2 Crazy Sheilas

So I hate to tell you all this but I am no longer in Australia. It was SOOOO hard to leave, but I gained a lot of memories and friends along the way, which are irreplaceable. I know I have a lot to catch up on, especially my last days in Australia, and I will try to do my best. I am now in Fiji (which I will tell all about later) and the internet costs an arm and a leg so it may be a bit short and sweet, but I will get all the information as I can out before I lose all of my internet credit :)! 

I wasn’t going to tell but it was guite a fun night at the bar. Miranda and I met a few Frenchmen that talked us into being part of a drinking contest where the wining team would win money and free drinks. The only catch was that the team of three males and one female led to the Frenchmen having try-outs for the team. This didn’t turn out so well as not many girls wanted to take part, let alone chug their beers for fun just to prove themselves to some crazy frenchmen. Miranda, who fell for the chugging hoax, downed her beer and was left by the boys to go and check out others for their team. In the end Miranda was asked for the team and I was needed as well to complete a team. We got ourselves ready for the contest and saved our bellies for beer room. When it was finally time for the contest, Mirandas team and my team got up in from of the whole bar and were put to the test. The point of the contest was to chug a half-pint (a pot) and put the empty glass on the top of your head before the next person on your team can go. The girls started and next were the two boys. The contest was finished off my the last person, who had to chug a pint through a straw and put it on the top of their head as well. It was quite funny, even though my team lost and Mirandas team dumped nearly all of their beer on their shirts (which they also instructed Miranda to do, but in her honesty she didn’t stating that it was cheating, bless her soul ) and won the entire contest. After Miranda and her team basked in her glory they were all rewarded with ten dollars cash and a jug (OZ slang for pitcher) to share. Miranda, being as tired as I was, headed off to bed with me as we had a long day ahead.  

So I know I left you all off wondering how my walking tour went, which I must add I was accompanied by a new french friend, Victor, and was a great day! I woke early and ran out to the city for some much needed coffee and a quick stop at the plarmacy for contact soluntion (because I wouldn’t want to miss the sights without being able to see :)!) On my way back to the hostel I ran into Victor, who I had met the night before at the bar and who was also a fellow traveller. We headed right out on the city with our first stop at the Picasso exhibit at the Brisbane Museum. Victor had already seen the exhibit, and since it was $20, he left me to go through be myself while he took a walk along the Brisbane River. I paid my entry and went through the exhibit and looked at every piece one by one. It was a really good exhibit not only because it contained some of Picasso’s most famous pieces, but it was also a collaboration of art he had collected throughout his own life, which included work by Renoir, Dali, Matis, and many others. It was really amazing to see what his taste was in art while he was alive. After taking my time going through the exhibit I met back up with Victor and the two of us headed over to the free section of the Museum and learned a little about the area and its history as well as Australia in general. After going through the museum and playing with all of the kids toys throughout, we headed to the public ferry and took a ride to the end of the city and back for a little sight seeing in Brisbane. Once we took our long ride in the ferry to the subarbs of Brisbane and back into the city, all the while loading up on pictures of Brisbanes skyline, we decided it was time to haed back to the hostel and wait for Miranda to get back from her day at the nearby themepark Dreamworld. Once Miranda arrived and Victor and I finished watching our movie with some other travellers in the TV room we headed back to the riverfront and went to dinner in the middle of Brisbanes central business district. Dinner, as delicious as it was, left the three of us quite thirsty. We headed back to the hostel and decided to have a few drinks before we headed downstairs to the bar. Our hostel which was a historic building had a great deck which played home to ”Claire’s Bar” for the next few hours while Miranda, Victor, and I nearly finished off 4 liters of goon (slang for Australias box or cask wine) and goofed around taking pictures and having a good time before we headed down to the bar for some drinks. Drink after drink and before we knew it it was time to go to bed because we had to catch the bus to Byron Bay the next day, after spending a morning shopping of course! We both said goodbye to our new friend Victor and headed to bed.

We awoke the next morning, packed up our bags for Byron Bay, and headed to the main shopping center for breakfast and a little bit of window shopping. I wasn’t really up for shopping as my head ached and my stomach hurt from the goon, so I went back to the hostel and enjoyed a movie before the bus picked us up for Byron Bay.

We were picked up and I swear I nearly slept the whole way to Byron Bay, only waking to have a look around and some lunch at a small surf town along the coast famously known as Surfers Paradise. It was such a cool little surf town as I wished we could have stayed longer, but as time persisted we hopped back on the bus to go south even more.

