Mooloolaba

2975 KM17September 2011

Mooloolaba only became a stop when we were offered a free paddle board lesson - bit of a giggle we though.Oh my life, how we underestimated it! We threw on our swimmers and some light clothes over the top to ensure no burning would occur and we followed a man around to the back shed to collect our paddle boards.Very very similar to surfboard... if not identical... Unfortunately I couldn't tell you for sure!And our paddles.... I tried, oh how I tried to carry it like the cool surfer chick I once dreamed of being.... but I couldn't lift it!The finger hole was the smallest thing!Who has muscles in thier finger tips?!Well Sam apparently does!Whilst juggling the board the wind kept catching it, as I navigated my board and I down the main road Sam and our guide were virtually in the water!Eventually I laid my board down (with the assistance of Sam) and pushed it slowly into the water.No joke, Sam was up in seconds, I couldn't believe it!Dam his adventure, activity skills! Eventually I managed to jump up!I was doing it! Standing on my board!Within minutes my legs were shaking from the almost squat position I was having to adapt!The key was keeping your core still and moving your arms either side to paddle.I was doing so well!We were both getting a little cocky to say the least ... i had a fall, but my god I caught myself! Was only back on my knees... I was back up!Locals in their on-river balconies cheered me on!Told me to "go on girl!".SAM!He was gone!In!Fell in like a pencil!Feet first, perfectly straight.I was killing myself!He fairly quickly pulled himself back up and I couldn't even look at him!If I laughed I knew I was going in!I was absolutely killing myself!A tittering would blurt out now and again and I could see Sam getting unsteady by looking at me! Hahaha what comedy!Meanwhile our guide looked at us as though we were mad!

The crunch came, a boat was passing.Sams right in the middle of the river, im to the side.The boat wasn't the problem, the wave was!I saw Sam unsteady and OHHHHH!! In he went!Before I could shriek my laugh out I was squatting, hard!Trying to steady myself.But with no joy - Down I went!Flailing around under the water when I resurfaced the pair of us were trying to clamber back onto our boards.Eventually with my encouragement from a local and Sam I made it up - so chuffed with myself I looked round to Sam yelling - "YOUR BACK TO FRONT!!! TURN ROUND!!" not only that I was at the wrong end of my board! Eventually I maneuvered myself to the correct end of the board and we paddle to the shore line.Drowned hysterical rats we walked back to the hostel to return the boards (walked, understatement, I had even more problems with my board on the way back due to the hysteria that had set in!)

After exploring Mooloolaba we made our way back to the van... the road was calling.