I'm feeling better tonight (although still not a camping convert). The main reason for my feeling better is that it didn't rain today, apart from a few showers late in the day, but compared to yesterday that was fine.

We got up early, around 7ish, and had breakfast - toast over a flame and cornflakes in a plate - before setting off for the day in our cars. I am covered in itchy bites which is so frustrating. Vicky's are even worse, her legs are completely covered in red blotches. The drivers swapped today so I was in the lead vehicle that only Syd can drive.

We went to the coast for the first time today, speeding along the wide flat beach was amazing. I think our first stop was Rainbow Gorge, a huge sandblow. We went for a walk there and it actually felt like we were in the desert.

Our next stop was the Maheno shipwreck, but on the way we stopped to dig up 'pippins' from the beach - they're like clams. They are really weird, when you dig them up they squirt water out of their shells, and if you put them back on the sand they start to dig themselves in again.

The Maheno shipwreck, when we got there, was really cool. It was built in 1902 as a luxury ocean liner, and then in WWI it was used by the English as a hospital ship. In 1935 it was hit by a cyclone and washed up on Fraser Island. They tried to fix it for a few years but gave up and instead used it for target practice during WWII.

Afterwards we visited Eli Creek, a pretty freshwater creek. We walked up the boardwalk and then floated/walked back down the creek with the current. It reminded me of River Country, a waterpark which used to be in Florida. I filled up my water bottle from the creek because it is cold and refreshing. I changed back into my dry clothes afterwards as I learnt my lesson about staying wet yesterday.

The next stop was Lake Allom, another red stained lake. It is full of turtles which we fed, there were loads! They are really cute but they kept nipping Syd's toes because they thought they were bread. A few people went for a ten minute swim, but I didn't fancy getting wet again, plus the lake was almost black in the middle and I get really nervous if I can't see what's underneath me.

We stopped for our sandwiches near the lake, before another long beach drive to the Champagne Pools. They are the only saltwater area you can swim in on Fraser Island - the sea here is completely shark infested and full of stingrays and jellyfish. The pools are separated from these creatures by rocks, and they get their name from the frothy effect the waves create when they break over the rocks. It was rainy and overcast by this point so I didn't swim, but I paddled up to my thighs and the water was crystal clear and as warm as a bath. Walking back along the cliffs, we saw some huge stingrays in the really shallow waters on the beach - I can see why we're not allowed to swim in there!

We have also seen some huge spiders today - just writing about them is giving me the creeps. I am really arachnaphobic so this is not a good place for me in the respect. Syd made it worse by telling me that three of the spider species found on this island could kill me!

I drove the next 10 minute leg to Indian Head - the sand is really hard to dive on, especially in the soft parts - the steering kept getting snatched. I am still pretty impressed that I can actually do it and my six passengers seem happy to let me drive!

Indian head is a huge cliff thing sticking out to sea. Some of us climbed up it which took around 15 minutes, but it was worth it because the views were breathtaking. The drop into the sea below was quite scary and I couldn't watch as some people peered over the edge.

After around a 45 minute drive we made it to our campsite for the night. We were going to camp on the beach but if it rains there is no cover, so we are on a campsite instead. There is a payphone here so I tried to call Ed as it is our one year anniversary today, and I thought he might be on his way to work, but he didn't pick up so I lost $2.50. Hmph.

We just sat around drinking beer, eating spag bol and playing games for the evening really. It has barely rained so I am feeling better, but the ground is hard and I am scared of bugs so I cannot wait to sleep in a real bed tomorrow night!

xxx