Washington D.C and follow the trail to Maryland. ) It was that nondescript. (but don’t forget to take plenty of breaks! Australians are all about resting) After walking and searching for what seemed like an hour (I am sure all of the people on the beach and those in the café’s were laughing at me as I walked by them so many times) a local passed me while walking along the road and started up a conversation with me. He was a retired guy in his 60’s and his name was John, I asked him how to get to the walking trail and he said he was headed there himself and I could follow him. He was a nice enough fellow, but he was on a mission of getting to the beach and I wanted
to take in the sights and look for some Koala’s so once we got on the trail I bid him good day and he headed on. I sadly did not see any Koala’s, but that was mainly due to the fact that my eyes were glued to the path since it was so rocky. I also passed a toilet in the middle of nowhere!
I arrived at Balding Bay and it was quite breath taking, I felt like I was on the travel channel. Blue waters, white sand, calm waters, and not a soul to be found (I didn’t pass anyone on the walking trail to the bay either! (Which took about 15 minutes) Upon closer observation there were a few people scattered around the shade of the rocks, but there were maybe 6 people total. It was amazing! I was just drinking up the view when something caught my attention, a man appeared and forever a image will be burned into my brain. Apparently since this beach is so secluded with the only way to get to it is a long rocky path it is a favourite upon nudists! Behold in front of me was a old,
overweight, and completely nude man (except for the his hat, don’t want to get that bald head burned!) . Apparently after I came onto the beach he decided to get up and go for a stroll around the bay. I almost left right then but I really wanted to enjoy the beauty of the bay and there were some other people who were completely clothed there as well so I sat on some rocks on the side of the bay the clothed people were sitting on. Then John came strolling along (clothed). At this point I thought that the one naked guy was an anomaly and that it really wasn’t a nude beach (or was just hoping), I was sitting in the sun and John found some shade close to me and we continued out conversation.
We talked for a bit and he was really adamant that I should go swimming, I told him I probably would just dip my feet in. He then made a comment about stripping down and going for a swim after the people left. That was my cue! I said that I was going to dip my feet in right then and I got
off the rock and went to the water. As I was doing so John offered for me to leave my backpack next to him in the shade. I politely declined and kept going to the water. As I foolishly turned around to take a picture of myself with the water in the background I saw John’s naked behind as he was bending over to take the rest of his clothes off. Now I really had to get out of there! Thank goodness I didn’t have to go near him to get my pack – if I did I might have had to say goodbye to it and everything in it. But it gets better! As I turned around to leave I saw two more old, fat, geezers walking around! It was like a scary movie when the people are alone then all of the zombies start coming out of nowhere, except replace zombies with fat old men! Ahhhhhh! I didn’t even take the time to put my socks or shoes on before I booked it out of there back to the walking trail. I got to the random toilet in the middle of nowhere, swept off the sand from my
feet and put my socks and shoes on and hiked the rest of the trail back at lightening speed! I passed a few girls going and they commented that there mustn’t be anyone at the bay and I said there are 3 naked guys, and they seemed ok with it (I think English is a second language from their accents so maybe they didn’t catch the naked part, it will be a surprise for them!) With that adventure behind me I continued another 800 meters to Paradise cove, which was very pretty but more accessible, so no nudists!! Upon closer examination I also noticed on the signs that pointed to which way the beaches were located on the walking trail, there was the word nudist carved into the sign next to Balding Bay!
I went to find my way back to the trail to continue on, but it is really difficult since Magnetic Bay apparently has a ban on signs for walking paths! I finally found my way back and tried to continue on the path. It was not easy! I wasn’t even completely sure I was on the right track but there was a vague sign saying beach
access so I kept going. There was a lot of water and I was on a serious look out for Croc’s since I was alone, it seemed like their kind of territory, and had not seen anyone since I left the Balding Bay path. I finally made it through and it turned out that the path just spit me further down on the Paradise Cove beach. I was just going to head back since I didn’t want to go through the difficult bit again, and as I was heading back I ran into another old retired guy who started up a conversation with me. His name was Bruce, and we chatted about the US and Turkey for a while, then I told him I must be getting a move on and he told me that they (never found out who “they” were) were anchored in Horseshoe Bay and were headed back in their dingy soon would I like a lift. I said thank you but declined, as cool as it would have been, I didn’t know who “they” were and I was by myself. Bruce then offered me a ride and lunch. Wow, a free meal was hard to turn
down, but I said I thank you for the offer but I need the exercise. We went our separate ways and I headed back to Horseshoe Bay by the walking path.
I got back to horseshoe bay around 3:00 and I had left for the walk at 11. I was ready to lay on the beach and read, which I did and was able to watch the sunset over Horseshoe Bay, wow, what a sight to watch the sun go down on a beautiful bay on a gorgeous Island.
After the sun had gone down I waited for the bus to go back to the ferry. Once I boarded the bus I figured I had the etiquette down and I handed the driver my $5 and asked for a bus ticket. He then asked me to where, I was like come-on! So I told him to Nelly Bay. I don’t know why they want full disclosure – it’s $2.70 no matter where you go!
I got back to the mainland and got in the car,; now you must know that I do not have any sense of direction, sometimes I don’t even think I have an ounce. I
don’t really know how I got to the ferry landing and I sure didn’t know how to get back. I spent about 30 minutes driving and consulting a map trying to figure out my way. It doesn’t help that 1).Australia doesn’t like road and street signs, 2). its at night, and 3). I am driving on the opposite side of the road in a stick shift!
I finally made it home (after passing the street I was supposed to turn on 3 times) and slept really well. Today brings clean up of the camping gear now that all of it is finally washed and dried. We just have to get the sand out of everything and pack it back up! But those fond memories of lovely camping in the rain aren’t going anywhere for a while ☺ Although, they are better than the wrinkly skin I saw while on Maggie! Cheers!
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D Bop
non-member comment
You are seeing a lot!
And much more than you bargined for! :-) Ozzies seem very friendly people!