Outback Australia

So here I am! At the tip of Australia blogging to you all and sharing a little of the dirty, harsh outback Australia. The last beach town we left was Port Douglas with its cute town, fresh air and clean beautiful swimming beaches! We were lucky enough to arrive for the only 2 months of the year you can swim without getting stung by jelly fish. 

After wondering the streets of Port Douglas, window shopping and accidentally misplacing our dog Boofa who had wondered into the Chef's kitchen to see the daily specials (how he managed to get through the restaurant I don't know), we managed to find a tour company who advised us that Monday was the perfect day for a boat trip and dive. He said "it will be blue sky and calm waters on Monday, I've lived her for 4 years and I can guarantee Monday will be perfect." Ahhh... how he was wrong. 

Monday came around for our amazing beautiful diving weather and I was strongly advised at the beginning of the boat trip to take a sea sickness tablet. Brushing it aside with a little shrug I quote "i'll be right mate" and find a comfy place on board. There were a few laughs when 20 mins later I had my head over the side of the boat convulsing. I did feel better after throwing up, however it's very frustrating because when you get sea sick, it seems to be the only thing in the world you can think about no matter how hard you try. So my seating place resided at the back of the boat for the remainder of the trip. 

The dive was a beautiful relief from the traitorous waters above. To feel like a mermaid and swim with fish, sharks, turtles and other wild life underwater is a dream. For days later I feel as though I have come out of some fairy tail where I really was a mermaid who swam the many seas saving wild life from psycho fishing nets. 

Can you see Nemo!?

The famous iconic Lions Den had photos of cars that had been slaughtered on the Cape York tracks, a beer and a bit of mental preparation was in order at this Aussie Pub!

When taking a boat out ANYWHERE the rules are, always check your tides, weather and ask for any local info. So after a quick glance at the sky, "yup weather looks great mate", we set off down stream. After fishing for awhile for this infamous Barra that I have decided does not exist, we decided to head back.

First mistake was that we were meant to head up stream we didn't realise we had gone the wrong way, we also didn't realise the tide had gone out. So in croc infested waters we were stuck on a log. Lucky we brought 2 friends along, Harley and Maizey, and decided they would be croc bait whilst we swam to shore! Getting the tini over this log was difficult and when we spoke to the locals about croc attacks we're relived we survived. 

These amazing ant hills are everywhere up the telegraph track. The pole that you can see on the right is the old telegraph pole which are all along the track. These date back to the 1800's and were the only means of communication to the tip. 

The Nolans Brook was the deepest river that we crossed on the telegraph track. It has drowned over 30 cars this year. After we made it through we saw 2 cars get stuck and start to flood. 

The telegraph track is full of car part shrines.

Gun Shot! 

The stunning croc free waters of Fruit Bat falls was a welcome relief from the dusty hot beaten track. 

Once surviving the telegraph track you arrive at the tip covered in red dusty dirt, sweating from the heat and desperately wanting a swim in these beautiful blue crystal clear waters. Once hearing a few stories from the locals about crocodiles you would be crazy to take a small dip! These beautiful waters are inhabited by crocodiles that are watching you and waiting for that crazy moment you don't think they exist. Take a dip, take a chance, you might also be a nice meal. 

The sign says it all! 

Over the dusty bloody corrugations 

Through the outback of Australia we go 

Avoiding the creepy crocodile waters  

To take a chance in safe water holes

We drove the car through crazy rivers 

Saw cars fill with water and dust 

But we made it to the tip of Australia 

It was bloody brilliant 

"Crikey Mate" 

Next time you should come with us! 

Written by Rebecca Thomas

Where the wind blows

Sometimes travelling can take you to random unknown places, were you meet amazing, strange people who both challenge and question everything in your small little travelling world of existence. These unknown places and strange people are sometimes blown into our life by a small breath of wind ~ sometimes a tornado. Each experience can leave you refreshed by the winds existence or frustrated exhausted and blown out.

Over the last couple of days I have felt totally blown out. The wind will surely take me to a new place of resting soon where the sun will shine. For the moment though I sit huddled in a camper trailer, avoiding thinking about the mud pit outside our tent, and the fact that I have lived in the same skirt and top for the last 3 days. Before I bring you to my current breath, I will take you back to were the wind really did take us around beautiful islands with some beautiful people ~ on a sailboat.

