December 12, 2004

Bus from Brisbane to Hervey Bay

This morning I got up at 6h. I went to get dressed and went down to eat breakfast. After I came back to the second floor where my room was to brush my teeth and pack the rest of my belongings. Then I checked out (using the lift for the first time. The lift is very old, the kind you open the door yourself. I did not really trust it but my bags were heavy so I decided to use it.) I got 20$ back from the key deposit and the crockery kit deposit. At 6h55 began the difficult walk to the transit centre. It was not far but the bag was heavy! I did make it though with plenty of time to spare. At the transit centre it was nice because you could actually check your backpack in and they take it and put it in the bus for you so I did not have to mind it or carry it when I walked around the transit centre to go to the bathroom. I got assigned seat 9A and slept a bit on the bus which left at 7h45. At around 10h we stopped at a Matilda gas station (which had cafe, food, etc) and stayed there for about an hour before going on to Hervey Bay. After that stop there was a movie playing: Finding Nemo. I had seen it already but decided to watch it again. We rrived at Hervey Bay 20 minutes early but then I had to wait in the hostel courtesy bus 35 minutes for another Greyhound to arrive with more guests (it was late, supposed to be there before I was!). At the hostel I checked in and got room #102 with a lot of beds but only 3 in use. I choose one near the ceiling fan so that I'd get some air blowing while in bed because it is really hot and humid here. Then I went to settle things at reception but did not get quite a nice service... The guy there was almost rude, I got the feeling he thought I was dumb for asking the question (Is drop-off earlier than 8pm possible? HIM: No. Either 8pm or find your own way.) Was said in a rude way. I think they were not happy I was not doing their Fraser Island tour... Then later I went back to use the Internet and he was happy again. Very strange. The hostel is decent but not enough laundry! I would have liked to clean my towel but I'll have to find another option... Hand wash or maybe just buy a new one. It's still good but it's really stinky because of all the times I've used it by saltwater. Later I did find the real guest laundry which was outside! So I did a wash (2,40$) and hung it outside to dry. It was so hot that it was drying in no time! My neck felt a bit sore so I went to rest on my bed. After that I went to make pasta for dinner with things bought at the little store near the hostel. Then I brought the clothing back inside because I was scared it would rain on them and the ones that were not dry I hung on the free bed frames. After I went to the TV room and watched a very old CSI. Then when 3rd Watch came on (an episode I had seen, but still nice!) I was left on my own... I guess the others did not like this show but I was happy!! Then I went to bed after the show was over.

December 13, 2004

Fraser Island & Bus to Airlie Beach

This morning I got up at around 6h30. I could not sleep anymore so I decided to get ready for the 7h50 tour pick-up. I got dressed, did my toiletry in the bathroom and then had breakfast. After that I packed my stuff and checked out of the hostel. I got to put my bag in their storage room for the day. The tour guide, Peter, arrived 5 minutes early but I was ready and waiting for a little while so it was all good. In the group total there was 12 people. All of the above 40 years old. I was the only young one!!! I think it is because this was the exclusive tour and not the safari tour. But I had chosen exclusive because it said "smaller goup" and I like that and also the things we were going to see seemed nicer. At about 8h30 we took the ferry "Fraser Dawn" to Fraser Island. The ride was about 50 minutes and I sat outside on the 3rd level enjoying the breeze and the sound of the waves. Then on Fraser Island, the guide went to get our 4WD bus and brought it on the barge because we would get wet otherwise because of the waves. Then we rode to Lake Allom and I got to sit in front first (everyone gets a turn). We got there, I changed into my swimming gear and went for a swim. It was deserted except for one little family. I liked the calm of it and that it was almost exmpty. Only one other person came to swim for 2 minutes, I stayed about 10-12 minutes in (could not be long we only had 30 minutes there). Then we drove to Cathedral Beach where our lunch was waiting for us. I had some cheese cubes while waiting (entree) and then it was steak, bread (so fresh!) and salads for lunch. It was delicious. To drink there was a choice of beer, wine or soda drinks, I just had some Sprite. It took so long at lunch, 1h15 or so!! Then we went to see the Colored Sands (5 minutes) and the Maheno Shipwreck (5 minutes too, my favorite with Lake Allom swim). It was beautiful shipwreck on a beautiful beach. Then we stopped at Eli Creek for another optionnal swim but when I saw how much peolpe were there I decided to skip this one. It was sooooo crowded. I just walked in the water instead, which was still refreshing. Then we went to Fraser Island Retreat for afternoon tea, not even 1h30 after lunch! I was still full but had some things anyways (free, got to make the most of it!): chocolate chip muffin, chocolate croissant, fruit and orange juice. After that, we were supposed to leave 20 minutes later. 1h45 later we were leaving! The bus had problems so they had to fix quickly and older one (huge coach) and we got on that finally after waiting so long. Half way through though we lost the air conditionning and a battery alarm went on! We were dropped off in the Yidney Scrub (a rainforest) to walk around on the path but the original plan was a guided walk. The guide had to stay behind to check out if he could fix the bus but he could not so the way back to the boat was so hot! We were about 45 minutes late at the boat. At 18h or so the boat left. I bought a Coke on board (1,80$) and watched the beautiful sunset go down. At 19h15 I was back at the hostel and had time for a quick shower (and it was so warm I was as sweaty after my shower than before!). Then I bought Chewy bars at the convinience store and was ready to take the 7h55 shuttle to the bus. There I waited 25 minutes for the bus to come. I got seat 9A (and 9B!). So I then made myself a Nutella sandwich for dinner with an apple and watched "Honey" on the movie screen. It was just an ok movie. Then I slept at about 23h.

