O.K,

So, since leaving Surfers we made our way up North with stops in Byron Bay & Noosa Heads (lovely!) and Brisbane (kinda like Birmingham but sunny!) to catch a boat to Fraser Island for a few days,

We were staying in an eco lodge with about 10 other people and the entertainment - a cattleshed that played bad 80's music wasnt exactly all that great!

We did a 4x4 drive around the Ilsand and saw some amazing things such as the Sandowns, Eihly Creek, The Pinnacles, Moheno Shipwreck and of course Lake Mackenzie- very beautiful. And we wacthed the sunset on the pier with a glass of wine in hand.

We also were informed of a rumour that made us laugh soooo much- apparently they all thought we were lesbians!!! Really! We were really shocked at first and luckily thought it was hilarious and decided to play on it- especially t the two girls who had started the rumour!

Alot of wine was consumed and much dancing was done as we decided to show the younguns how to really party!

We left Frasers and travelled up to Rockhampton with a stop in a place called Childers to create a Cowboys & Indians fancy dress costume for the evening at the country homestead! Needless to say Kes and I went overboard and as you can see from the pics we were the funniest cowgirls in town!

The locals even took pictures of us and we were pretty gutted when we didnt win the best dressed comp!haha!

It was really the best night and we laughed so much and had such an amazing beef dineer (we were in Aussies beef county!) and even tried our hand at whipcracking!

From Rockhampton we made our way up to the Whitsundays from Airlie Beach to board our yacht 'The Hammer' for a few days.

Now, when Kes and I signed up for 3 days ona yacht around the Whitsundays I think we envisaged lying on deck looking glam and drinking vino. And indeed, it was just like this- for all of 10 minutes!

Little did we know we were actually on a round-the-world racing yacht and we were the crew! And when our skipper Mick said 'Lets go sailing!' he really meant it!

We soon learnt that there are two sides of the yacht when sailing- 'hi side' and 'suicide'! haha! Hi side beng the highest side of the boat when it is on its axis and you have to wedge yourself betwenn the deck with your legs hanging overboard and suicide is the low part of the boat that actually is in the water.

We had a great time though, with good food and a few drinking games and we anchored off Hook Island (it is a good job that Kes and I get on so well as our sleeping quaters were quite a tight squeeze!)

The next day Kes helped pull the sail up (pretty hard!) and I helped bring around the boom and put the sail in place (I am sure there are technical words for this!) and we went snorkelling n our sexy stinger suits, and I saw two dolphins.

We went to a lookout to view the Whitunday Islands and it was stunning and anchored at Whitehaven beach- Kes and I loved this place and we seriously considered doing a runner and never getting back on the boat!

However, the evening wasnt so great for me as I was seriously poorly (still suffering from Delhu Belly- bet you wanted to know that!) and spent a few hours with my head hanging over the side of the Hammer.

Our third day was spent with loads more sailing and Kes and I got drenched! Quite hilarious! in the afternoon we cruised to Long Island and sadly (ish!) disembarked the Hammer for our resort!

We can say sailing was an 'experience' but we were pretty happy to see a shower and toilet after 3 days!

(I cant seem to put the sailing pics on the blog- such as shame!)

After Long Island we made our way up to Cairns, which is our final leg!

We enjoyed our time lying by the pool, ating nachos and listening to Xmas songs ( dont ask- very random!) and shopping on the esplanade. And we even survived an evening in the infamous Woolshed!

We have now ended our stay with a little splurge in Port Douglas which is very swish! We have a lovely hotel deal which we got as part of a 'romantic retreat getaway'-haha! Probably not going to help the lesbian rumours!

We have had such a lovely few days and keep getting a bit emotional and have done lots of reminiscing and even though we love you lots we dont want to come home....

In conclusion (this is very essay-like!) what an adventure of a lifetime and the fact that I have had my best friend next to me for all of it has made it even more special.

We have laughed, we have cried, we have sung silly songs...

We have seen the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets in some of the worlds most beautiful places...

We have eaten rice and noodles until it practically came out of our ears!

We have been on every random method of transport- from tuk tuk to yacht and we have been 'at one' with the flora and fauna (paper bark?!Squigglygum tree? Every day is a school day!)

We have seen, held and sat on an array of gods creatures from tigers, snakes, elephants, kangaroos, wallabys, koalas and of course Gary the Gallah!

We have slept in everything from freight containers to sleeper trains and even a tent on our very own private beach....

And I wouldnt change a single moment!

What can I say...'Its been emotional!'

Patsy & Eddie on Tour- May 2008

T

xxxxx