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Published: June 23rd 2007
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Horseshoe Bay
It had to be done! WARNING THIS ENTRY CONTAINS SNAKES, BIRDS AND SPIDERS!!!
Well I've found another internet room with USB drive so time to share my Magnetic Island experience - we officially were involved in some record breaking.....the coldest, wettest weather in the dry tropics ever!! I slept in two pairs of pjs, woolly socks, a hooded sweatshirt, sheet and two fleece blankets each night. The dry tropics aren't designed for bad weather, for instance our bungalow was wooden with open slots at the front covered with mosquito nets and no shutters. They also don't have any indoor eating areas so a cold time was had.
Going back a few days Port Douglas was a good hostel, had a few nights out then got back to Cairns for two nights and had a good couple of wet but warm days and then evenings drinking goon (cheap boxed wine) and playing Shithead (very popular backpacking card game). The building of card towers, BBQs and even the cutting of hair with face razors and forks ensued after such nights (not cutting my hair by the way, a guy at the hostel wanted a trim so asked Erin to do it as her Mum is
a hairdresser!?!?! We didn't have a comb so a plastic fork was used instead, she did a pretty good job!).
Following many a late night we headed to Magnetic Island, which consisted of a 6 hour coach drive, a 20 minute ferry then a bus all in the rain. I headed over a day earlier than Erin so was a bit miffed to be met with rain and cold weather and to find the cast of golden girls sharing a cabin with me - one lady was half deaf and couldn't have been a day under 80! She complained a lot and was really suffering with the cold, poor thing but I don't really know why she was in a youth hostel! I went for an explore, found no one so ate my tea by myself. I think it was the first time I've been by myself so far, I ended up in bed by 9pm due to weather and boredom! When I was getting to sleep another young face joined the room and we ended up chatting and went for a walk the next day. The new face was Pasquale from Holland. One of the ladies from the
I found a beach!
As you can see by the colour of me no suntan yet but still a lovely beach surrounded by rainforest in Port Douglas! previous night recommended a walk where you get to see wild koalas so me and Pasquale decided to track them down, umbrellas and three layers of clothing in tow! We ended up on a 5 mile walk (Dad will be proud!) in the rain and saw not one koala or bit of wildlife. The walk took us to the old forts used in WW2 and the views were lovely so it was worth getting some exercise. Once we were almost back at the hostel we saw 2 kangeroos and a wild guinea pig!?! Our hostel was part of a nature reserve so there were loads of birds around too.
Erin arrived that night to the sound of a load of parakeets being fed, me and Pasquale had been commenting how tame they were earlier but they land all over you when they're being fed. As the photos show I wasn't quite sure if I liked the noise and wings in my face when holding up a piece of bread! That night we asked what was good to see and the best thing was Toad Racing at the next hostel along - an interesting, one off kind of night! It
Top for Fort Walk!
Lots of pebble attempts of rocks back down! involved a man who looked and sounded like a giant toad himself auctionning off toads with different coloured ribbons around them and then racing them, all for charity. There were cash prizes and hideous toad racing t-shirts to be won. We watched all the races then had to head home as the last bus was 9.55pm. The bus driver informed us that 6 months ago the island was party island but it had all died down and become a lot more family and couple orientated as our hostel suggested!
After an early night we wandered down to the local beach, Horseshoe Bay, were put off with more rain so rented a moke. These are a cross between a go-kart and a car and were a source of fun for Erin and I whizzing up and down the island. The island is only 12km or so in total so we went around a few times. I scared Erin and Pasquale as the brakes left a lot to be imagined and the seat moved so I was making high pitched squeals as I drove down the hills with my break to the floor (which wasn't making much of a difference). Don't
worry we all lived to tell the tale! A group of kids shouted here comes Team Honey so that stuck as our driving name!
On the last day we went to a sanctuary bushwalk organised at our hostel. My fear level must have gone down as I held an array of animals including Barbie the croc and a snake. The pictures are all below, I have about 60 in total so I will show the rest when I come home! The actual bushwalk was a bit scarier as it was very muddy and we saw lots of spiders. The spiders scared me the most, I was grimacing more than smiling on the spider pics!
Well I am now actually in Airlie Beach where there are a lot of people outside, live music and a generally party atmosphere. We have a twin room for the night as they were fully booked so we are going out as we have got lots of sleep in over the past few days. I didn't realise I had done so much on Maggie Island until I blogged! Well until next time...Good Avvro All!
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Linda Birch
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Hitchcocks "The Birds" come to mind
Very brave, no very,very brave. The snake wouldn't have bothered me nor the baby croc, but those birds ugh sends shivers down my spine. The photos are great. Seems like you are having a ball, meeting lots of new friends as I said you would, it looks fantastic, the toad racing looked good fun. Lets hope the weather changes soon. It is not very good here, rain rain and more rain. Missing you, it's very quite no fighting for the talking stick, your Dad is impressed by the washing basket. I had tea with Grandma today, she was made up that you had phoned her. take care Love and Hugs, Linda xxxxxx