NOT QUITE SHIPSHAPE TRINITY CASTLE EQUIPPED FOR ANY EVENTUALITY

Photo by our  scruffy Shipping Reporter .

ON THE ROAD TO WEIPA , BAUXITE MINING TOWN , CAPE YORK PENINSULA

 

Abra photographs .

LATEST BORDER SECURITY UPDATE FROM PATROLLING SHIPPING REPORTER

One of  the  many  vessels  in  the  Townsville  Ghost  Fleet  , bulk  carrier  Basic  Rainbow  .

Another bulk carrier, the 185 metre  long   Labrador ,flying under the Cypriot flag, attracted much  public attention,  but  none  from  the mainland media . There were  two  other  interesting   cargo  ships  in  port . 

At Townsville's  Victory  in  the Pacific  Memorial Fountain  the  area  appeared  to have  been   marked  out   for  excavation .  On the other hand , it could  be  part  of a secret plan   to convert it into  a  back up coolant  system for  visiting   nuclear  powered  submarines . 

 While the fountain, often neglected, was working  in  a tame   fashion, a few  sticks  were  floating  about  in  the  water .

Large palm  fronds had fallen  close to   the nearby   bus shelter . The nearby travel  centre  clock was  not working .  As usual, the clocks  on the old post office  tower  in  the CBD  were  not   working .  

THE LONELINESS OF A LONG DISTANCE ROCK HOPPER WITH FISHING ROD

 

Vallis photos .

CLOUD COSMOS

 

Vallis  photographs of Townsville.

EXOTIC FAN DANCERS

 Gypsy  Rose  Lee .

 

Peacock Spider  .

Grotesque Coucal. 

Vallis  series.

SWALLOWS CHASING INSECTS ON MUDFLAT

 

Vallis photos.

OTTO ON THE MOVE

 Alas,  on Magnetic Island , Otto's , part  of  a  mainland  chain  , has  closed , its  interior   counter  and shelves   bare , outside  somebody badly in need of  a  caffeine  hit   seemingly  lamenting  the  closure . 

However , at Townsville's large  Castle Town shopping centre  , Big  Al's admirable  vegetable   shoppe , which at one stage  expanded  into space  once   used  as  a  grog outlet,  is  to  be   replaced   by  another   Otto  venture. 

GULF COUNTRY FLIGHT

 Photographs  by  Aeronautical  Correspondent  Abra 

CURLEW WATCH : SNAKE CHASE ; MOTHER MOTLEY SINGING OUT

A  green tree  snake caused a commotion when it  was   sighted  being  chased  by  a  Curlew  and two  screeching  Plovers  not far from  the recently  hatched  Curlew chicks pictured in this blog . The  snake   quickly escaped   down  a  stormwater  drain . 

The latest photo of the chicks  shows them still keeping close to their mother . 

Another  resident   Curlew  family  , with  older  youngsters , snapped below  during  feeding . The  chicks  now  run  with  their  parents to the backdoor  demanding  to  be  fed . 

Meanwhile , Motley, below,  the   bedraggled  , rescued  Curlew who took refuge in a wardrobe   for  a time  to  get over  the trauma of  its early life , then emerged   to   mother  many  orphans  on  Magnetic  Island , is  in  fine  voice. She has been serenading  other  Curlews in the  district with what seems to be  a lively  Mexican  festival  tune and  an  invite to  a plate of  enchiladas!

 

CREATIVE FORCES AT PLAY DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AT THE SEASIDE

 Tropical Wigwam.

 

Tracks  left  by  scavenging  seagulls .

Driftwod  and  coral  with  spooky looking  cave  dwellers..

SUNBIRD READING WATER METER

Vallis  photo.

 

PICASSO'S RAMBLING FEMALE ROCKS ; SOME BLUE , OTHERS WELL STACKED

 

Magnetic Island . Vallis photos .

FERRY TRIP TO CLOUDLAND

Vallis photograph.

BOGART AND SAM STOPPED FROM TICKLING THE IVORIES IN CASABLANCA

 Island  a  no-go- zone  for  feral  pianos 

Humphrey Bogart  breaks  the  shock  news to   pianist  buddy  Sam  that  the Townville  City  Council  has  refused permission for  a  honky-tonk  upright  piano  to  be  played  in  conjunction with  a  popular pop up food van, Shaka , on  Magnetic Island . 

The piano , shown above , down  by  the  seaside , attracted   a  lot of  attention from  visitors to the island  and  an arty  photograph   of   it   is said to  have  won a  competition  down  south .

Then  it vanished . Word  went out  that  the TCC  had  axed it , not literally .

Magnetic  Island   has  a  history of  mistreating  pianos . One  in the open   down  at   Radical  Bay  was  knocked  about  at times  , set  alight, reduced  to  ashes . 

It  was  respectfully  used  a  few years  ago  by   a  group  attending   a   special  birthday  party   for  a  teenager , a  camp set  up  next  to  the   piano , which   is  on  the  far  left   of  the  following  snap. 

    

Playing  crazy ting-ting music  on the   piano  at  the  cool cats  birthday  party  with a close  up  of   the  weathered  innards.

SUNRISE NEW TERMINAL AT AURUKUN AIRPORT , WEST SIDE CAPE YORK

 

GOING POTTY

 

Limberlost Nursery, Cairns. Abra photos.

WAY DOWN YONDER IN THE BUZZING TROPICAL RATTLEPOD PATCH

 After head-butting all the flowers in the patch, gridiron playing  Bumblebee  takes time  out  on  a  frangipani branch . A  Dragonfly, below,  soaks  up the   sun  on  a  rattlepod. Vallis  photographs . 

ANOTHER BIRTHING EVENT IN BLOGSVILLE

Before  and  after  Curlew   photos  by   Vallis 

 

Hiding .