Well its come to the point where I have run out of credit so I suppose I will add on my adventures about Byron Bay and Sydney later. Until then I hope you are having a wonderful time, I know I am, as paradise doesn’t even begin to explain Fiji

will write more later,

~Claire    

So I’m in Brisbane, the third last stop on my travels southward down the coast. Today has been pretty uneventfull, besides a long drive from Rainbow Beach to here, settling into the hostel, which I must say is nice. The location is exactly in the city center, couldn’t get any better. After getting settled (i.e. throwing our bags into our room while trying to get out asap as to not wake up the sleeping blokes) Miranda and I headed to the Southbank for the Sunday Lifestyle Market. Although not as big (and by saying not, I mean literally heaps smaller) than the Victoria Market Miranda and I found ourselves oogling at the jewelry and clothes. For the most part we held back, only thinking of our loved ones back home and buying a few gifts for them. After we made our way through the market we sat at the lagoon on the riverside and had a relaxing people watch, followed by a nice walk back to the hostel through a shopping area. Brisbane really reminds me of Melbourne, with the river winding its way through the city center and the tall buildings at the edge of the sky. The only thing Brisbane lacks is about 4 million people, the fun alleys with awesome bars, and the even better cafes. But I guess I can’t jump to conclusions, Brisbane may certainly have all of these things!

Tomorrow I am planning to do a walking tour of the city while Miranda heads to Dreamworld, which I am not exactly sure what that entails but I’m sure she will fill you all in. While on my walking tour I plan to make a stop at the art Museum, they’re holding a Picasso event, something I think would be really cool to see, even more because its free! I also heard of a music festival going on this week, so if I can find it I plan to stop there as well. I will fill you in. 

Tonight we may go out, I’m not quite sure yet as I lost Miranda in the shopping area, or we may not. I guess I should go find her and she what she’s got for ideas about tonight!

Until then I hope you are all reading my entries! Only 6 days to go until I leave Australia for good…(no comment)

~Claire 

P.S. In case you are wondering why I called Brisbane ‘Brisvegas’ its just what they call it here…sounds like home (i.e. P-vegas for Platteville) I guess we’ll see if the vegas part of Brisbane lives up to its name !

From Kroombit we took off yet again like two gypsies reaching Hervey Bay where the following day we were picked up for our Fraser Island tour.  Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and rests off the coast of Rainbow Beach.  Our 5 ton vehicle road the ferry to the island and once onshore took off on the open sand.  Although there is no road on the 75 Mile Beach on the east coast of the island, vehicles swerve around waves in their own two lanes.  It felt like being in a giant enclosed four wheeler as we raced on in the open. 

As we drove along we were notified that it is whale season and it seemed that no sooner had these words left our driver Sarah’s lips then we were stopped watching a giant black beast break the surface of the water.  It was amazing watching huge puffs of mist go off as the back of the whale would pop up gliding along the beach with us.  We moved on as we were told we’d get a better view later.

Our first stop was a walk to Lake Wobby.  The group took a small path that opened onto a massive sand dune.  The light tan sand gave our legs a workout as we climbed upwards.  Claire occasionally turned around and said something but all I could hear was the wind rushing past so I just smiled and nodded J  Just as I began to feel like we were in one of those movies where the characters are stranded in the desert walking for miles, we were suddenly standing over a huge green lake.  We walked down the steep sand hill and dipped our toes.  The huge, green trees and bushes around the lake swayed lazily in the breeze, their leaves rustling, while black fish swam around our feet.

The second destination of the day was just as cool.  Indian Head was a cliff we climbed that looked out over the clear blue water.  In the distance we saw whales breaking the surface yet again and directly below we saw black sting rays and schools of fish who turned silver as the light hit.  We even saw sharks which were the main reason we were not allowed to swim at all in the ocean.  The population of tiger sharks is the biggest around due to the fish supply and breeding grounds around the little island.

Before the sun set we also stopped at the ship wreck of the Mohina.  Only the rusted bones of long ship remained and took a beating from the tide.  Barnicles clung to the sides and a large bird sat at the top picking at some dead animal.  The whole thing seemed out of place.  The next stop was more fun.  It was called Eli Creek and was a perfectly clear and perfectly cold stream that bled out into the ocean.  Claire and I both agreed it would be the perfect place to bring inner tubes and a cooler as we walked past gray fish.

Our night stay was at a hostel/resort which had a fence around the premise to keep the many dingoes out.  Pretty ironic considering as we were going past the front gate a dingo walked through the parking lot casually as though he was just heading to the bar or something.  Claire and I talked to two very gullible and ignorant boys who thought all Americans acted like the actors on “The O.C.”  We excused ourselves by heading to the beach where the giant full moon cast a glow on the waves.

The second day on Fraser Island was spent taking a hike in the morning and resting on the white banks of Lake Mackenzie.  It was perfect as I swam in the clear chilly water and then rested on the beach which is perfect for cleaning your jewelry as the sand is made of a kind of quartz.  On our way back we saw a swamp wallaby sitting at the water’s edge.  It quickly jumped in the waves and we all let out a hysterically gasp.  Our tour guide assured us it could swim and we watched as it swam down from us.

Well that’s all I have for now . . .

Thanks for reading J

Miranda

            I think this trip is starting to make my mind slip as time, days, and where I was previously is all becoming a bit blurred.  On the 16^th Claire and I hopped on the OzBus where we were greeted by our tour guide who reminded me of a creepy Ned Flanders from the Simpsons, using terms like “okaly dokaly.”  It was a long drive to the Kroombit cattle station, finally arriving there as the sun was setting.  The lazy Brahman cows greeted us as we entered the long drive and reached our sleeping cabins.  After getting settled into our tiny rustic rooms we went to dinner first taste testing a mystery meat that made me feel brave for trying. 

