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Day 121 and we were up at 9 as we were checking out of Hervey Bay. I had scratched myself so much I barely slept with mozzie and sand fly bites all over me!After checkout we put some washing on as all our clothes were dirty and sweat ridden. While Rich, Luke and Laura went to town, Helen and I sat with our bags and read our books.The others returned and Helen and I went to town.We got some postcards, and I had a haircut for only $9.I soon realised why it was so cheap as the Russian lady who did it was useless and all my hair was uneven, so I had to cut some more myself back at the hostel shower.After an awesome breakfast roll from and English style cafe, we got the shuttle bus to the greyhound stop and left Hervey Bay at 230 as we headed north to a town called 1770.The film on the bus was Evan Almighty which I have seen about 10 times but at least it wasn't a chick flick.At about 630 we arrived and checked into our hostel but they didn't have our booking.Luckily they had 5 beds available.After much discussion we were sure we were in the wrong hostel, but to our relief found the address matched. The hostel was so relaxed that the dorms didn't have keys, which was a bit alarming at first but we son realised that not much went on in 1770 after dark.After a stir fry dinner we walked to the beach in the pitch black and walked back before Burns and I sat and watched the Semi final of the Tennis.The others went to bed, and I did after the 1st set, but Burns somehow stayed awake all night till 1am to watch it.He assured me it was probably the best match he had ever seen.
Day 122 and we all were awoken by some drunk Irish guy at 4 in the morning barging into our dorm asking for a Gemma, he soon realised she wasn't here and then he staggered off.After a shower and a cup of tea, Laura proceeded to count all of the mozzie and sand fly bites that had come out on her body since we left Fraser.She and Helen counted 84 on her.Not to be out done, Luke then counted over 110.Burns, Helen and me had about 10 between us!We walked around town briefly and then returned to the hostel where we waited until 3 to do the popular Scooteroo Bike Tour.The bikes were in the style of regular motorbikes and the high handle ones like Harley Davisson's.I got a Harley style one while the others had the regular.Helen bless her had to get an extra small crash helmet as the smalls were to big for her head!She was a bit nervous about riding the bike but we assured her she would be fine.The bikes were automatic, with a top speed of 80kph (50mph).Once we got going we realised why the tour was so popular as it was such good fun.The tour had about 40 people on it and we all drove in convoy style single file around the empty roads.Luke and I were nearer the front and did some overtaking when we were allowed.Helen soon got the hang of it, after wanting to get off after 5 mins!We got some great group photos, and also saw some Kangaroos in the wild.After a few hours biking the tour stopped at a pub where we had Wedges and drink for $5 (bit of a rip off!).On the final drive back Luke and I went as fast as we could and overtook about 10 people as we nearly reached the front and then eventually the bike garage.For dinner we bought pasta and we also got a few beers in.During dinner our friend Emma from Fraser came to our hostel with her friend Tim and we chatted for ages before heading to bed about 11.Me and Burns both felt the beers kicking in (though we only had 4 bottles!).I fell asleep listening to the IPod and Burns did the same while the others went to bed without the aid of alcohol.
Day 123 and it was our last day in 1770 but we had to checkout early as we wouldn't be staying another night, but instead getting a night time Greyhound bus to Airlie beach (which would take about 10 hours).After checking out at 930, we found out we couldn't do a surf lesson as we had planned as the surf was to rough apparently.Instead we had brunch of cheese toasties and then sat around in the communal area reading and sleeping.After a good few hours of this we went to the beach and had a lie down, even though it was overcast and not really sunny, but was very humid.On the way back we tried to get into a resorts swimming pool but to no avail, as the door was bolted shut.For dinner Laura cooked us mushy fried rice, though it was very tasty and we then sat around for a while waiting for the bus.We got some seats around the TV to watch the first hour of the Tennis final between Nadal and Federer.After an epic first set which Nadal won we had to reluctantly grab our bags and get on the shuttle bus which took us to the middle of nowhere, literally.We waited in the pitch black with not a light in sight for a few mins before the Greyhound bus came along and picked us up.We left 1770 at about 930pm and the bus had on worst film I have ever had to watch 'The Home Prairie Companion' whatever that is (though I didn't in the end as I fell asleep).We stopped at Rockhampton and had some food at bout midnight and saw Nadal win the final.Once back on we were expecting a 6-7 hour drive to Airlie, though we knew the weather was going to be bad as there is flooding and Cyclone warnings in the north of Queensland.
Day 124 and we were driving through heavy rain and flooded roads / fields as everyone on the bus woke from their uncomfortable nights sleep. We stopped in Airlie at 630am with the rain chucking it down.As it was so early there was no chance of a shuttle pick up, so we had to walk through the rain for 10 minutes till we found the Koala hostel.We were al pretty soaked and we had to wait outside until just after 7 so reception would open.They told us we couldn't check in till 2pm! Which was stupid, so we put our bags in their storage room and walked to a cafe to try and use the Wi-Fi and get some breakfast.After an hour or so we uploaded some pics and blogs on the net and then went to sit in a pub area where all the other backpackers who were checking in and out were hanging about.We had been told by the Information centre that there was nothing to do in Airlie during the day and we should go to the pub for the day and wait till after dark when all the partying starts!When we got the pub we decided to get beers in, at 11am! Purely cause there was nothing to do and it was raining so much we were depressed.Several games of cards and scrabble followed until about 130 we went and bought lunch and cooked it at Koalas.Once there we found the worst kitchen in the world, ever.There were 8 hobs, only 3 of which work, 1 microwave and 1 fridge.So no toaster, no kettle, no oven.We had beans on bread for lunch.Eventually we checked in at 2 for $16 a night which is the cheapest so far (we had vouchers).The room stank of toilet stuff as the cleaners or previous occupants decided not to flush.After the room being cleaned in front of us we all went to bed and slept for 3-4 hours before going to the bar for a free dinner which came with check in.After dinner we watched the Family Guy movie on the tele and chilled with some other friends from Fraser, Jen and Ben.
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