December 14, 2004

Arrival in Airlie Beach, Spending the Day Walking Around & The Boat Adventure Begins

On the bus I woke up at about 2h at the Rockhampton stop and went to use the restroom and went back on the bus and back to sleep until 6h for the breakfast stop. At 9h15 we arrived in Airlie Beach, on the top of the hill overlooking the beautiful blue-green sea! I was so happy to be here! At the bus stop I prepared my bag for storage and then went to Peterpans (the place that would store my bag for the sailing trip). I could not put it in until 10h so I went to use the Internet for 45 minutes (1$). After that I stored my bag and was off to the Southern Cross Sailing office to check in for that evening on the Solway Lass. I also hired a wetsuit (to protect agains't jellyfish). That was 15$ (+50$ credit card imprint as deposit). Also was the extra reef tax of 27$. I left my little bags there for the day (the ones I'd bring on the boat) and was free to explore little Airlie Beach. I lazied around the Esplanade, sitting/laying on a bench because I was so tired. At about 11h30 I went to Subway for lunch (8$) and had my sub in the air conditionned comfort. Then I went to Peterpans to use the Internet again but it was very busy so I had to wait from 12h to 12h50 but that was fine, I had plenty of time to spare! After using the net for 1h (1$), I read brochures until 14h30 and then went to look at the shops in the area. I stopped at a bead shop and made a bracelet (3,70$, killed 30 minutes), bought a magazine (4$) and went to McDonalds to eat dinner (6$, McChicken Nuggets which were crap!). Then I went back to the Esplanade where I sat and read my magazine a bit. It was comfortable there because of the shade and the wind. Then I went to get my bags from the boat's office and went to the public toilet to change in pants and warmer shirt. I sat for a while on a bench at the Esplanade again and then finally it was time to go to the pick-up spot for the courtesy bus which would bring me to the boat. There we waited for the second half of the group to arrive and then a crew member from the boat escorted us to the Solway Lass. All the crew was there to welcome us, wearing their nicest clothing/apparel. They sprayed my bag with a bed bug spray and then assigned me to room 3. I choose a bottom bed in the bunks (4 beds) and then went back on deck for the captain's security/rules speach. They needed a volunteer and no one did so John (crew) pointed at me and said: "Her! She just put her hand up!" So I volunteerd and had to model the life jacket in the presentation. Then the cook Zane talked about how meals worked. Then Juan & John explained about the bar. And that was it! The crew was:
Captain - Buster
Cook - Zane
Volunteer - Joanna
Decky - John
Bossum - Gazza
Bar - Juan
+ 32 guests.
In my room there was an Englishman, a Scottishman and a German woman. We left Airlie Beach and it was dark so I could not see anything on the boat or where we were going and that made me very sleepy. I went for a rest on my bed until we got to our anchor spot and then would get up for the late evening meal. Later the German girl came in and it woke me up and she said I could have soup and bread so I got up quickly and went to eat a bit of soup. Then I had a quick shower in the miniature shower&toilet combined and was off to sleep.

