August 2: Two Thumbs Up For Townsville
As I squeezed the throttle lever on my rented jet ski, the heavy machine bucked the choppy open waters of the Coral Sea, throwing up frothy sprays competing with the rain already falling from above. When the tour operator had contacted me the day before to say he might be canceling the adventure from Townsville to Magnetic Island due to cold wet weather and rough seas, I thought he was being overly cautious.
I had visualized a leisurely ride to a secluded beach, relaxing on the sand, and meandering back to Townsville after a little exploration near the shoreline. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this outing was going to end up being more of a thrilling escapade as we traveled 5-7 miles over somewhat wind tossed waters to the island and then another 20-25 miles around it.
At first, I seemed to be fishtailing everywhere as I came to the rather quick understanding that this transportation device did not steer like a motorcycle. However, realizing that the sooner I came up to speed the more comfortable I would be, I managed to find a sweet spot where I could travel fast enough to skim over the waves but not so quickly that I lost my reaction time.
Although my fingers became numb and my clothes wet, I focused on the lush green foliage and tan and pink sand of the island we were circumnavigating, the deep blue and turquoise waters we were traveling over, and the delicious food awaiting me when we returned.
A nice warm shower back in my hotel room right across from the beach set me up for a particularly relaxing rest of my day. Stopping at Juliette’s on The Strand, I enjoyed a piping hot bowl of homemade minestrone soup with freshly baked and buttered crusty sourdough bread. Lingering at the small outdoor table, I ordered a loose-leaf chai tea with steamed milk while enjoying the ocean view.
After a relaxing deep tissue massage at a reasonably priced Thai massage parlor a few blocks away, I picked up a piping hot beef and cheese pie at the MM&Coffee Bakery on my way back. The crispy, buttery, and flaky crust and flavorful and rich meat were so delectable I had a hard time eating slowly enough to avoid burning the top of my mouth.
There is so much to love about this location in Townsville – the long crescent shaped sandy beach, beautiful promenade on the shoreline, colorful works of art stationed in the sand, mild temperatures, and friendly people. Wandering through the neighborhood after nightfall, I noticed more in the way of small-town charm as visitors congregated on outdoor tables next to colorfully lit up large trees with twinkling strands of lights above. What a great place to visit!
