It's the 14/10 and we are still in Airlie Beach. The weather has not really improved - meaning there is not a single day on which we are not blessed with rain - and lots of it! My tent has been flooded repeatedly and trying to dry my stuff before it gets wet again is becoming a real challenge these days. But here at the camping park we are all in the same boat. So the camp kitchen is "the place to be" for our little international community consisting of mainly Germans and Dutch, but also English and French travellers who all have a very different story to tell. So days and mainly nights are spent talking, drinking and having a good time.
 |
| Camp Kitchen in Airlie Cove caravan park |
While Kristof sleeps out his hangover I am posting my blog and I meet Alicia, Valeria and Lukas who "surprise surprise" are also from Germany. They have just finished their A Levels and are now on a 7 months trip through Oz. The 3 of them sleep in a Wicked van the size of ours, so as you can imagine, they don't have a lot of room. They are still enjoying their van which can only go 80 km/h or the motor gets too hot and whose sidewindows flatter in the wind - it's their adventure and I think it's great! Kristof gets up, joins our little round and I drag him to the city (one street) to book a trip on one of the boats to see some of the Whitesunday Islands. We decide to go for the 1 day catamaran tour on the purple "Camira" including snorkling and a visit of Whitehaven beach. I'm all excited - Kristof not that much, cause he always gets seasick, but he is willing to give it a try. As the weather forecast says that Wednesday will be the best day of the week, we decide to stay in Airlie Beach until then, expecting a wonderful sunny day on Wednesday. I can tell you already now that this did not happen...... The evening is spent in the camp kitchen.
On Monday, in spite of the weather, I want to get out of the camp and see what Airlie Beach has to offer. While Kristof and the trio Alicia, Valerie and Lukas decide to start their day with a beer at 9 am to celebrate the weather, I am joined by Marjon and Pauline from the Netherlands and we make our way to a national park where we have a lunch BBQ followed by a 4km bushwalk. Highlight of the day is Coral Beach though. A very remote beach which is only accessible via a 1km walkway through the forrest. Beautiful!! We're lucky with the weather - it does not even rain and we are able to enjoy the scenerie dry for once.
 |
| Coral Beach |
After a day out exploring we return to the camp kitchen and find the German trio - now a quartett, in the camp kitchen in the exact same position as we left them, only the mood had visibly improved which is not only seeable because of the empty 30 can box of VB - Victorian Bitter (beer)... The main topic of their day: Az ! Az is short for Aaron. Aaron is an Australian dude who is travelling the coast in the search of a job. Az is 31 years old and from Sydney. He entertains the camp kitchen with his guitar at night and for some reason Kristof and Lukas are massive fans! So when we join them everything is "Aztastic","Azome""Azmazing" etc. According to them Az is secretly the major of "Azlie Beach" and "the man"! Obviously there was no chance for us to catch up with them alcohol-level wise. So after dinner we let them head into town and we stay in the camp kitchen and have our party there. Next morning Marjon, Pauline and I decide to head to the Cedar Creek waterfalls. Our question if Kristof and co want to join us is replied by a very un-enthusiastic shrug which basically is a no. So it's the 3 of us again who leave the 4 back at the camp and head to the waterfalls. Beautiful!!!
 |
| Cedar Creek Waterfalls |
We're also checking out Wilson Beach and Conway Beach. Ok spots, but not really special. It has of course started to rain again. As the highlight of this area are the 74 islands around, there is not much more to see on the mainland. We head back to the camp kitchen, again finding the quartet where we left them. We're joining them and have some wine while the only thing we can do is sit and watch the rain fall and fall and we're all hoping our tents/vans will stay dry from the inside. By now Lukas, Valerie, Alicia, Pauline and Marjon have also booked the catamaran trip for Wednesday - group excursion - yihaaaa! Did I mention that there is free alcohol from 11 am on ???!!!! We're all being picked up te next morning at 7.10. On the boat we're being told that most likely it will not be possible to snorkel becacue of the weather conditions. It's windy and rainy - happy days for Kristof.... He is not looking happy at the moment.
 |
| Marjon, Lukas and Valerie |
 |
| Marjon and Pauline |
We leave the harbour and on the way out of the bay we get a first little taste on how the rest of the trip will be. Our captain tells us we can either stay inside or we put on wetsuits and stay in the front. It becomes clear this is not going to be the sunny relaxing trip we were hoping for, but it's gonna be FUN!!!
As you can imagine everyone is too scared to touch the alcohol. Judging from the look on the faces of most of the passengers that's a very wise decision.
 |
| Marjon and Lukas |
Back from the trip we get Kangaroo meat from the supermarket as Az promised to cook it for us. Big dinner, lots of people, vino - great night!! By then it is already decided that we are all extending our stay by another night.
It's the 14/10 by now and our 5th day in Arlie. We're hanging out, and are again celebrating the "last night" together. Next morning, before wishing each other a good onward journey and nice life, etc. we meet in the camp kitchen. Everybody is sitting around talking and nobody is really willing to leave... So of course the question "Hey, why not stay another night" is being asked at one point. So again, we all decide to stay a day longer, which have by now turned into 3 more nights. Our group is joined by three british physiotherapists, James, Liam and Pete. At night all of us hit the town. Drinks in "Beaches" followed by more drinks in "Mama Africa". Soooooo much fun!So it's now the 16/10/2010 and surprise, surprise we're still here. It's actually sunny- our first day without any rain! Knowing that my time here in Oz is limited I'm keen to move on, but hey, who can say no to all these sweet people, so 1 more night! So tomorrow we're leaving for Townsville for sure. It has been a great week in Airlie and I met some great people!
Thinking a lot about all you guys!!
See you soon(er or later)!!!
Mwah,
Jannepige
No comments:
Post a Comment