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Day 15: 23/6/13
This morning I had my sea kayaking session. I booked it because you can see dolphins, turtles and whales but this morning I was wondering why I had signed myself up for it! They picked me up at the hostel and picked up six others in various hostels- all were girls. We drove to the section of beach that they worked from and there were two older couples going to join us aswell.
There were there guides going out with us- one was American but the other two were your typical Aussie surfer dude! Long blonde hair, tanned, tattoos and really strong accents. They were full of sarcastic humour aswell.
We got kitted out in wetsuits, helmets and life jackets and they showed us how to paddle. Then we had to carry the kayaks down to the beach, which were really heavy! They showed us then how to get back into the boat if we capsized- I was hoping I wouldn't need to know that! There were three guides and each of them went with a girl so luckily I got one! He was at the back of the kayak and I was at the front.
We had great fun trying to get into the kayak. The waves were coming in really hard where we had to get in. I sat in and was knocked back out again. Then I got in properly, he hopped in aswell and a huge wave came and hit me smack in the face and left me flat out in the kayak! At least I didn't fall out. Once we got out a little bit further it was calmer and we were just bobbing on little waves. That was much nicer. We could drift a bit with the wind aswell so we didn't need to paddle the whole time. Whatever way the seat is, it was hurting my lower back to be in that position. So I had to keep stretching to see would it help. I've never had a sore back doing anything else, so I don't know what was wrong.
We paddled out to where the dolphins should be and of course there was no sign of them. It sounded like they usually go out further but the waves were bad today and they couldn't. We were told to watch for turtles aswell but we didnt see any. After about fifteen minutes bobbing around they decided we would go into a little beach around the corner from the main beach we started on. You had to ride the waves a little to get in. It was easy for me because I just had to lean back and the back person has to guide the boat. A few people capsized on the way in, but luckily we just coasted in and stood up and walked out of the kayak. They had brought flasks and cups and things in one of the kayaks and we had tea and Tim-tams on the beach. That was nice.
We got back in around twenty minutes later. We got off the mark a bit easier this time as the waves were less. We paddled out again to see if there were any dolphins but none were to be found! They decided we would go back to shore and surf the waves to get back. We did ride on one wave about half way out. It was like being on a roller coaster because you were on top of the wave going pretty fast! To get into the shore we had to surf another wave. It didn't work out this time. I leaned back and I could just see the front of the boat and my legs going into the water. Then the wave completely capsized us and we were flung into the water. Usually when you jump into the water you take a deep breath before hand. I hadnt been expecting this so I just ended up swallowing a load of water! I wasn't too worried as I'd a life jacket on and they just bring you to the top. When I should have been up though I still couldn't breathe and was still swallowing water. I couldn't seem to get my head up and I didn't know why. Eventually I realised the boat was on top of me so I had to try to push it off. I just got out and got a bit of air when another big wave came and sent me under again. This time the boat wasn't there so I could get up. We were in a shallow bit at that stage aswell so I was actually sitting on the sand when I realised what was going on. The guide was just laughing and asked was I okay. I couldn't even answer him because I was shaking so much! The same thing had happened one of the girls that was with one of the other guides. She had gotten hit in the head with the boat. Everyone else seemed to coast into the beach no problem because they weren't trying to be fancy and surf the waves! The guide I had was rinsing out the wet suits when we took them off and he asked if I had enjoyed it. I said I hadn't enjoyed the end anyway and he just said sorry about that, there was nothing we could do! Needless to say, I wasn't too impressed. Because we hadnt seen any wildlife we could go again for free some day but there was no way I was doing it again!
They dropped us back to the hostel afterwards so I got changed and went for some lunch. Then I wandered around some of the shops. There are lots of souvenir shops and little craft and jewellery shops. All of the jewellery is a bit hippiesh but the shops are nice to look at.
I went to the beach then and read a book for a while and walked a bit on the beach. By 4 it was starting to get a little dark so I got a good spot for the sunset. It was lovely. I'd say a took a million photos because the view kept changing! There were people surfing aswell and I was trying to get a photo of someone surfing with the sunset behind then which didn't really work as either they would fall off or I would lose them in the camera! There were lots of guys with bongos again drumming away and random people dancing when they mood took them. The place is definitely a bit mad! Everyone seems to be on something! There was a guy with a saxophone aswell that joined them later on- at least he added a bit of melody!
I was hungry then so I went and got fish and chips and ate them at the beach. I facetimed Mam and Dad then from the beach and woke them up. The new phone will be very handy now when I have Internet!
I went back to the hostel then. The Italisn girl, Maggie, had been in Nimbin all day and said it was completely a hippy town with nothing much to see. So I'm glad I didn't bother going there. We went out for a while then. The two main places to go out, Woody's and Cheeky Monkeys, were closed because it was Sunday. We went to the Railway bar first. There was live music playing when we got there but by the time we finished our drinks it had stopped. So then we went to the Beach hotel. I had heard a band playing there earlier in the day when I was at the beach but by the time we got there it was just a dj playing dance music. It was really bad music but it was entertaining to watch the people dancing! One guy reminded me of Alan from the Hangover with long hair, a beard and a suit. He was giving it socks! He was dancing by himself but he was like something from an aerobics video or something- a real Duracell bunny!! We went back to the hostel after just the one drink there- not a very long night out!
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