Days off....Townsville and Maggie

Finally had a couple of days off...sooo deserved after a really busy working week - quick run down, several retrievals with very sick patients (pulmonary embolus, motorbike accident, septic shock, GI hemorrhage), excitement with 6 overseas trampers that were missing in the hills behind the hospital found by the medivac helicopter and brought to the hospital for observation (very nice looking young men who we happily 'observed'), all on top of fighting some weird virus that had my temp up to 38.2 but still I soldiered on at work......

so we booked Chip in to a pet resort just outside of Townsville that was very flash..unfortunately all their luxury 'cabins' were booked so he had to rough it in the normal accommodation but have a look at the set up with the pool.  They told us they took him to the pool for swim time and had him going across the pool on a boogie board but he wouldn't plunge in...apparently he had them all entertained.  Don't think he slept a wink while there as he was exhausted when we picked him up...

We stayed in a motel along The Strand in Townsville which is a lovely area along the beach. 

They are still rebuilding some of it after cycone Yasi. 

We went to the Reef HQ Aquarium which was pretty cool - a bit like Kelly Tarltons in NZ.  We watched the fish feeding and went for a tour in to the turtle hospital - well worth going to if you find yourself in Townsville. 

Mal with his favourite fish!!!

 Went to Jupiters Casino for a buffet dinner which was delicious then had a flutter on the Pokie machines....we came away over $80 up so that paid for dinner!!!

The next day we took the ferry out to Maggie (Magnetic Island).  Took us a bit of walking to find the scooter hire place, but we finally found it and went round the island on the scooter for a look.  We were surprised by how many people live on the island - it is a lovely spot with lots of different beaches - a huge variety of accommodation and restaurants.  Had lunch at Horseshoe Bay at the pub and then stopped off at Arcadia Bay for an iced coffee.  If you want a relaxing island holiday then I would defintely recommend Maggie...its lovely!

All up we had a lovely 2 days...Townsville was a bit of a surprise....had a picture in my head of some old, decrepit town with a bunch of ferrals whacking cane toads with cricket bats....but its a lovely town, just the right size, mix of old and modern with good shopping and restaurants...could definitely see myself living there for a bit.