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charlie's 5 months of fun
Fraser island safari was definiately an experience!!!! so much so that we actually entered our story into a travelling magazine to see if we could gain some money from our excitement so i thought instead of writing my own entry id just add the article that we sent in, here goes...enjoy!
5 English, 2 Irish, 2 Canadian and 2 Korean in a 4 X 4. Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, right? Anyway, 11 people who just met on their way to the barge to get to Fraser Island, trying to break the ice with one another. We were following the guy from the car rental place, Bob (who we call fun Bobby), we there is a loud BANG! The car bumps up and down, then smoke and sparks come flying out the back end of the truck. The driver somehow manages to pull the vehicle over and we get out to find the rear left wheel is now down the road about 200m from where it should be. At this point we made our first group decision to tap into the beer supply early as the situation was very unsettling and seemingly required it. After a few minutes fun Bobby returned, called his mechanic and had a new 4 X 4 on its way. At this point conversation seemed a lot easier as time passed we even found the situation funny. Fun Bobby, not so much.
Soon the new 4 X 4 arrived and we were off. We even made the barge on time. The rest of the day went pretty well, playing on the lakes and beaches. Night fell, we ate and set up camp. It was pretty standard; a birthday celbration, with cake, a few cocktails and a naked starlight beach race, which only one person was running. Let's not forget enough sand and water in our tents (from rain) to make any sleep very difficult, not to mention one tent didn't have a proper cover so sleeping was a little more cramped than it should have been.
We woke up to more rain causing us to get a late start on the day. After breakfast and loading up the car we were ready to go. One problem, NO KEY! After an hour or so of looking and unpacking the oldest, but not wisest member of the group decided to check his pockets and called off the search. WERE OFF!...not quite. The rain caused the car to get bogged down. As it turns out our 4 Wheel drive was not so 4 wheel. It would not engage. After flagging down locals, we were able to get out. Well, they were able to get us out. Of course, not before they took plenty of photots, which they will surely be laughing at later. Even the kids aged no more tha 7 or 8 had a few cracks at our expense.
We were now off for real. A phone call was made to get a new vehicle that could actually get through the rugged terrain. Car number three, we aptly named ol' Faithful. We met the mechanic and Maheno Shipwreck to exchange vehicles and had a few more jokes made at our expense. The second night started with a good meal, more drinking games and unfortunately ended in more rain and cold. Though somehow unbeknownst to us, the two Koreans managed to stay more and dry both nights!
Despite the curse Fraser Island seemed to have put on us we kept drinking, joking and having a great time. The third and final day started with rain, but after a good card game in the back of ol' Faithful, we had breakfast and enjoyed our first proper sunshine at Lake Mackenzie. Once back in Hervey Bay Ol' Faithful seemed to be on her last legs, the noises coming from here did not soud right. But she got us home safe and sound. We Survived!!!
3 cars down, Fun Bobby said we will hold the record for most broken down cars for a long time!
So there you go- drama after drama but still had so much fun and met a really cool bunch of people too!
After hervey bay, we headed to rainbow beach - pretty place, very quite but really only 3 things to do there - sunbathe on the beach, go the fraser island and go to the carlo sandblow - that was incredible, il have to show you all the photos when i get back!
After rainbow beach, we spent 4 days in noosa which i loved! we stayed in the most chilled out hostel so far-surrounded by sofas, rugs and hammocks, and smelling of incense!! noosa itself is pretty small but really nice - we went for a walk round the national park which goes along the coast so had magnificent views the whole way round (except for when we came across the nudest beach and saw way too much of old men than we needed to see!!!!) and also went to Australia zoo, the home of steve irwin and family! saw steves wife and 2 children and watched his oldest child Bindi perform some very cheesy animal dance-routines with her male sidekicks, the crocmen!! saw loads of animals and stroked a kangaroo and a koala - had a really nice day! Only one bad experience in noosa - the only night we went out, ended very abruptly because we randomly got egged by a passing car- carly got the most, i got some and imogen managed to be missed completely!! all very strange!!
......and now we're in brisbane! largest place weve been to so far and all seems really nice!
think thats it - your updated...for now!
lots of love to allxxxx
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