Hello!

So on the 30th of June (which seems so long ago now) we got our campervan, big dog. They all have names which is cool! We went and did a little shop for the 4 nights we had it and then headed north out of cairns. We visited Kuranda which is a little market town then headed farther north to Daintree where we parked our asses for the night. Small little village and we asked for a powered site even though we didn't really know what that meant...we were looking for somewhere to plug the camper into before we realised it just means u get plugs so you can charge phones etc. We didn't have an extension lead to this Italian couple next to us kindly lent us theirs for the night. It was dark outside and raining (still hadn't stopped since skydives were cancelled in Cairns) but we cooked some pasta with tuna on our portable gas stove! A friendly possum came to join us too which was nice! We squeezed into the camper which we turned into a bed at the back and slept with the rain pattering on the roof!

The next day we ventured north across the Daintree river which you have to cross VIA a ferry which takes 2 minutes but comes every 15 minutes. We drove all the way up to cape tribulation which is famous for the rainforest meeting the beach...it was amazing and for the 20 mins we were on the beach, we had some sunshine! We headed south to Port Douglas where we found this awesome campsite for the night with really good facilities. We saw a fellow spaceship camper and started talking to the Swiss girls in it. We walked around PD and cooked pasta with sausages this night. In the supermarket we bought Tesco value style beans and canned tomatoes and they all have the same can. Emilie passed me a can of tomatoes which I opened and it was only when I started pouring it into the pasta and sausages that I realised it was beans! Haha we mixed it all up and ate it and it was actually quite nice!

The 3rd day of our camper experience we headed inland to Yungaburra where there is a 500 year old curtain fig tree which was cool. We went to Lake Eacham for lunch and a 3k walk around it and parked up at Lake Eacham camp site. We found a spot under this tree that had bamboo over the camper like a shield from the rain. We drove back to Yungaburra and saw some platypuses (is that plural?) and then went back to Lake Eacham camp site for dinner in their kitchen. Raining again but they had a kitchen shed with a fire and several people so was cosy and we had some wine and played cards.

The 4th day we spent going around to many waterfalls in the region...think we managed 9! We kept seeing the same people at all the falls including this one group who were on our reef tour! They said they'd heard that a few days after our tour, someone got left behind floating in the sea in the middle of nowhere! f*** that! He was snorkling and looked up a while later and the boat was gone! He swam for a while and luckily there was a neighbouring boat nearby which saved him. How do you leave someone behind? I have a feeling they're gonna get sued! So after all the waterfalls we set up at Babinda rest area which was free but very limited facilities. Toilets and that was about it. We watched a film and had dinner looking at the stars.

The final day we packed up in the rain and drove to Cairns early as we had a coach to catch. Dropped off big dog and got a taxi to the reef terminal to catch our coach.

The coach left promptly and we drove the 6 hours to Townsville. Because the coach was 15 mins late we had to wait another hour and 45 for the next ferry to Magnetic Island. We met these 2 French guys who were staying at base with us and one of them looked so familiar. Made it to base and got into our 8 bed dorm where most people were sleeping so we did the same.

Awoke the next day to the sound of waves splashing on the beach a few metres from my top bunk and the sun was shining brightly! Finally! We spent the whole day sat on Nelly Bay soaking in the rays. This dog came and stole our oval shaped "football" and I tried to find his owner to ask him for $5 to no avail. That night was bingo night at the bar and I was 1 number away twice from winning a free double room upgrade. We partied after with the French guys when it hit me who he looks like...it was the spitting image of Rafael van der Vaart! So funny! He even has that smile of his! I told him and his mate was like, "yeh, ur right!" They supported Marseille.

The next day we got up and me and Emilie rented a 2 seater moped for the day. I've never been on one in my life so was strange at first to ride Emilie around the island to some other beaches. By the end of it I had mastered it and was dodging potholes and everything. We saw the sunset at Horseshoe Bay and headed bk for a quiet night at base before catching an early ferry the next day.

We took the ferry back to Townsville in the morning and waited for the coach to Airlie Beach. Only 4 hours was the journey but this was made longer by the engine switching itself off every 5 mins. We watched a film on the coach too which made time go quicker!

So we arrived at Airlie Beach and looked around for somewhere to stay. Beaches was $16 each per bed in a dorm so we thought you don't want better than that. We went to phoenix bar where if u spend $5 on a drink u get half a domino's pizza free! Result. Went to bed early as had to sort out stuff for our Whitsundays trip in the morning. We got up and headed to the marina and got onto the boat, had introductions etc. and got sailing! The boat was nice and got shown to our rooms where I was sharing with Emilie and 3 Norwegian girls. There was an introductory diving talk which I listened to bearing in mind I can't swim well. They said the skills were free so I got kitted up in my wetsuit, put diving gear on and got taken over to the dive site. It was weird just having all the gear on. The 3 skills were to be able to blow out water, put the mouthpiece back in if it falls out etc. Once we went under water I took a breath in and was amazed that I could breath under water! I breathed out and bubbles started coming out. I stood up out of the water and asked the instructors why bubbles were coming out. "That's you breathing out" was the response I got. I felt stupid but it was weird so didn't know wat to expect. Once skills were done they said u can either go diving for $70 or we'll take your gear off and you can go snorkling. Been there, done that so I said f*** it. Omg I loved every minute! We saw coral, fish of many kinds and could breath under water! When it was over I couldn't wait to do it again! That night on the boat we had dinner, went in the hot tub and watched the stars.

The next day I went diving again. The second dive is only $40 so I had to do it. As soon as we went under the instructor pointed at something...it was huge. A MASSIVE MANTA RAY!!! They are so rare to see and I was so chuffed. When we got back to the boat and told everyone, some of the other diving instructors were pissed. One of them has been diving hundreds of times and has never seen one and I saw one on my second dive! Chuffed! The instructor with me kept rubbing it in..."who saw a Manta ray?!" The whole trip haha. After this we headed to Whitehaven Beach which was the most beautiful golden white beach u will ever see. We found these guys and I went up to them and asked if we could use their football...they picked up this oval thing and said it was flat. I pointed at their round one and said "I said football!" We took photos and made a 5,4,3,2,1 human pyramid. I was on the bottom. We had dinner and drinks back on the boat and went to bed.

The final day I did a final dive $40 with a free $30 t shirt so was all good. After the dive I wanted to snorkel and they took my gear off. I swam off and thought I was gonna drown so shouted for the mini boat to wait for me before going back to the big one and I got a lift back to get a floaty noodle thing. Snorkled and made my way back to the boat against the current which was a killer but I saw 2 jelly fish in front of me. I shat myself a little. Made it back to the boat and we sailed back to land. Was sad saying bye to everyone.

Me and Emilie went to the lagoon back at Airlie Beach and I did a few laps later on walking to stretch my legs. I passed this guy and made eye contact and I was like "I know him". I walked back around and thought it might be Rafa and it was! Him and his French mate were there and I chatted to them for ages. They'd just got back from their boat too.

Some of our boat were going for food and drinks. We went and saw the French guys for a drink too and then joined our group where we went clubbing til the early hours. English, Norwegian, German...I love meeting new people!

We got back, crashed, woke up and are now at the lagoon again where I am composing the longest blog I've ever written. Hope everybody is well!

Cos xxx