Date: Mon, June 25 1998 To: Satellite Dispatch <studio@toysatellite.org> From: Don Pattenden <hotpedals@hotmail.com> Subject: Bowen (continued) Hello again, It's one hour later on the same day (Thursday) and I'm now round the corner at the Bowen Tourist Information Centre who happen to have Internet connection at $6 per hour (the library charges $4 per hour; meanies! most libraries are free) and what's more I can use Eudora here cause they let me use my own floppies. Had to use Hotmail at the library. None the less, I've had a very frustrating time. I've almost used up my hour trying to download my latest messages. It downloaded some, and then kept timing out on the same message, with 158 still to go. The one it did download were all old ones anyway, so what's going on? Maybe it's because I used Netscape last time. Anyway, those 158 are still unread, and now my brain is totally zonked!!!! Still got plenty to do when I leave here too, before the day runs out. Phew!!! This always happens when I get to a town! So much to do. I'm planning to move on tomorrow, hence the pressure. Perhaps one day I'll actually get to a town and have nothing to do but relax and enjoy the environment; sightseeing, even swimming maybe. Speaking of swimming, I won't have far to ride tomorrow actually, when I do move out of the caravan park in Bowen (on the foreshore in the city centre) -- I'm intending to ride around to Horseshoe Bay to stay one night, or perhaps even two if the weather's kind. Lots of people have told me about Horseshoe Bay -- supposed to be very beautiful and excellent for snorkelling. Maybe there, I'll be able to relax for a while. After that, I'll be riding on to Ayr (about 3 day's riding) and then Townsville (hello Marjorie, I'll ring you from Ayr). Today, though it's just been rush, rush, rush. And it's not over yet. After the shopping etc. I have to go back and pack up the clothes I washed yesterday. Still, I have to say though, Bown is a very nice town. Nothing like Mackay. I was tense the whole time in Mackay -- all hastles -- heavy traffic, traffic lights etc. Nothing like that here -- just a quiet, semi rural town, with an enormous waterfront. Wide streets, lots of trees (oh yes, and coconut palms everywhere - growing wild!!) No traffic lights at all, and no heavy traffic. I've run out of time once again now. In any case my brain is totally zonked so I'm not really capable of composing any more. So I'll have to postpone the Long Saga of my eventful journey from Rocky to Mackay once more. But I'll definitely get round to it; it's a tale worth telling. Will write again in Ayr (hopefully). Don. Write to Don Pattenden Join Don's Mailing List

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