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Accommodation: Beaches Driver: Keeno
Sailing The Whitsunday's on The Condor: 15/07/10 - 23/07/10
We caught the ferry early in the morning back over to Townsville (pleased to say it was a lot less windy this time) and we were greeted at the ferry port by our next Oz Experience driver Keeno. The journey was so long and there wasn't much to look at outside, so I stretched out over two seats and fell asleep for the majority of the journey.
I had booked my Whitsundays sailing trip when I booked my Oz Experience pass back up in Cairns, however it was an open ticket and I therefore had to phone and confirm a date in which to set sail. I rang up and was told that I could go the following day (16th July) or five days later. I really didn't fancy waiting nearly a week, but after the intense partying on Magnetic island a few recovery days were very much needed.. However, at 23 recovery is not an option, so the following day it was.
Packing for three days on a boat was a little tricky, particularly because there were guidelines on what bag to take, no zippers (due to bed bugs nesting in the zips) and nothing too big because of the small amount of space on board. I settled on a small cotton bag which I packed to the brim (being the light traveller that I am).
Tyla, a girl I had met on my first Oz Experience bus journey was also on the same boat, which was awesome. We boarded the Condor and we were ready to set sail. We got the chance to pull the ropes and crank the sail, so we could really ride the ocean. The crew members and fellow travellers were amazing, I couldn't have been put with a nicer bunch of people. After a day at sea, a snorkel/ scuba dive stop and some scrumptious food, the boat was put to rest for the evening under hundreds of stars, it was truly amazing, we played a few drinking games and just got to know each other.
Day two on the boat - we sailed (very choppy waters) to Whitehaven Beach (pictured below) and wow what a beach! I have been on some beaches in my life, but nothing can describe the beauty of Whitehaven.. utter paradise!! The sand, like powder in between your toes, the water, gorgeous, a mixture of umpteen shades of blue, it was just beautiful. The silica-sand is so precious not even a remnant can be taken from the beach. It is amazing, you can use it to clean your teeth (if you're brave enough to put it in your mouth, knowing you may be crunching on it for the rest of the day) and you can use it to clean your jewellery. We took a few crazy photos (the classic jumping ones) and explored the island before getting back on the boat. After a few more hours of sailing, the anchor went down and we stationed for the evening. More singing and more drinking took place. We were sat on the deck, a little windy (as I was about to find out), and a big gust of wind blew my hat off, my poor reaction time and limited co-ordination (alcohol induced) could not grasp it before it went overboard. I can't describe how gutted I was when I looked over to see that it was nowhere in sight, I was told that because it was straw there was no chance of finding it as it would have sank in seconds. Still peering over and watching the torch bounce off the water I uttered farewell to my hat and sat back down. After a few minutes of drowning my sorrows (hehe) and getting back into the spirit of the sing-a-long I felt this wet, soggy item being placed on my head… MY HAT!!! James, one of the crew members (my hero. lol) jumped in the life boat the moment the hat had left my head, sped round to the side of the boat and lifted it from the water before it sank. I gave him the biggest hug and fell in love there and then (just kidding) but what a guy.. I will treasure that moment.
I better stop waffling now, but the Whitsundays was one of the most incredible adventures on the East. Airlie beach was a fabulous place too, but just don't get stuck there for longer then a few days. Unfortunately we couldn't get onto the Oz bus when we wanted to and had to spend two extra days at Airlie (7 in total) and there isn't an awful lot to do there, apart from lounging by the lagoon and drinking, but the Whitsundays is a must for anyone who is reading this and the Condor is pretty impressive, a sail boat which has won many races.
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