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Published: December 25th 2008
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Left Mackay to arrive at Hervey Bay, so much beach, very good accommodation and a nanosecond from the beach. Have decided I am just gonna have to get jb a man bag, he loses so many things, vintage Raybans, dongle, and a fab new shirt, so I pick up after him.... credit cards, sunnies, swiss army knife. Which we then couldn't locate, (why was he was more pissed off about this than me having/finding his credit cards?)
Thought I'd checked my bag but was so fed up with emptying my bag to look for his stuff (hence he needs a man bag) was really pleased when it turned up at check in! -was he? oh no! he had to walk the 30 second walk back to the car to lock it up! If he doesn't change from a grumpy old git soon.......
We were at the tiny airport to get on an very tiny plane to Lady Elliot Island, loved the look of the plane - barely enough space for 10 including the pilot, no head room no seat space tiny! As we left land and were flying over just sea I felt so claustrophobic - lost the feeling
in my legs, and felt like my head could explode, so very uncomfortable, mentally, was screaming at myself to zone out....seems like I am just pushing myself to confront every fucking situation I find difficult.
Was so pleased to arrive to find I had valium in my bag (this was chucked in the back of the plane out of reach) so was fine on way back 4 beers 2 valium iPod shuffle.....next time I will stick the vitals in my shorts pocket. The island was cute! masses of birds nesting and lovely corals, reef, we saw turtles (I saw one from the plane) and a couple off the side of the boat. Jb did brilliantly to swim alongside the really healthy one.
I was amazed to be with a reef shark, it's the 2nd time I've shared the sea with a shark, they are the most amazing fish. They have a vibe all of their own, very special, you couldn't mistake a shark for any other fish, reef sharks apparently aren't dangerous, they are so cool! I can see how people get drawn to swimming with sharks, not that it's on my list, I think I've been really
lucky to swim with the 2 I have.
This place is so snoozy, but good points - being able to see the beautiful colours of the parakeets leaving the trees as the fruit bats fly - masses of them, so 70's horror film, fab! There is a pier which is 1/2 a mile long so we walked to that, then along and back, plus they have a fitness walk, various different bits to work out on....am trying but have done so little exercise since I've been here. If they tried setting up free exercise equipment on the streets in the way they have here, well, back home they'd be vandalised in minutes.... a sad reflection on the UK. Had christmas dinner on the beach - something I'd read as a kid you did in oz, so really pleased we did, swam as the sun went down, another lovely day.
This grumpy old git hasn't found anything to moan about here. Life is sweet here at Torquay. Like B says, it's very quiet, but so very relaxing for Christmas. Most people here, like us, don't appear to be making a big deal out of it, just enjoying a
few non-working days. Even the people who run the great apartments that we are staying at took today off.
Had an early start to go to Lady Elliot Island, the southermost island on the Great Barrier reef - had to be at the tiny airport at 7.30 for an 8.10 departure on a Britten-Norman Islander, it was a cramped 35 minute flight offshore, but it turned out to be sooooo worth it. Even the bit where we landed on what looked like an oversize tennis court!!!
The island is in the highest conservation category on the reef, visitor numbers are restricted, consequently the environment is pristine. Mind you it cost us half a weeks budget for one day out but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. This was the snorkeling experience that I have been searching for ever since going out to the reef at Grand Cayman 20-odd years ago. The day was made really special by meeting some great people while we were there. Seeing places is great when you're travelling, meeting new people makes it all worth while.
Highlight of the day was swimming alongside a turtle who indulged me long enough to
get some great video before giving me a sideways look that seemed to say "got enough yet?" and then diving off, down into a coral cave, leaving me alone again. It was a day I didn't want to end, it was over all too soon. Maybe I'll find some more good sea stuff on our travels, but it's going to have to go some to compare to this.
Hervey Bay is pretty developed, but it's not yet spoiled. It's so fortunate that the sea doesn't get warm enough for stingers yet doesn't get the colder southern currents.
It would be nice if we can get over to Fraser Island for our last day here tomorrow, we'll see.
Meantime......... happy holidays to everyone, enjoy whatever time you get with your loved ones.... we only come this way once.
I've been listening to the Grandaddy song "Now it's on", it's put me in a much more positive frame of mind. Go on, google it, look at the video, read the lyrics.
'I wouldn't trade my place
I got no reason to be
Weathered and withering
Like in a season of the old me'
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Dani
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Man Bag
Please make that a "Designer Man Bag " for him ! But he will still have you keeping track of things. I had to enlarge the picture of said man on the beach. Then I realized it was a "Doo Rag " on JB's head and not a wig ! Man Bag and Wig, Oh yeah ! Don't come to Kansas, Fred Phelps would be watching you !