Hello All,

It's been 3 weeks this Sunday since we left the UK for the second time, as expected it has gone real quick!

Before I begin, just to let mother know, we met a girl called Kelly in the hostel in Cairns who was from the Hopetoun area in Bucksburn! She knew the cloverleaf and Bucksburn Manor (she agreed the Sunday roast was amazing!)

Our last blog was left saying we'll let you know how the Skydives went, but I think we've already expressed how awesome they were through the message board etc…. Complete reverse of how we both felt about the Bungy Jump! I (Greg) was bricking it until I got in the plane when all of a sudden my fear went and just started to enjoy the whole thing, where as the Bungy I was fine throughout until I went to do it……and then BRICKED IT!! They left the aeroplane door open throughout the whole of reaching to the 14,000ft altitude, which I had the pleasure of sitting right next to, it was great though! Lauren was seated right next to me. I was the first of us two to exit the plane. Lauren said one second I was there, next second I was gone!!!! The Freefall was extreme, I've never experienced G-Force like it, you try and close your mouth but, "bang" outcomes them lovely teeth and gums within a couple of seconds. That continues for about 65 seconds until your parachute comes out at about 5,000ft high (which means it took 65seconds to fall 9,000ft)! The parachute ride is just a whole different ball game, really relaxing, taking in the view of all the surrounding islands. When we were about 2500ft my instructor manoeuvred us towards Lauren so we were right next to each other and we were able to chat in the air! That was quite surreal!! Unlike the bungy experience Lauren had she didn't have any fear on the skydive and enjoyed every minute of it.

While we were in Mission Beach for the skydive we stayed in a little campsite on the beach which had coconut trees, we found a few coconuts on the beach and took them, although we don't know how to crack them open yet?!

After Mission Beach we took a 6 ½ hour journey down the coast to the Whitsunday's. Along the way Lauren had to do an emergency stop due to a wild hog trying to cross the road?!?! The whole journey down there was endless clouds and rain!! It wasn't looking good for our Whitsunday catamaran trip! It rained constantly until we got on the boat and the weather started to clear up, we saw sunshine and beautiful blue skies!!

The boat was amazing! Really nice and luxurious! We went to Whitehaven beach where we saw loads of sting rays and lemon sharks! We went back to the boat from there and had a play in the water with paddle boards, windsurfing, glass canoes etc.. we also got to see sea turtles!! Lauren remembered quite a bit from her childhood windsurfing lessons with John and was really good!

We went snorkelling a couple of times, the first time was really good and the second was even better!! The coral and fish were amazing, think we saw every fish in Finding Nemo! I had a bed in the corridor and Lauren shared a room with a couple called Linda and Steve! Her bed was pretty much above their feet and on the first night unfortunately woke them both up by screaming in her sleep! Luckily she warned them the day before that she sleep talked! There were 10 guests on the boat including ourselves and all were couples including a couple on their honeymoon! It was a nice change from the backpacker scene!

Yesterday, we travelled 6 ½ hrs down the coast to Rockhamton and stayed at a nice little campsite on the Fitzroy river, where apparently crocodiles live?! We didn't see any unfortunately though!

Today we travelled a further 6 ½hrs south to Mooloolaba on the Sunshine coast! We have just arrived so we're off to have a look around as soon as we have updated the blog!

Speak to you all soon.

Greg & Lauren x