I arrived in Agnes Water in the evening and got picked up by the hostels van. The hostel, cool bananas, had a really nice homely atmosphere with sofas and beanbags and a good film selection. I'd booked into here for 5 nights as I wanted to be able to wake up when I was ready and not have to keep packing my bag and get somewhere!
as I was shown to my room I had a massive waft of weed, if I wasn't high by the time I left here I'd be amazed! despite that the people were friendly and the kitchen was immaculate. it was closed 3 times a day for half an hour for a thorough clean. I don't think I've stayed in any hostel that gets closed even once!
I'd finished the book that Cyd had given me, Sisters by Rosamond Lupton, so found another on the book shelf. I spent the next 3 days in a hammock reading Ewan Mcgregor and Charley Boorman's Long Way Round. a good read and funny how I could relate to parts of it, mainly from the frantic travelling round Thailand! worth a read though, think I might get a motorbike now and head to New York too...

on Friday afternoon the two German girls in my room, izzy and kady, invited me to the beach with them. the sea was so warm, definitely not refreshing!
that evening whilst cooking my tea I started chatting to Richard. he comes to the hostel each night and cooks a $6 meal and $3 crepes. we somehow got on to farming and he mentioned that he had a farm. he obviously saw my eyes light up and invited me round the following day.
Richard does wwoofing. this means people can stay with him and work to gain their second year visa, you have to do 3 months farm work to get this. at the moment he has a Japanese girl called Saki staying with him. they're an interesting duo, he's about 60, five foot with a wonky bushy tash...I imagine he likes having women to stay...! let alone general company as he talks and talks and talks. and it's not even interesting!!

Richards 'farm' is 40 acres with a lot of woodland. he has 21cattle and 2 sheep. and A LOT of s***e. dad you'd hate it! there was scrap cars and general crap lying about everywhere!
he'd built his own house, yet to be finished. he used to live in a small cottage on the farm which he's developing. would love to get my hands on it, very cute!
after listening to Richard drone on about nothing for hours we eventually got the cows in. we put some spikey ring things in the calves noses to wean them then sprayed all the cows with tick spray. apparently that was enough work for one day! so we went for a drive around the farm to look for kangaroos, this tractor was certainly not what I was used to! part way round I had to drive down a small bank through the trees, not til afterwards did Richard let me know that it knocks out of gear and the breaks don't work!! free wheeling down the bank I managed to get us side ways with out hitting a tree whilst Richard pulled the levers for the bucket and dug it in to the ground! Christ!! we then had to walk back up the bank and retrieve all his s*** that had fallen out the bucket. why it lives in the bucket I do not know! we carried on round the track til Richard asked me to pull in so he could water his plant. 'why do you keep your plant all the way out here?!' 'so the cops can't find it!' '....oohhhhh I seeee!!' whilst he watered his cannabis!
Despite the dramas I did see some kangaroos. they're HUGE! some a good 5ft tall and solid. you wouldn't want to pick a fight with one!
Back at the house Saki made us lunch, egg fried rice. it was delicious. she said all that was in it was sesame oil, soy sauce, salt and pepper. one to try!

After lunch we headed back to the hostel to start prepping tea for that evening, beef stroganoff. on the way we saw some wallabies which have pretty markings on their faces.

For 'helping' Richard that day he gave me free dinner. Mmmm....and a free crepe with chocolate, caramel, maple syrup, ice cream and cinnamon. fit to burst!

Richard picked me up on Sunday morning to take me to the market at 1770 beach which id read about. it wasn't as good as I'd hoped so didn't take long! we drove through the town which has a beautiful marina. lots of posh boats and houses too. we went to a look out and climbed over some rocks and saw some turtles swimming. by this time the heat of the day was setting in so I went back to the hostel. after a nap I headed back to the beach for the afternoon.
there was a lovely Jack Russell with similar markings to madge playing on the beach which I watched for what seemed like hours. very content :-)

back at the hostel Richard gave me free dinner again. bonus! the roast pork was immense! with delicious gravy, and roast pumpkin. I've eaten lots a roast pumpkin since being in oz, it's amazing!! Whilst watching a film Saki brought me in another crepe with all the trimmings again. spoilt!
That night I caught the over night bus up to Airlie Beach where the Whitsundays sailing trips leave from.

I left cool bananas without getting high!!