            Once dinner was finished we hung out for a bit around the bar.  The bar was not technically a bar, though there was an ancient white fridge that stocked beer.  The bar was actually an old wagon complete with wheels and a tawny chicken with it’s red crested head nestled in it’s wings in a deep sleep.  The bartender (and manager of the station) was a white haired man sitting on a recliner next to the fridge and within an arm’s reach of the counter.  His name was Big Al and a wooden sign posted on the wagon that read Boss gave a strong connection to Dukes of Hazard.  This man, no matter how old, looked like someone who’s orders were taken seriously.  As he talked about the cattle station his wrinkled and spotted hands ran over a leather whip.

Big Al turned out to be excellent at teaching us all how to crack a whip.  I must say I was pretty good and took a second turn which I later regretted as I could barely move my shoulder.  After we all took our turns standing on boxes, using goggles for protection, and occasionally snapping ourselves in the back or arm, it was time for the real excitement . . . mechanical bull riding!  Claire and I foolishly put our names down first.  Claire put on her white helmet and climbed into the maroon, inflated ring.  She jumped onto the fur covered machine and the three girls operating the bull gave a countdown.  It seemed before the girls had finished with one Claire hat shot off like a cork from a bottle of champagne.  Her second time was slightly better but once again her little, helmeted body went flying.   I couldn’t stop laughing hysterically (neither could the others), that is until it was my turn next.  I nervously put on my helmet and had to get one of the three girls to hoist me up onto the machine.  My stomach lurched as they began their frightening countdown.  I may be bigger than Claire but I flew just as far.

The next morning we woke up early to grab some grub.  Originally Claire and I were not going to enter the country festivities like horseback riding  or shooting guns but soon we were in the spirit and I’m glad we went.  We waited as the wranglers put saddles on the horses.  Mine was Grace, tan with a  bright blue bridle.  Our task on the horses was to muster or herd goats into a pen which took awhile as we each adjusted to our horses.  Tons of goats were slowly  penned, the babies crying the whole time noisily.  After that job was done we headed back and got off of our horses, walking away a bit bowlegged. 

After horses and goats we went to shoot some clay pigeons (you heard me).  It’s funny how everything is either made in China or Taiwan but the bullets for our shot gun . . . “Made in the U.S.A.”  The boys went first and then it was the ladies turn.  Surprisingly I shot 3 of the 5 clay pigeons and everyone joked that “The Americans were definitely here.” 

We had penned all of the goats earlier and we soon learned why.  We were going to be in a goat rodeo!  Divided into groups of three, Claire, I, and an older man from Las Vegas teamed up as Team America.  We laughed and watched as the teams before us chased the goats, grabbing them by the horns, and branded them with a fake brander.  Once again I laughed until it was my turn.  The wrangler, a hillbilly in a blazing orange shirt covered with holes (probably from goat wrestling),  brought out a large goat who gave us the stink eye until Claire grabbed him by the horns, the older man brought him to the ground, and I poked his bum with a metal rod. 

Before leaving the station we played a game where we all joined hands in a circle and spun a bottle.  I know what you’re thinking but I didn’t end up kissing some country boy.  The light green bottle paused, pointing between the guy next to me and the person on his other side (thank God).  What this meant is that this is where the two people would be zapped by a cattle prod, sending the electricity to each of us in turn.  The moment the electricity hit everyone in the circle jumped simultaneously.  That was the end of our stop in Kroombit.  Goat mustering on horseback, shooting clay pigeons, wrestling goats, riding mechanical bulls, and cracking whips all in a couple day’s work.  Oh and the meat we had for dinner the night before . . . goat :S

Miranda

I swear I am getting SO sick of these early as starts! I am beginning to feel like an old woman, waking up so early and going to bed so late has really caught up to me, and I’m starting to get tired at nearly 8 p.m.! I know I know, I’m young right? I feel a little bad for my parents, I have a felling that when I return and spend a week at home they’ll actually want to spend some time with me, I’m just afraid that once I fall asleep, especially in my own clean bed, I might be put into a coma and not wake up for days! Well I guess we’ll see if they read this, because at least they can’t say I didn’t warn them !

Ok so guess what? I’m still traveling down the coast and yesterday and today I spent some time on Fraser Island. If you have read the end of my last entry you will find that I have already told you a little about Fraser Island, and quite frankly I am not going to repeat myself so you all can scroll down

We woke up early and hopped on the 4WD with the others travelling with us on the two day, one night tour. We drove south from Hervey Bay to Rainbow Beach where we picked up a few others and where Miranda and I dropped off our bags and booked our hostel room for the following night. After some reservation making we hopped back on the 4WD and headed to the coast of Rainbow Beach, boarded the farry and were taken across the ocean (or straight, or sea??) and landed on Fraser Island. When we grove off of the ferry I quickly learned that there were no paved roads on the island (only sand) and that the only highway was along 75-mile beach, an unswimmable beach on the east coast of the Island. We learned that the waters were practically unswimmable of you had any brains at all due to the large population of Tiger Sharks, and inhabitaion of Jelly Fish, and due to the current northern migration of Humpback Whales bringing Great White Sharks into the area as well. The two words, shark and jelly, were enough of a warning that there was no way I had even wanted to put my feet in the water! 

