continued

26.3.08

So far we've checked out of our rooms, had a briefing, watched a promo dvd about fraser island, packed our 10 person 4WD and done a supermarket shop and its only 10.30am!

People in our van:

Lauren Nickoli P (Norway)
Kathleen Nickoli I (Norway)
Matt Jessica (Switzerland)
Me Ramona (Switzerland)
Ricky Clare

After Matts 4th time of stalling the van we finally made it to the ferry. Reached Fraser Island after lunch and it was a bumpy ride through the rainforest to get to 75 mile beach on the other side of the island unfortunately it turned out to be a little too bumpy as we began to hear an abnormal clunking sound. First thought it was a flat tyre but they were all fine so we carried on. The clunking got worse so had to ring mechanic on the island when we reached a place called Happy Valley (not so much). Had to bail on the days activities and just made it to the mechanics without the car completely falling apart.

All sat round while we waited for Pete to take a look. Pete looked like he needed a good meal, he was slightly island crazy with a tshirt that was barely holding on to his skinny body, but all credit to him he drove the car two feet forwards and managed to tell us it was a broken trans axel (which apparently isnt a good thing) as the sun was setting and we were sitting among broken caravans and buses and giant spiderwebs with spiders in them that looked as if they could eat you whole if the fancy took them, oh and not forgetting the dingoes prowling round, needless to say the conversation turned to jokes about how all horror movies start . Lauren went to call the hostel to get us a replacement car the next day, we only hoped shed return....(if any one has seen wolf creek youll understand what I mean).

Against all odds we made it to a campsite and managed to put up our tents and start the BBQ I cooked burgers and sausages and sweetcorn (and it was delicious if i do say so myself). After dinner we had so deep conversations about love at first sight, what makes you speak to some people when your travelling and not others, religion and the amazing stars that we could see. Ricky is a fountain of knowledge on really random stuff, he says

"we drive on the left handside of the road because it dates back to jousting when most people were right handed and so would hold the joust in that hand" - hes also very good at lying so...

"The shutter on the Hubble telescope had to be open for 4 months to collect enough light to take a picture of the Andromeda Galaxy!"

27.3.08

Woke up eary this morning after a dingo filled night of adventure (close encounters to say the least!)
The guys from the hostel brought us over a new van on the first ferry and thanked us cuz it meant they got to go fishing instead of working.
We headed straight to Lake Wabby an amazing fresh water lake with a sand dune on one side. Spent a few hours there, running down the dunes. Met up with 3 guys we spent st paddys day with in Mission Beach.
Travelled further up the beach to the Maheno shipwreck and then headed to Indian Head and the Champagne Pools. We saw 2 rays, a turtle and a shark!

Set up camp again and Nick cooked pasta and sausages. Had to make an emergency rain cover so nick climbed a tree and i held the torch (very important job). The rest of the evening consisted of us huddled together taking random photos and getting steadily more and more drunk (Kathleen more so than everyone else). We all walked down to the beach when the rain stopped and unluckily for an unsuspecting crab we managed to pick it up and began trying to work out if it was a boy or a girl (dont ask!?)
Collapsed into our tents after a long day (Lauren couldnt manage to undress or take off her glasses lol)

28.3.08
Up early again, went to Lake Mackenzie this morning (was really beautiful) and after swimming everyone fell asleep on the beach. Unfortunately fooled by the cloudy sky we all suffered burnt bottoms (lesson learned).
Headed back to Kingfisher Bay later that day and caught the ferry back to the mainland. Frasr island was a learning curve for me I now know what a broken transaxel sounds like and Im an expert at peeing in bushes, the memory of 6 girls all squatting behind a van and peeing in unison will stay with me for a long time to come lol!

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