On way down to Airlie beach stopped off first night at Paluma Range and spent night here in a camp site for our first experience in the tent which came with the car. That night it chucked it down with rain and most things inside tent (sleeping bag and us ended up a little wet...... Car maybe a total sweat box but at least its dry (well thats not true either with the sweat dripping off the windows in the mornings!!!!). Folloiwng morning went and checked out the Paluma Range which was waterfalls and rivers running down and under an old stone bridge, very peaceful area and fantastic scenary. Continued drive down towards Airlie and stoppped again an hour or so down the road and spent the night in Townsville. Went t place called 'Castle Hill' and this had some fantastic views over the town and beach below, with couple walking tracks to walk around the cliff tops. Cooked up some fried rice like true backpackers that night and not entirely sure what it tasted like since I had a stinking cold and everything tasted of nothing, so who knows but shall not be making a habit of cooking things like that as was more effort then its worth and its generally cheaper to eat fast food then it is to buy your own and cook!!!!!

Next day had a 4.5 hour drive onto Airlie Beach. Very tired once arrived here at about 5pm and ended up sleeping from then until the next morning as I tried to shake off the cold I had recevied!!!! Still not feeling much better next day lazed around for couple days around the Esplanade area and continued with the usual showers on the beach I had become acustomed to!!!!

Then was the Whitsunday Sailing cruise we had been waiting for. Quinn (Kiwi) who was on the Prodive boat with us in Cairns had turned up and managed to book himself onto the same yacht. Went down to marina and booked ourselves in and turned up at 4pm in afternoon ready to board the vessel. Met rest of group and everyone was introduced to crew. Set off about 5pm and and cruised out towards the islands. We were told a number of war chants and songs to shout at fellow boats on the cruise and that evening a Few beers consumed and got chatting to three Irish guys and a Canadian girl mostly that evening. Straight away could tell that had not brought enough beers since more drinking was going to be happening then originally anticipated. This was more based on crews intentions then anyone elses on the boat!!!!! Moored up that evening and spent night in nice calm little cove. Following morning was my birthday (happy birthday to me) we went to Whitehaven Sands and the tender took us to shore. Here we were given stinger suits and walked across to a lookout point and then down to the beach. Had a swim in waters and then a huge game of frisbee with everybody from boat (18 of us!). Really good fun relaxing and folling about on the beach. We then headed back to the boat and whilst heading towards area where diving would be done everyone was given briefing on dive equipment except myself, Andy and Quinn who were the Certified divers on board. We therefore asked if we could get the sails up and although not really windy enough for it we wanted to get involved and skipper told us what to do. Was great fun getting involved with it all, it was a Maxi Sailing race boat called Samurai we were on and had the wind been stronger we would have picked up some serious speeds but was all good fun all the same. We were last three to dive so lazed about on deck whilst others did their intro dives. We then got dropped of on tender and down we went. After 10 mins or so we resurfaced to confirm way we were heading and I had problems with the inflator on the BCD. Turns out the emergency dump valve was jammed open so no air was getting into it........... I had a bit of a panic here as my head was bobbing up and down just on surface of water so I dumped my weight belt, (which crew were not best pleased about!! Glad to see they concerned for my safety!!!). I had not been happy with gear in first place as I had asked for small BCD and they had given me large and just didn't feel comfortable with the gear........ Deffinatley not quite the prfessionalism of the Prodive boat we had previously experienced so was not expecting too much more diving to be done!!! Not the best birthday present I could have experienced to be honest. Went out that evening for post trip drinks and met some people from some of other boats that were about whilst we were. Including the Clipper boat. This is supposed to be the number one party boat, however whilst on the Samurai the 18 of us shouted songs across (songs of abuse obviously) to their boat (which consisted of 53 people) and they had no response to it which we all found very funny as they circled us and just tried to spray us with water!!! LAME. haha. That eveing we gave them a repeat performance in the bar and once again not much of a reponse, all good fun though and evryone had a laugh together.

Next stop was going to be Rockhampton, home of the Aussie Steak so a birthday treat meal was in store!!!

That evening we had a few beers and then the crew announced we were having a toga party so everyone grabbed the sheets of the beds and were wrapped up in togas and face painted up!!!! I was then handed a snorkel and told I had to do a birthday snorkel bomb. This involved a snorkel being filled with goon (local wine, or should that read rocket fuel?), vodka, beer and any other drinks people had to hand. I then proceeded to consume this in one sitting!!!! Yum Yum let the party begin............ Lots of others then got involved and the dive man (Paddy) made up a leathal coacktail punch. After couple games and plenty of punches the boat was a rocking and everybody was pretty intoxicated as the evening went on. What an awesome birthday, loved it and surely will not be one to be forgotten!!!

In morning Andy, Quinn and myself were taken on another dive due to problems day before and all went well with a nice morning dive. Certainly the way to sober yourself up. After this did bit of snorkelling (no liquor included this time) and then back to shore we headed. All in all a totally differant sailing experience to what IO had been expecting but still a fantastic time and a great birthday.