December 15, 2004

1st Day Sailing: Nara Inlet & Osprey Bay (Hook Island) and Chance Bay (Whitsunday Island)

At 7h I woke up and we were anchored at beautiful Nara Inlet off Hook Island. I wanted to use the bathroom but the 2 were occupied and there was even a long cue! So I had to wait. Then I went to the deck to have brekky. We had different cereal choices, toast and fresh tropical fruit. Then we moved to Osprey Bay near Hook Island. On the way there a diving instructor came on board and offered us introductory dives for 75$ so I decided to try after confirming with him it would be ok with my neck problem. At first I wanted to snorkel but I thought when is it that I will get a chance to dive in the Whitsundays again? So I went for diving. The tender boat brought us to the dive boat and we got ready for diving. I had my wet suit on, my mask (took it from the Solway Lass), a lead belt and a vest with the diving equipment (bottle of air, pressurizers, etc). I felt so heavy with all the equipment on. Our group was 4 people + the instructor: me, German girl and 2 other people. At first we learned how to breathe using the mouth piece. Then we swam on the surface breathing in the water. Then at a spot where it was a bit deeper, the instructor made us go under the water and just wait there and see how it feels to breathe under water. I really did not like the feeling I got under water. I started to breathe very quickly and felt like I was not getting any air (but I was)! I signalled to the instructor that I wanted to go back up and he pressed a button and I floated to the top. He joined me and calmed me down and suggested I tried again. I did. This time I concentrated on my breathing, looking around me at the others, seeing it was ok and I could breathe normally underwater. I was alright. Then the German girl freaked out and she left and did not join us on the dive. The instructor held my hand as we were swimming around at a dept of 6m. I saw many corals, a few fishes, etc. It was nice. After a while though I was very tired and just wanted to go back to the top. But we had more to see. After we were done and came back to the surface I was so proud of myself that I had done it! I waited a bit by the beach and finally our tender boat came back to get us and bring me back to the Solway. Then I took a quick shower and felt good again. My right ear was blocked though because of the diving but some experienced divers told me it would go back to normal with time so I trusted them. Then we sailed (using the 3 front sails on the mast) all the way down to Chance Bay off Whitsunday Island. It would be our anchor spot for the night. I enjoyed greatly watching the crew put the sails up and down and just looking at the scenery go by while we were peacefully moving on the sea. I also got a Turks Head bracelet on my right ankle. John told me it was worn on the left ankle by sailors who had passed one of the cape's, for example, the bottom tip of South Africa or South America. A sailor would put it on their right ankle or also on the right ankle of their wife or girlfriend while they were at sea so that other people would know that woman was taken. John did not have time to finish the bracelet though as he had to go put the sails down as we arrived at Chance Bay. I watched him, Gazza and Juan climb up the mast and work on tucking the sails in and tying them up. It was simply amazing to watch. Then after that was all done and we were anchored he had time to finish off my ankle bracelet. Some people used the tarzan swing rope to jump from the boat to the ocean but I had showered already and did not feel like getting all salt water wet again. So I just watch and I think I had as much fun as if I had jumped also. Then dinner was ready: rice, chicken, salad and gravy. It was alright, but the chicken was a bit too spiced. After that I browsed through the boat's guestbook and then went to bed at about 22h to be fit to wake up at 5h and watch the sunrise.

December 16, 2004

2nd Day Sailing: Whitehaven Beach & Tounge Bay (Whitsunday Island) and Baird Point (Hook Island)

I slept very well and at 5h I was up. I was told the previous evening by Gazza that the sun would be up at about 5h20 and at 5h it was light but still no sun and a bit of rain. I went back down and thought about waking up the German girl (she asked me to) but as it did not seem like it was going to be a nice sunrise I did not, I thought she might like to sleep. 5 minutes later though she and a Swiss girl did join me on the deck. I was glad they did because it turned out that it was a beautiful sunrise.