Along our drive to the north of the island to check out Indian Head, a rocky cliff suspended 60 meters above the sea level, making a great look-out for marine wildlife, we saw jelly fish and even some migrating humpback whales (which is what I really wanted to see, and let me tell you it was REALLY amazing!) Along our way to Indian Head we also learned about the dingoe population on the island, which was the largest in Australia, and learned that we were not to feed them and what to do if they get agressive, as there have been maulings of children and even deaths on the island that were completely due to dingoes. After being a little worried about the dog-like animals we got out first glimpse of them just before we arrived at Indian Head. They just look like tan dogs, but looks can be decieving as I already mentioned, they can be very dangerous.

Before Indian Head we made a quick stop and had a hike up through huge sand dunes to Lake Wabby. Lake Wabby, being a freshwater lake and surrounded by sand dunes was as green as ever and played home to many catfish-like fish swimming beneath the surface. When we got to Indian Head we immediately hiked up it and got a beautiful view of the ocean below, where we got to see sharks, stink rays, turtles, whales, and diving birds at an arial view, amazing huh! On our way back down the coast we stopped at the Pinnacles to see the different colors of sand in the rocky sliffs above and learn the aboriginal story behind it. Ater quick photo we headed south again and made another stop at a shitwreck on the beach, the ship which was named Mohina, and it made a home on the shores of Fraser Island years before. The heat of the day brought us to Eli Creek, a freshwater creek that leads to the ocean with a strong current. Miranda and I quickly hopped into the freezing water and walked our way up to the point where we had to listen to the signs and turn around and head back down. Along the walk we saw many grey fish below the clear waters surface and enjoyed the view of the ferns, palms, and trees that surrounded us.

Erong Island Resort was our home for the night and Miranda and I had a relaxing (and early) night after we stuffed ourselves with the Mexican buffet.

This morning we woke up, had breakfast and hopped back onto our 4WD truck and headed inland to a rainforest walk in the central station of Fraser Island. On our way there we learned that Fraser Island had previously been mined for sand and was the spot for logging as well. Central Station, being the hub of the old mining families homes, also has a few really nice hikes around. We went on a mile hike through the rainforest and got to view lots of plants and creepy crawlers. We got to see a King Fern, which is apparently really rare for the environment, and saw that it really was a king, as its fronds cound get as long as 5 meters long (15 feet)! The ones that we saw were about 4 meters long, and still huge!

Wer made our way throught the trees and saw that our 4WD was there waiting to take us to famous Lake Mackenzie. Lake Mackenzie, being a completely freshwater lake and having sand made from perfectly round quarts crystals, was so beautiful, especially under the cloudless sky. We were given a lot of time there to lounge, take pictures, and have a dip in the freezing water before we were to return to the truck eat lunch and make our way back to the mainland, Rainbow Beach. Along out bumpy ride back to got to see some more wildlife, learn about the Island and its name and even see a rare Swamp Wallaby! Our tour guide told us that in the two years that she has worked on the island she had never seen a Swamp Wallaby so it was an exciting sight, especially when it dove into the ocean to get away from our snapping cameras! 

We arrived in Rainbow beach this afternoon and Miranda and I have been lounging ever since. Having a cleansing shower, doing some laundry, painting nails, and writing blogs. Tomorrow we have to catch the Oz bus at 6:45 a.m. and head down to Brisbane so I’m assuming that we’ll have a pretty quiet night as well.

Not to sure whats the plan for Brisbane, besides the glorious Sunday Markets (Miranda and I are market crazy these days) so I will let you all know about my adventures. The days are dwindling down, only a week left in Aussie…I can’t believe it…at least I still have three weeks left of traveling!

Until next time…

~Claire 

If you have been reading my blog you are all aware that I was last off to Kroombit, a cattle station in the middle of nowhere Queensland. I was completely sure that it would be a horrible time and I would have no fun at all, besides being reminded of good old Grant County (and I was), which didn’t turn out to be as bad as I thought.

As soon as we stepped off of the bus and glimpsed at the resturant, which was a wooden shed, the bar (a.k.a. old trailer) and our entertainment, which consisted of a country radio station and a mechanical bull, I was immediately reminded of Grant County. This was made even more realistic when I saw the old beaten up, dirty, scruffy men sitting at the ‘bar’ having a good old Aussie beer, Tooheys. I thought being reminded of Grant County was going to be a bad thing, but as I stated before, it wasn’t as bad as I thought, almost kind of welcoming (p.s. that will most likely be the one and only time I will ever say that so don’t get to used to it folks!).