Visiting the Whitsundays was everything I thought it would be and a dream I have had since I was 18. In the cute town called Airlie Beach we booked a ticket to cruise the Whitsunday Islands on a sailboat called "Summertime." We cruised with 10 travellers from all over the world and 3 staff who all played a part over the 3 days in the scuba diving, kayaking and sailing experience. We had a short morning stop on Whitehaven Beach (photo on the right), which has the finest sand I've ever seen. After a day of sailing and diving we relaxed in the boats hot tub, eating chocolate cookies and discussing the breathtaking views. Once you can cope with the uneasiness of sea sickness, sailing is a breeze that really takes you were the wind blows and your heart desires ~ sailing teaches you to accept and appreciate all the forces of nature.  

This picture was called "I Told You So." I'm so sad to admit I didn't write the artist name down, if you know please comment below. I love the beauty of this picture, at times on a sail boat out in the middle of the ocean with no one around I think that I would feel like I've somehow reached the end of the world too!  

The little balls in the sand are created by small crabs who sit in holes, as the water comes in the crabs churn through the sand, sifting out the nutrients. The small balls are what the crabs throw out of the hole once they have had there feed, they keep working through the sand like this creating millions of little sand balls. 

After Airlie Beach we began to work our way towards Cairns. This time of year it feels as though a million travelling grey nomads are doing the same thing! The camp site at Balgal Beach was completely full so we headed to a roadside stop. A big tip for young travellers... always respect and chat to your elders! Many of them will give you advice on keeping safe, great places to stop and look out for you. We have been given many vegetables and meals by beautiful travelling nomads ~ I've also secretly adopted a few of them as my grandma and grandpa! 

The wind surely graced us as we drove into this cute little campsite just outside of Mission Beach. If you are ever around Cairns you really need to drop into this beautiful town! Take a few walks and cross your fingers that you'll see a Cassowary, we saw one, they are funny creatures ~ slow and thoughtful. This is the place I also tasted my first Red Paw Paw, a cute couple gave some to us to try, there laughter was hilarious and contagious. Mission Beach had perfect weather, perfect company and was the first place Amy Rose Vintage set up a market stall!

The photos below are of our campsite. I decided this palm tree was the most perfect palm tree I had ever seen ~ admit it, it's amazing right!? 

The winds became rough and exhausting as we arrived in Cairns. We called so many campsites and all of them were totally booked. At the end of our tether, frustrated, tired and completely over sitting in a car, I decided to pull into a farmers yard and sent a frustrated Mr Hubby to ask if we could camp on their lawn. It was a relief when they said yes, we set up and celebrated the good old Aussie farmer spirit! 

Cairns is surrounded by lush rainforest mountains of which I took many photos. However, I chose this one to share. Old, used, vintage and taken over by plants this little truck has a history to tell. Australia is a young country but there is so much beauty in these old tractors and houses that are everywhere. I don't want Australia to loose these treasures. 

Below on the right is me at the Ukulele festival were 1,395 people gathered to try and beat the Guinness World Record of the most amount of people in one area playing the uke. We didn't beat Sweden's record of 1,547. Next year Cairns! Next year! 

Okay to totally gross you out... above is a blood sucking leech! It was huge and could stretch out as far as this leaf. Beware of leeches in the rainforest! We went to see this amazing Fig Tree (as seen below) It's a plant that begins high up in a tree. The roots grow down towards the ground, suffocating the original tree and becoming a magnificent tree in it's own right. Only 2% of this rainforest is left and 3 trees are still standing. This tree was breath taking... a photo does no justice you need to see this tree before there are none left standing.

Over the last 3 days we have had the wind knocked out of us. We have struggled to find camp spots and have been packing up and setting up in the rain. Last night I woke up to the sound of a massive storm. We didn't pay attention to where we set up camp the day before and ended up in 3 inches of water. Luckily, we didn't get too wet inside the tent. Setting up in the rain and packing up in the rain is exhausting! Tomorrow we head to Port Douglas, we pray the wind blows in sunshine over the next few days because everything is wet dirty and muddy. 

Wild wind take me away 

To a calmer place today

Were there is a sweet small breeze

A place that calms my soul 

Breath of wind there's a place 

My heart softly calls

So take me away 

To a calmer place today  

Poem written by Rebecca Thomas

Contributing photographer, Mark Thomas