Since when does the ground feel like a sea too? Ever since I left my sailboat this morning, I still feel like being on the sea, quietly going up and down. But wow, I have seen some amazing things the last few days.

Friday afternoon at 12.30 pm was the time to meet the crew from Boomerang, as the boat was called. We were with a group of 28 people, mostly Europeans. I was lucky to be fast in the boat, now I had a bed for myself. I'm glad with the name Boomerang, because usually boomerangs come back, so we would come back too. :P

The crew gave us safety instructions first. After this, we had to help with getting the sails up, so we could actually sail with the speed of the wind. Amazing to see how well they know what to do. Six guys helped with the big sail, and 6 girls had to help with the head sail. Yep, I helped too, I was afraid to maybe get bored on the water, so if I can help, then yes please.

This first afternoon we had a snorkel in the clear waters of Blue Pearl bay, and it was so much better than my first snorkle experience. I have seen so many fishes, blue and yellow ones, black ones, brown ones, striped ones. Very exciting to swim between them and to see the coral. Due to the recent cylone, the water isn't as clear as we hoped for, but still it's amazing. One moment, the captain threw bread in the water, very close to me, and suddeny frishes came from all over and surrounded me in the water. It's weird when they swim straight up to your face. I'm afraid that you have to wait a bit for my snorkle and under water pictures, as I can't read the card now with my laptop. :(

We went further, to a quiet bay where we had our dinner and we would stay there for the night too. We had grilled chicken, rice and curry and salad. And with the whole group, seeing the night fall and sit under the shelter, it was another amazing thing. We had bad luck with the weather, some showers during the day, and during the evening too. I chatted with an italian couple and some guys from Sweden untill we went to bed. Quite early, not even 11 pm, but we were shattered.

The next morning we were woken up at 6.30 to eat a fast breakfast. it would be a long day, with another snorkle planned and a visit to the beautiful Whitehaven beach. Because we left so early, we were around 9 am already on the Island for a short bushwalk to a lookout point and to spend some time on the beach. Again no sunshine for us, but rain and very grey clouds. Back on the boat, the lunch was ready for us. And again it was delicious what they cooked for us. Grilled sausages, three salads and bread this time.

Sailing doesn't make sense when all the cups and plates aren't in the cupboards, so we had to be quick with cleaning everything, because the afternoon was for a good sail again. it was a very windy day, excellent to sail the ocean. Today we had big waves, and that makes it even more impressive. I spent a good time sitting at the front of the boat, with the legs hanging over and catching some waes every now and then. Time enough to daydream and watch the waves and go up and down with the tide.

In a quiet bay we had again a snorkle, and wowwww so many fish again and beautiful corals. Time goes way too fast when we're in the water, and before I knew it we had to go back to the boat again. One of the girls threw bread in the water again and those were impressive big fish coming for the pieces! They took good care of us aboard, we got something to snack while we went to the bay for the evening/night. This evening was a very rainy one, but uckily we could sit under the shelter again. We still got wet every now and then, as the winds were heavy and at some moment a thunderstorm passed. We spent the eve with the whole group, finishing all the wine and beer that we brought. Especially the 3 swedish guys had a lot, they brought 72 cans of beer. :)

And then the last morning, sundaymorning. Finally a day that is worth the name, because it was a beautiful sunny morning when we all had our breakfast on the deck again. Sailing didn't make sense because there was hardly any wind. We had a swim around the boat, jumping in the sea with a rope. Our planned last snorkle was replaced for the swimming, there was no visibility in the water after last nights storms. :(

With this morning exercise done, we set back to Airlie beach, about 2 hours floating in the sun. Not bad at all to end the trip with, some tanning in the sun while reading my book. A bit after 11 am, we were back in the port of Airlie beach. So yeah, this was my last adventure here down under. It's amazing to feel the sea and to feel free, although I missed being up to date with the news. But now we only had the books and the fellow passengers to chat with. Something cool too, to chat about where you've been and what you're gonna do next. For me there's no next, not this trip, but hey, I have some great ideas what to visit in the future. ;)

Right now I am in my hostel in Airlie beach, for the last night in Australia. I'll leave soon for some souvenir shopping and to see if there's a hike that i can do this afternoon. I love this country so much, and there's still so much to see and do! I really have to return one day, no idea when, but hopefully some time in the future...