We were quickly assigned to our rooms, a small wooden shack with three bunk beds and headed out to the campfire circle to have a beer (on happy hour special of $3.00, another reminder of the midwest and its cheap alcohol) and waited for our outback dinner. While we waited for dinner and had a few beers I sampled some mystery meat sitting out for taste-testing, in which we would be told the source after dinner. I swore I was eating possum or something horrible, and to my surprise it tasted good which made me even more weary because I was thinking how horrible it would be to have tried something unquestionable and actually liking it! Later, after our roast beef, mash and veggie dinner, we found out it was goat…not so bad huh?

After dinner we gathered around and learned a little about the cattle station we were on, which if I could have understood what the poor old man, Alan, was saying through his thick Aussie accent and over the country tunes, I would be able to repeat right now. After smiling and nooding for some time we left the fire circle and went out to a clearing and learned how to crack some whips! I stood up on the milk crate, strapped on my protective goggles, and gave it a go! The first time, being that I smacked myself in the back of the head with the whip, didn’t turn out so well. After a lot of coaching, flinching, and horrible whipping technique I managed to crack the whip a few times! Once everybody had a shot at the whip it was time to have a go at the mechanical bull, and go figure, my name was called first . I hopped on and held on tight with my right hand and threw my left into the air, with a count of three and am instruction to lean back on three I rode my first mechanical bull….very poorly, Miranda said I shot off of it like a bullet the second it had started! In order to redeem myself I hopped back on and gave it another go, this time I think I lasted about 3 seconds, not good enough for a professional. Miranda was next and didn’t do considerably better than I did, and was okay with !After we all rode the bull one of two times we headed back to the campfire circle where we played games and dwindled off to bed.

The next morning I was shocked awake by a shotgun going off, nice alarm huh, and told to get up and get out to breakky. After breakfast and packing up our things a few of us were off on a horseride to muster goats out in the paddock (or was we call it, field). Myself, stating that I was a beginner and nervous on horses (which I am, being that they’re so huge and intimidating) was assigned to one of two of the most docile horses on the station, named Avis. Avis treated me very well and listened and did everything as I directed as we mustered the goats in the paddock. While mustering we were told to yell, “AYYY UP UP UP” in order to move along the goats. I felt like a maniac speaking goat but it surprisingly worked! With the team of about 15 to 20 of us we managed to successfully muster the goats into the pen and ride out horses back to the stables. Getting off of the horses, quite hilariously as we all were walking funny and rubbing our sore butts, we headed to the goat pen.

Once at the goat pen we were able to have a go at some clay pidgeon shooting, which I definately took part in. Having never shot a gun before I was very nervous, especially since the shotgun was half the length of my body! Being American, and almost all internationals thinking that we as Americans always carry and shoot guns (on a daily basis) everybody was stoked for my go at it. I will have to say that I did not impress as I missed all five of my clay pidgeons, and may have put the stereotype that Americans are crazy gun carrying maniacs to rest for the others on the trip.

Shooting five bullets was enough for me and our next activity was a little bit of a competition. We broke up into groups of three, Miranda, an old American guy (mid-70’s) and I formed a team and called ourselves Team America. The object of the game was to stand in a circular pen where a cowboy put a goat into, and when the timer started one would run and catch the goat, another would pick the goat up and place it gently into its side, and the third to go and grab the ‘hot’ branding iron (which was painted red in effect) and brand the goat for 3 seconds (the other point is that only one person could leave the fence at a time), after which the timer was stopped. I had the job of running, catching, and gragging the goat back to the fence, our American teammate tp tip the goat over and Miranda to run and grab the iron and brand the goat. The time had started and I got lucky and got to the goat right away and was able to drag it back to the fence, where our other teammate had a bit of trouble tipping it while Miranda ran for the iron. All in all we had done a really quick job and were sure we had once…and sadly did not, as we lost by .1 seconds after another team! Bummer huh! The goat racing was pretty hilarious and fun and after we all held hands and played spin the bottle with a taser gun! It sounds crazy huh, well it was. We were instructed to take all of our metal off and hold hands and where the bottle stopped the two people inbetween had to each hold onto a pop can while it was hit with a taser…at which point we all got shocked and screamed!

Being shocked was the last activity for our time at the cattle station, and as much as it made me feel like I was apart of the Jackass cult (I mean come on who willingly lets someone else shock them! Its ludacris!), I was ready to get back to civilization.

We all boarded the Oz bud and headed to Hervey Bay, the outlet to Fraser Island, and all sand Island (the biggest in the world actually) and said to be one of the natural wonders of the world. Once Miranda and I arrived in Hervey, after a stressful ride as we found out that our tour had cancelled on us but we were luckily able to book another tour last minute to go over to Fraser Island the next day, we had some pizza with a few new British friends and watched a movie. The movie made me tired as so I headed to bed being that it was going to be an early one the next day because we were heading to Fraser.     

All in all my time in Kroombit ended up being a really fun time and I learned a lot about all the hicks out there and the lifestyle that comes with it. Although I may now have a partial understanding for them I still will never be a country girl, even if I’m from there!

~Claire

Wow so here we are, I’ve already completed almost half of my journey down the coast and I can’t believe where the time has gone. We have done so many cool things thus far and I can’t wait to tell you about the Whitsunday Island sail aboard the Derwent Hunter. 

