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Where's Suzie?
Had to spend an extra day in Hervey Bay as I couldn't get through to the bus company. The weather has been really bad here and some roads north of here were flooded (still raining now). Nothing at all to do in Hervey Bay so spent my time walking around, along the beach and reading. An irritating yank moved into the dorm which didn't help. Got the bus up north with a really nice finnish lady who was staying in the dorm and I got off at Bundaberg. Kept reading peoples comments on the place and none of them were good so I didn't expect too much of the place. Stayed at a grim hostel where I was in a room full of stoned Koreans and had to sleep on the top bunk of 3 beds!!! Managed not to spend too much time there as I went on the tour down to the beach to see the turtles. Was picked up around 6pm and taken to Mon Repos conservation park where we learnt some more about the turtles before observing them. Had to wait around a while as there were rangers all along the beach alerting us as to when there was any action. Just to give a bit of info. all the loggerhead turtles live out at sea but during Jan to March the females come to shore (where they themselves hatched) and lay their eggs. They'll only come at night hence the lateness of the tour. Around 8pm we were alerted to a nesting female on the beach so a group of us were taken down to see her. When we got there she was digging a hole in the sand. She was huge with big flippers. When the nest was ready she laid around 20 eggs (this was her 1st season of breeding and her 5th nesting of the season). We managed to see pretty much everything but had to keep away from her head whilst she laid as she would've been easily disturbed and gone back to the ocean. When she was finished she covered up the hole (we all got covered in sand during this bit) and shuffled her way back to the ocean (quite emotional I thought). The whole time it was raining, windy and pitch black apart from just a few torches but it was truly amazing!! These turtles were in great danger of extinction not too long ago but numbers are rising again due to the conservation of the area. We waited around until around 11pm to try and see some hatchlings but they didn't happen that night so after hanging out with the english couples and chatting with them for a while we all left. Hostel was just as grim but I think worth staying there 1 night just to see the turtles. We were allowed to take some pictures so will upload them when I can.
Today (Australia Day) I checked out of the hostel asap and took a look around the town. Everything's closed but was lucky that the little zoo was still open so went down there and stroked a wallaby, saw some kangaroos (at last), some emus, deer and lots of parrots (inc. a Gala). It's still pouring with rain here and a bit windy but still really warm (well to me it is anyway). Despite the cloudiness yesterday I got a bit burnt so the sun is still rather strong. Off to Rockhampton at 3.30pm and I've checked myself into a decent hotel this time so I can get a good nights sleep for once. Bye for now xxxx
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