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Published: November 14th 2011
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Up and about early as it's Paulina's first day as a volunteer with the dolphins and she's awake and marching around the room from 6am...this is no bad thing as I want to get down to the beach to see the dolphin feeding again at 7.45. It's such a lovely tranquil time of day and it's beautiful watching the dolphins come in to feed and then swim away (normally only to return half an hour later for seconds...). Paulina is on the team feeding the dolphins for 5 days which any backpacker can sign up for - wish I'd done more research on this as I'd love to have done the same.
Still, at the feeding, Paulina has to randomly select punters to give the dolphin she's looking after (Piccolo today) a fish. I'm 'randomly' (thanks Paulina :-) ) picked to give the last fish to the dolphin. Laying the fish down in the water, Piccolo picked up the fish quickly but gently before turning around and swimming off into the ocean. A lovely experience (lucky that my 'roomie' helped me out on this one).
Back at the bar area, the guy who invited me to the party asked where I'd got to last night. Oops. I had to escape. In an impromptu moment, I decided immediately to get on the Shotover catamaran to do the wildlife sailing tour departing in 15 mins time. A snip at AUD74 when you get a bonus sunset sail thrown in and don't have to continue an awkward conversation about your whereabouts last night. There's about 20 of us on the boat, including the two staff. Old Badmintonians, you'll appreciate this in that the skipper was clearly Mr Rock. In fact you'd have a job to tell them apart and I had a job not to call him Mr Rock rather than his actual name (believe this and you'll believe anything) Sparks. Second in command, was a very handsome if very young guy, who the older ladies flirted with even more than the younger ones....despite the presence of their husbands.
At sea, having been provided with very unflattering but highly practical anti-glare sunnies, we saw dolphins, dugongs, sea snakes, loggerhead turtles, 40 stingrays and seaweed during the course of the three hour trip. Beautiful sights to be seen of the animals as well as the stunning coastline, with Quinn providing witty commentary for those interested in ocean life, and the eye candy for those just going along for the ride. In an amusing turn of events, I got soaked by a rogue wave enroute, which prompted hysterical laughing by Mr Rock's second-in-command, followed by him offering towels and a jacket once threatened with being lobbed overboard.
Back at the resort, grabbed lunch and went for a dip in the icy swimming pool with fellow morning-boat-cruisers. Freezing is the understatement, plus I appeared to be sharing the pool with seagulls. Unamused. The hot bath was much more pleasant - a jacuzzi without the bubbles - but soon it was time for a quick beer and back on the boat again.
Paulina managed to stow away on the cruise. It wasn't difficult. She just asked and they let her on board for nothing. I need to learn these backpacker tricks! Another German girl, Dominique, also a volunteer with the dolphins team, joined us to sail out to watch the sunset over Monkey Mia. Mr Rock and Quinn too. Quinn's safety opening gambit this time dwelled on describing where the 'wet zones' were on the boat and how you could get soaked sitting there, before laughing a lot again (as did all 'in the know' about my earlier incident!). Shame he didn't mention that earlier in the day! We lay on the catamaran netting and chilled out before watching the stunning sunset. Fantastic.
Back at the ranch and it was time for a quick dinner, glass of wine and then bed. More company tonight in our dorm, as we have a Swiss couple staying too (yep, these are mixed dorms so one guy and one girl). Really lovely but only staying one night, so Paulina will have the run of the place tomorrow. Until more new people turn up. It's one of the best places I've stayed at in terms of meeting new people, being able to chill by the barbecues and drink beer by the beach. A real little haven and I'll be sorry to leave tomorrow. But leave I must - with Geraldton, the halfway house to Perth, the destination. Fire up the i30....
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