Miranda and I woke early, and slowly, as the night before we had some fun with new friends laughing at drunk dancers. As we tiredly put our bags in storage and headed for the marina I grew more and more excited for the next three days aboard the Derwent Hunter, which was a cream and green colored tall sailing ship.

We boarded the boat settled our bags into our bearths, learned how to use the head, and exited the marina where we set sail for a coral beach in the distance. As we raised the sails and gradually got used to the salty, sticky damp feeling of ourselves and everything we owned, we cruised along the water and eventually came to a coral beach and ripped our feet apart when we walked along. Luckily we headed straight for the water and did some snorkeling, which I must say was not nearly as good as the Great Barrier Reef. Swiming over to the dingy to see our deckhand throw fish food into the water and see the fish go in a frenzy to get the food was a really wierd sight to see. Especially (contrary to Mirandas blog which says I’m on the beach, where she is very wrong, I was right there with her) when the deckhand threw the fish food onto us and all of the fish swarmed me and jumped and hit my mask and skurried past me, whereby I freaked out. I must say I like the look of fish from a distance, not when they are hitting me! After an interesting snorkel and a lounge on the very unconfortable beach, we were taken back to the boat for a huge lunch and another ride to our destination for the night.

We dropped anchor and listened to our skipper tell us about the stars while we had a nice dinner and a glass of wine before we went below deck and headed to bed.

The next day we awoke to cloudy and rainy weather, ate some breakfast and headed to the famous (top ten in the world) Whithaven Beach for the afternoon. After making a stop in Blue Pearl Bay to do a bushwalk up the the lookout of Whithaven beach we headed around the island and dropped anchor where we had lunch and the hopped onto the dingy to be taken to the beach. When we arrived on the beach it immediately started raining abd didn’t stop until we were picked up again…go figure! At first I tried to stay dry with a raincoat but after awhile I decided it was no use and I ditched it to cover my things and went for a walk down the beach with Miranda where we collected sand and coral, and drew pictures in the sand. We learned that the sand on the beach was actually silica, which is essentially glass I think, and we learned that it acted as a really good jewelry polisher whereby Miranda and I polished our earrings and rings! Although it was raining it was a beautiful beach, I couldn’t imagine what it could have looked like if it had been sunny!

After being picked up from the beach our tall ship headed for the second night destination, a bay-like inlet that blocked us from the ripping winds. We had a chat, wine and good dinner on the deck of the boat before I headed to bed.

When I woke the next morning and climbed to the deck of the ship I was really glad to see that the last day of our sailing trip was sunny! We immediately headed for a island that had the name Black something or something Black and went to whore where we did some more snorkeling and lounging on the beach. I was envious to hear that some people saw sea turtles and sting rays while snorkeling, which is something I didn’t see. After our sunny afternoon on the beach we Headed back to Airlie Beach. 

Our trip came to an end and we hopped off of the boat where Miranda and I smuggled Whithaven beach sand a shells past the coral sniffing dog and headed back to the city to do some much needed laundry and showering. Later that night we met up with the people on our trip and ate dinner and had a few drinks at a bar named Beaches. It was a really fun night, but being that I had been on a boat for days I was wuite tired so eventually, once the Sangria and free beer ran out, I headed back to the Hostel with Miranda and headed to bed.

This morning Miranda and I were able to sleep in, which I took full advantage of, sleeping until 11 and waking to see that Miranda was not there. I was very happy to sleep in and gain back some hours of much needed rest. Miranda and I went for lunch, bagels (yumm!), bought some books for some light reading, and then caught up on our blogs…whereby I had a little more catching up to do! But now that I am caught up I am very happy!

Tomorrow Miranda and I have to be on our Oz bus at 6:45 am, hopefully we are at the correct place, and we head to Kroombit for the night. Kroombit is a cattle station where we will get the chance to crac a whip and round up goats as well as see a mini rodeo. I can’t say whether of not I am excited for my rural adventure, I will let you all know what becomes of it.

Until then thank you for reading!

~Claire 

Today was the start of Miranda and I’s journey down the coast, and let me tell you I never thought it would come and now that its here I’m wondering where the time has gone!

Today was a rocky morning as Miranda and I took part in the 5 drinks for $12 dollars Tuesday night deal at a bar in the city center of Cairns named the Woolshed. It was a fun night as we both got our moneys worth and had a lot of fun with our Dutch friend Rody who we met in the Red Center and met up with again. We had a lot of laughs at the bar last night, as Miranda and Rody purchased auctioned goldfish and took part in a goldfish race with about 6 other contestants. The fish Miranda bought, named the Dutch Dike, was a dud, as it lost the first race and therefore was taken out of the braket in the first round. While Rodys fish, The Drunken Irishman, rallied all the way through to the finals, where he got completely comfused and refused to swim the right way down the water raceway. It was quite funny as some of the other fish contestants were Sushi from Japan, George W. Fish from the States, and a few others from Canada, Australia, and Sweden. I have never seen a worldwide goldfish reace in my life, let alone a goldfish race at all! It was quite fun and something I’ll always think of when I think of my last night in Cairns.

