As I'm writing this majorly retrospectively now (not lazy, just busy, ok maybe both), I forgot we went to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary yesterday on the way to Byron Bay. I held a koala and had the most unflattering picture taken with her. My side bums on my cheeks have reappeared. Nice. They also stink but are mega fluffy and soft so I let her off. We saw crocs and kangaroos too. We went into the living area for kangaroos and got up close to feed them. Some were only little joeys too. Jade went a bit too close to one of them and the parents started growling at her. I was gone. I wasn't hanging around to be boxed about by one of them. They're massive!! I was safely outside the iron gate and waited for the others. The sanctuary wasn't that great to be fair but you can't hold koalas in New South Wales so that was the last place we could do it.
Anyway, that was yesterday. Today we left Byron Bay after a short walk to the shops in the morning. We went to Cape Byron on the way, which is the most easterly point of Australia. We took a walk round and saw the beaches and the lighthouse. There was a strange atmosphere in camp today and the drive to Coffs Harbour was a very somber one. Everyone was sad the tour was coming to an end and tonight was our last night. We've made lifelong friends on this trip, it's amazing how close you get to people in a short amount of time. For the past month we've woken up and said morning to each other, eaten together, gone to bed in the same accommodation (I worded that carefully!) and it just becomes a way of life. You don't think about the crap you left behind, or work, or problems. There were points when I forgot what life at home was like - this was home and they were my family. I knew I'd still see people in Sydney but it wouldnt quite be the same. It was going to be the start of new chapters and new adventures, and I'm all over that. Majorly missing Jack today too, every time I look at my screensaver (the picture Carly sent me of him smiling in his little Fulham romper) it makes me smile. Can't wait for cuddles when I'm back!
In the meantime though, I had a bloody surf lesson to deal with. We arrived at the Mojo Surf Camp where we were staying tonight. We were shown around and given our accommodation numbers. We were staying in shipping containers, no word of a lie, proper converted shipping containers! They had bunk beds, a bathroom, windows and sliding patio doors, but nevertheless, they were still shipping containers! No luxury last night for us!! I was debating whether to swerve the surf lesson as I was pretty sure it'd be something else to add to the list of things I'm crap at. But I also don't like the sea and don't like going under water - both fundamental aspects of surfing. But being the cliché person that I seem to be, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to say I'd surfed in Australia. So I gave it a go. We did the whole learning how to paddle and get up onto the board while still on the beach but Fiona and I spent most of this time laughing. Then it was time to test it out. I was apprehensive but excited - I could get injured, drown, be eaten by a shark, or even actually surf. After a couple of tries (which failed), I got up on the board and actually flipping surfed a wave. I did have an instructor hold my board while I paddled but the rest was me! I was so chuffed, even if it was only for a few seconds. I managed it a few more times and actually got a real buzz from it, despite going under so many times. Until I fell off into water that was shallower than I expected, straight onto my knee. I thought I'd dislocated it or something equally as horrific at first, but I was fine. All I had was the arse. So I picked my board up and sulked back to the container to have a shower.
Whilst in the shower, John the tour manager called by and said he wanted me, Jade, Sabrina and Jane to go to his lodge as we needed to have a conference call with the manager of the Rydges hotel in Cairns. When we were in the Whitsundays, we were told that the tv in our room in Cairns had been damaged and we were getting the blame. None of us had done anything so John was going to sort it out. Unfortunately, it wouldn't go away and so we had to speak to the manager and sort it out ourselves. Jane did the talking as she's the calmest - Horse had even put gaffa tape on Jades mouth coz she was going mad! The manager was SO rude and ended up hanging up on us (coincidentally after I suggested that perhaps one of his cleaners may have done it and could he prove otherwise?!). John and Horse heard the conversation as it was on speakerphone and after hearing it, John said he'd go back to head office and sort something out. Needless to say, we were fuming! So rude and unprofessional! They'll be getting a strongly worded letter when I get home that's for sure! We got ready for dinner (angrily) and then John and Horse caught us while we were queuing for food. He said that Contiki were going to foot the bill so they were obviously as disgusted as we were. They said they didn't want this incident to ruin out memories of the tour or our last night. I'll be writing them a thank you letter after my strongly worded one!
So we then proceeded to drink the night away around the camp fire. Lots of wine, intermittently supplemented by tequila. I blame this for me falling off the washing line. Yes, at 27 years old I was swinging on a rotary washing line, and fell off onto concrete and cut my hand. Incredibly funny at the time and Fiona was there to take pictures! Smashing. We weren't the only people in the camp either. We somehow got chatting to a group of guys (god knows how) and Damien asked where they were from. They said Surrey and we narrowed it down to Brookwood and that they went to Winston. It was Nick Greenwood and he was working there, the other 2 blokes were his brothers who were visiting! I think he was in my brothers year at school. What a small world! The drinking and chatting continued until we retired to the shipping containers about 1am (ish, I'm not entirely sure). The last night on tour, was over......