Ahoy!

I do love being close to the water and if I had my own boat I could legitimately yell that. Anywho today was a travel day. I got up early, mainly because I couldn’t get back to sleep, ate breakfast, packed and then headed out for the bus stop after checking out.

It took a long time for the bus to come and when it did it was a small one. The people leaving from our stop basically filled up a good 80% of the bus with people and luggage. I had to sit with my backpack on my lap and my bags on the floor under my feet. It was tight but ohh well. Made the ferry, headed across with no problems and arrived back in Townsville.

I set out in the wonderful weather (seriously it was beautiful) and since my GPS couldn’t locate the train station I walked it by memory from the Taxi Ride I had taken a few days earlier. I am pretty gifted when it comes to directions. I made the moderately stressful 4.5k walk with my luggage and arrived.

This weekend in Townsville is a car race. So there was a lot of activity. The race track ran within 100m of the railway station so everything was messed up. Upon arrival I was ticketed twice within 100ft and finally got to a place where I could put my bags down. Unfortunately I talked to an attendant who told me I couldn’t check them in for another 30 minutes nor could I leave them anyware as unattended baggage.

TBH I have dealt with this before. Thus I looked for a station manager, found one, and told him my quick story. He let me store my bags in the main office. I then headed off for the restaurant (the only close food), bar and hotel a few hundred feet from the station.

I got inside and was greeted by a barmaid. It was about 10:40 so the kitchen wasn’t open yet, but they cooked it special for me. I had some time of good beef burger and chips. It was really good. Apparently in AUS the burgers are served with beets.

I then headed back to the station and waited the next 20 minutes for the train. I boarded found my aisle seat (sigh, in the future I’ll spend the money and call for the seating). The train ride was through the essence of coastal queensland, sugarcane farms and forested hills and mountains. It was pretty but not absolutely scenic.

I read, wrote a little, napped, listened to music, and watched some scrubs. It was a normal train trip. Funny how quickly you get adjusted to it.

I arrived in Cairns, snapped a few pictures of the train, collected my baggage and headed towards where I thought the Hostel was through this mall building called Cairns central. Found the hostel, checked in, and went searching for a grocery store. I was plum out of food I could eat.

Walked through the city looking for a supermarket and it took me awhile (45 minutes) to find one. The Woolworths looked like shit but it was being remodeled so I kinda understand.

Cairns is a cool city and I will write more tomorrow when it is earlier. There is a lot of activity and a lot going on, so kinda the opposite of places I normally like to go. But it is good to get a mix, eh.

Anyways all is good, I’m safe and still a little sunburnt.

5 more days til home. Sheesh!

With Love,

-Mathias