Hanging a bit looser in the Everglades at Noosa

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Monday 13.03.06
We were up early this morning as the bus was leaving for our canoeing trip at 8am. Slept surprisingly well! Best sleep since we've been away.
We (Andy, Derek, Florian and I) got taken to a house where we picked up all our gear (barrels, cookers, tent). Here we met up with the people who booked through a tour company called 'Peterpans'. We were going to book through them but ours was cheaper and you get 2 free nights else where! And we spent the whole trip with them so it was exactly the same yet cheaper!!
We paid our ferry taxi fees and loaded up the boat (walking through the water). On the boat was an aboriginal guy called 'water' he was very funny and a little crazy. He took an instant shine to Andy. He played his digeredoo as we went across the lake. It took us about 20 minutes to cross lake Cootharaba to a cabin on the edge of the lake.

At the cabin we got another short briefing and loaded up our canoes. Unfortunately we had been under the impression that we could do this trip on our own, but it was very much a group thing (which everyone else knew) so to start with we held back and felt a bit out of it. By staying back we could see and feel how peaceful it was. All you could hear were the birds and the paddles in the water. It was beautiful.
There were 12 in our group, English, Canadian, French, Irish, Israeli and German.

The river is coloured brown and you can't see what's underneath. This isn't because it's dirty it's because of the tea tree oil in the water. They call it the mirror river because the reflections that you get on the river is amazing. Some of them you can't even see the join from the real object.

It was a nice hot day, after a couple of hours canoeing across a huge lake and down the river we arrived at our destination, Harrys Hut. (Never saw Harry though). Here we set up camp, then had a swim in the river.
Now when we told dad Allen he was concerened about the crocs. But there are no crocs, I checked this out. But what we later found out (at the briefing) is that there are bull sharks in the river!! But not to worry, there hadn't been an attack in 40 years. (I reckon we are due one then!) So that was a little worrying.

Whilst we were all swimming Andy went over the other side of the river in the canoe and fished with a hand line. He caught a big catfish, on cheese, but nothing we could eat.

That evening we sat about playing cards, cooked our tea on the camp stove and chatted. Andy got our candles out and made a mini camp fire on the table, which nearly set it on fire.
As soon as the darkness came in at about 5.30pm, 10 minutes later everyone was asking what the time was as we all thought it was much later than it was. Time suddenly went so slow, all night.

Tuesday 14.03.06
Up early aching after a hard nights sleep on the floor.
6 of the people in our group left as there were only staying for night (which really seemed pointless), but this was actually better in a small group and was easier to make friends. They headed off at 8am whilst we had our breakfast (bacon sandwiches)
Today we had a big day so we set off at 8.30am to campsite 3. After 6km paddling we arrived at the campsite and went for a swim in the river to cool off. After a little rest we started the 12km round trip to a massive sand patch called Cooloola sand patch, (dune) on the side of a hill. The walk was nice, not too hard but very hot with lots of thorny plants.
After about an hour and a half of walking through bush it opened out onto a huge sand dune. It was impressive (but not as impressive to us as we had already been to Fraser). We had a walk about and had our lunch in the shade on the sand.
After lunch we set off back down the track through the bush to the inviting river where we had another swim to cool off. That was lovely! I don't think any of us were particularly looking forward to the 6 km back to Harrys Hut. Never the less off we went for 2 more hours of canoeing. At this point Andy and I were still not so good at canoeing in a straight line so we probably travelled 10 km back in a zig zag. A little frustrating and tempers were thin.

Eventually we made it back at around 4.30pm.
Andy and I had a bit of a wash (as there are no showers here and only stinking long drop toilets.) I played cards with the others(Derek-irish, Janine-canadian, Tanguy-french, Florian-german) while Andy went fishing (he's getting his tackle out quite regularly now he he has got some!) on the jettie. Andy caught a 60cm eel which went back.

This night we stayed near the jettie and cooked there with 3 wild kangeroos around us eating the grass, how cool? They weren't scared at all. That night we also saw a possum and a large lace monitor.
After dinner we sat on the jettie with beers that Derek had kindly given us and played some games, it was really good fun. Whilst we were all chatting Andy caught something else.(Whilst I, Andy was sat there I felt a little movement, my heart fluttered, it felt like a big one I uncrossed my legs to get a better grip on the jetty, it was putting up a tough fight, I managed to get a glimpse of what it was, all of a sudden A TURTLES HEAD popped out I couldn't believe it and neither could anyone else! luckily it broke off and I saw the TURTLES HEAD plop back below the surface. HA HA HA
All night we sat on that jetty, chatting, playing games which the French guy, the German guy and Andy didn't understand until nearly bedtime, this was funny, the French Guy was crazy. The moon was amazing the night was quiet and still and The reflection on the river was beautiful, the moon and stars were perfectly reflected.
Just the thought that there were probably some of the lucky few to spend this night in such pretty surroundings was great.

Wednesday 15.03.06
Up early again as we had to pack up all the tents and our stuff to head back to civilisation. After breakfast we were on the river for about 8am as we had to be back at 10am to meet the boat.
We got back to the pick up point by 9.20am, plenty of time. Our canoeing skills had obviously improved.
As we unloaded the canoes the boat arrived with the next group. We loaded the boat and set off across the lake.
Unloaded the gear, took it back to the house where we aired the tents and washed the cooking kits. From here we were taken back to the Gagaju bush camp. Unfortunately we had to hang around there until 2pm. We didn't fancy using their showers again even though we had not had one for a couple of days.
After what seemed like an eternity of waiting we got dropped off back at Noosa Backpackers, back into our old room 'Wabby'. First thing was a shower and then into Noosa Heads to use the internet and we treated ourselves to a KFC.
Back at the hostel we met up with Derek to give him his money back and to buy him a drink or 2.

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