The next day we had to wake up VERY early and head to the city center and wait for our Oz bus to pick us up and take us to Townsville and over to Magnetic Island. As Miranda and I waited and waited for the bus to arrive, Miranda grew weary that we may have been in the wrong spot. I myself just sat tiredly and waited for Miranda to figure out if we were at the right pick-up place or not. While Miranda was phoning the STA headquarters I realized I had missed a call from the bus driver wondering where we were. Turns out we were in the wrong place and luckily the driver came back and picked us up. A rocky start to our adventure down the coast could have been off to a bad start! Once we were picked up from the Oz bus we headed south down the coast of Australia on our way to Townsville for the night. Along the way we stopped at a crocodile farm where we were able to hold numerous animals, including an olive python, a baby corocdile, some sort of lizard, and a cockatoo! After taking time holding each of the animals we were taken to the back where we hand fed kangaroos and gt to see the croc experts feed the huge prehistoric looking crocodiles! We were also able to see some wild boars, dingoes, emus (as well as a male emu incubating the females eggs) and even a cassowary from behind a fence. I had never seen a cassowary before, which are relatively the size of emus, but have a very colorful face and head with a wierd fin like think on the top of their heads. We learned that cassowaries are actually very dangerous and protective, and that they have a really big middle toe, whereby which they disembowel you if you get too close and cause them to be defensive. I didn’t really realize how dangerous they were until the trainer put his boot up to the fence and suddenly the giant bird flicked his claw almost immediately and let out a very intimidating hissing noise! I didn’t see the trainer put his boot up to the fence so it scared the crap out of me!

After the fun visit to the croc farm we hopped back onto the bus and headed to Townsville. In Townsville Miranda and I decided to take a ferry to a small island just off of the coast, Magnetic Island. On the way to the island we watched the most beautiful sunset and by the time we arrived it was dark. We headed to our hostel, which was the nicest hostel I have stayed in thus far, as it was right on the beach and equipped with a swimming pool, hammocks, a really spacious deck and a good bar. Mirand and I checked into our small A frame like houses and went and had some dinner on the deck and listened to the crashing waves before we headed to bed for an early night.

The next day we woke up and grabbed some breakfast before we hopped back on the ferry and arrived back in the city of Townsville where we boarded our bus and headed for Airlie Beach. The bus ride and day was very uneventful.

As Miranda and I arrived in Airlie Beach we found that our hostel was out of town, and when we arrived we found it to be the dirtiest, trashy hostel we have even stayed in before. The dirty carpet was littered with trash and out beds, which were not equipped with sheets, were full of holes. Seriously, we may have been better off sleeping in a cardboard box with the homeless! The second we arrived at the hostel we decided to take a walk into the city and grab some dinner, a drink, and reserve a room at another place for the following night.

After an early night in the dingiest hostel in history, Miranda and I checked out of our hostel and headed into town to another nicer place to lay our heads. We had the whole way free in Airlie Beach and what a better way to spend a nice sunny day than to spend money! Ha let me tell you spending money on this day was not the idea I had had in mind, but as the day drew to a close and a purchase of some jewelry and a digeridoo loomed on my credit card we decided to grab a cheap dinner and head to a bar that had drink deals. The night was a really fun one as we shared $8 pitchers of sangria and chatted with a new Irish friend and laughed at the drunken male dancers to the front of us, who busted a move to tunes like Living on a Prayer and YMCA. It was hilarious to see these men who were so drunk they didn’t realize just how rediculous they looked. I swear they pulled every bad move in the book, including the twist and the shopping cart. One guy couldn’t even raise his hands for the YMCA! But hey they were having fun, dancing like maniacs and thinking they were the best looking bunch in the bar! After laughing so hard that my stomach hurt at the dancers and a few glasses of Sangria Miranda and I decided to head to bed.

Tomorrow we’re off to the Whitsunday Islands on board the Derwent Hunter!

~Claire 

            It’s been a couple days but Claire and I have been unable to write because we’ve been sailing the Whitsundays.  Today was one of our first days to sleep in but because my body doesn’t know what that feels like anymore I’m writing while I let Claire sleep.

            Claire and I arrived in Airlie Beach on the 10th and realized our hostel was out of town so we tried to cancel but no luck.  The place was a dump.  Our mattresses looked like a pack of moths had ravaged them with tiny holes everywhere.  We found another hostel for the second night called Beaches and spent the day shopping.  That night we went to our hostel bar and met two guys, one from France and one from Ireland.  We laughed and drank while we watched drunk guys dance to tunes like Love Shack and Hey Micky.  One was so drunk he could only raise his arms half way while doing the YMCA. 

The next morning Claire and I boarded the Derwent Hunter, a light yellow tall ship and our home for the next three days.   We took off on the open blue and immediately the salty wind was rushing through my hair.  We passed dolphins and sailboats as we drove on.  I still can’t believe this is my life sometimes.

Our first stop was at a coral beach that abused our raw feet.  After the Great Barrier Reef this rocky and dying reef was no match.  However, it was fun (and freaky) when one of our crew threw fish food at us.  The fish swarmed, grazing my arms and legs.  They zoomed passed my goggles as I snapped the underwater camera.  When I stuck my head out of water Claire was on shore along with many others who thought the whole thing was crazy.

