Up in Airlie at the moment. That main part of our East coast trip has ended and the group's started to go it's seperate ways.

But firstly .. we left Rainbow late Thursday night for 1770/Agnes Water. Just after midnight the Premier dropped us off in a field in the middle of nowhere where we met a guy who was going to drive us to the backpackers for 15 dollars a head! We finally got into the room and got some sleep. The next day we checked in properly and headed to the beach for a chilled day of topping up the tan. That night the hostel put on a BBQ for 5 bucks a head and we had a few drinks to celebrate Good Friday. The next day we took advantage of the free orientation tour to see more of 1770 and learn about about the area, the afternoon was spent chilling and hanging around before being taken back to the field for our bus onto Mackay at midnight. We arrived in Mackay early morning with the intention of spending a couple of days sorting things out, picking up any neccessary items cheaply and getting ready for the Whitsundays. However much to our dissappointment because it was Easter hardly anything was open the 2 days we were there. Instead we hung out and chatted to the people at the hostel, most of which were older and trying to find work in the area, had a few drinks and lay by the lagoon. On Tuesday morning we left early again for Airlie beach and the Whitsundays.

Arriving in Airlie we checked into Magnums, caught up with the Bondi boys for possibly the last time, got some munch and did a spot of shopping for essentials. Drinking started early that afternoon with a combination of lots of the people we'd met up the coast. That night we headed to Beaches and then Mama Africas .. the best dance and club night I've had in a while. The next day was boat day. We organised ourselfs and tried to mentally prepare before heading down to the marina in extreme heat. Unfortunately our boat the Boomerang had suffered some damage in the cyclone and we were now on the British Defender (minus Theresa who had booked seperately). We climbed aboard met the crew and rest of the party (Christian who we'd met in Thailand was aboard the same boat) and were allocated bunks. We shortly motored out of the marina and then got the sails up for a quick blast. Safety briefings followed as we headed up and around Hookpoint for our first night. Everyone got to know each other over dinner and many beers/goon! The next day we set off early and headed to Whitehaven beach. There we did a bush walk, took lots of classic photos, pulled on the stinger suits for a swim and chilled on the beach. After lunch we headed to a snorkelling spot and then spent another night chilling on board. I saw lots of colourful fish, dolphins, turtles and rays from the boat but no sharks! The next morning there was time for another quick snorkel before heading back into Airlie and saying our goodbyes.

Back on land after getting a much needed shower and some rest we headed to Beaches for the afterparty, had cheap food and booze all night and generally a goodtime.

For now I'm sticking around in Airlie looking for work. It's a tough call again though. How long do I wait hoping for replies! If I can't get anything here where do I head to next .. how long will the little bit of money I have left last me and when will it finally be time to think about going home?!?

Hope to get the photos up soon so look forward to that one. And now I have to pop to the doctors ..in a classic Jen move I fell through a polystyrene esky on the boat .. apparently someone breaks it every trip, and scrapped my knee up,it's very bruised and swollen,possible infected and the chemist didn't look to happy and suggest I go see someone! Oh dear!