We sailed along until the stars were turning on and the half moon rose.  We pulled up along the other sailing ships and dropped anchor, their lights twinkling in the distance like the stars in the sky.  Our captain gave us a tour of the stars, constellations, and planets.  He showed us Jupiter, Mars, Saturn,  Leo, Virgo, and more before the night clouds swallowed them up.

Our cramped sleeping quarters left me sleeping under the top single and next to a German on the bottom double.  It was like sleeping in a coffin and I’m sure the girl from Germany didn’t appreciate me snoring in her ear.   When I woke and climbed above there was no sun to greet me but gray clouds that turned the water the same sad color.

We made some more stops our second day onboard.  We stopped at an island and took a small hike where we learned about ants whose bums taste like limes.  Only in Australia I tell ya!  But while our boat waited to take off we watched sea turtles break the surface to take a few breaths before they would disappear under the blue blanket.   From there we were dropped off on Whitehaven Beach where we got poured on!  Soaked from head to toe Claire and I walked along the beach writing messages in the sand and collecting some shells which were illegal to take but we’re quite sneaky.  I found a sand dollar that I couldn’t pass up.

Our final day felt so much better when the sun decided to push the clouds aside.  We went snorkeling yet again on Black Island.  Some saw sting rays and sea turtles but neither Claire or I were lucky enough to get a glimpse before the cold water made us head in.  Instead we laid on the beach soaking up the sun we missed out on yesterday.

As our boat sailed back to Airlie Beach our entire boat relaxed and enjoyed the waves.  Once docked there was a friendly dog and his owner who helped dock us.  We all took turns petting the tan and spotted visitor until we were told he was a coral sniffing dog.  As we went below to collect our belongings Claire and I left the coral we found washed up on shore, tucked in a matt.  Although the coral was already dead and the dog never sniffed either of us with our shells and sand we decided not to risk taking the natural contraband.         

So now we’re in Airlie Beach, leaving tomorrow where we will arrive in Kroombit.  Kroombit is a cattle station where Claire and I can learn how to crack a whip or join in a mini-rodeo.  yee-ha.  We’re a little nervous to see how that goes.

Thanks for reading J

Miranda

Last night Claire and I spent our last night in Cairns meeting up with our Dutch friend Rody and one of his friends at a place called the Woodshed.  We decided to check it out because of their drink specials and it was part of our hostel’s pub crawl.  It turned out to be a lot of fun, the best part being the gold fish races.  The bar had two narrow tanks with tiny checkered flags to mark the finish line.  They auctioned off goldfish representing countries around the world.  Rody bought Paddy from Ireland and I bought the something Dike from Holland.  Once the fish are dumped into the tanks you take a straw and blow bubbles behind them, encouraging them to move forward.  I think mine had a bad fin or maybe it was Claire poking him with her fingers because he didn’t make it far.  Rody’s however finished second and won him some good coupons.

                This morning we woke up early to catch our Oz Experience bus.  I wish I would have paid attention to the directions the lady behind our hostel desk gave us because Claire and I waited at the wrong spot talking to Rody and his friend while they waited for their bus for about fifteen minutes.  Claire believed we were at the right spot but I felt nervous so I called and while on the phone with the company Claire realized she had a missed call from them wondering where we were.  Apparently we were at the wrong spot.  We made out fine though as the bus came back and before long I was asleep. 

                Our bus made a pit stop at a crocodile farm where crocodiles are raised and bred for their skins.  The keepers say this is to keep fashion companies from sending poachers out and damaging the wild population but it still seemed weird to be at a crocodile farm.  We saw so many other animals like kangaroos, peacocks, boars, dingoes, and emus.  We held a little crocodile, snakes, and large birds before beginning the tour making us all squirm a little.  One of the coolest things we saw was the handlers hand feeding the HUGE crocodiles whole pieces of chicken, feet and all.  Some were there because they had caused problems around people in the wild.  The largest croc had eaten 50 of one farmers cattle including a prize winning steer worth over $10,000.  There were other awesome animals including a male emu sitting on his eggs in a trance while the keeper lifted him up revealing the large green eggs.  Another emu stalked me as our group moved around the crocs making me speed up my pace a little.  We also saw a kangaroo with a leg sticking out of her pouch eating out of our hands until a group of school children came running up. 

                We headed off yet again and took a pit stop for lunch where Claire and I were about to make sandwiches.  As we looked around for my bags with the jelly and knives I began to panic as one of my bags was apparently not there.  Claire said that it was probably in there somewhere but I had to be sure and I’m glad I did because it wasn’t.  I guess someone at our previous stop had moved it to reception and so our driver had to turn around and pick it up.

                We are currently on Magnetic Island off the coast of Townsville.  Pretty much in the middle of no where at a hostel on the beach.   There are palm trees, hammocks, little shacks, AND it’s ladies’ night!  Well my internet credit is almost done and the bar is playing games to win prizes so until next time . . .

Miranda