East Coast Beaches

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Trip Start Jun 05, 2007 Previous
Entry Trip End Jan 06, 2009 Next
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  Rainbow Beach, Australia
Saturday, March 8, 2008

So we left Eungella and the platypus, and headed back to Mackay for the evening, well some of the evening.  Our bus south left at 2 A.M. and we got back from the National Park at about 2 pm.  We decided, since everything we had was wet, and we were exhausted, that we better get a room anyways.  We asked when we got to the reception if they had a way for us to wake up, and they said no, and NO they didn't have spare alarm clocks... they get stolen.  Our alarm clock broke months ago, but we never replace it, never had a need really.  But now we were short one.  And it was Sunday in sleepy Mackay.  Two stores in town were open, a newsagent (basically a conveinence store), and the chemist (a pharmacy).  We thought we may luck out at the chemist, who did end up having an entire traveling section, but it just wasn't our day.  After an afternoon of wandering town, checking out the local art museum, and figuring we had no possible way of waking up to catch a 2 am bus, we returned to the hostel.  We had a great conversation with a couple while all of our things were drying out, and as it got later, we had some dinner

Kookaburra

.  Then began the waiting game.  Both of us were so tired, and have been going to bed when the sun went down, seeing as we are tenting, and have only one headlight.  Staying up until 1:30 was to be a challenge.  But a card game, some reading (while sitting up of course), and some rude awakenings thanks to each other, and we made it to the mark.  Got on the bus at 2, and dozed on and off until the morning sun started glaring in the bus windows a few hours later.

We finally arrived in Agnes Water, a small beach town known mostly for surfing, and some Great Barrier Reef trips out to Lady Musgrave Island.  We set up camp at Workman's Beach, outside of town, got on our togs (bathing suits), and headed down for the beach, grabbing some fish and chips on the way.  We proceeded to spend the afternoon dozing on the beach, and waking up sweating, and then swimming, only to return to dozing a few moments later.  Steak was on the menu for dinner, after a few days of eating little.  The sun was barely set, and our eyelids closed as we lay down in the tent.
The next day we awoke totally refeshed, ready for adventure.  We decided to go for a walk, not sure to where, and headed out early after a breakfast of papaya and limon.  We walked for hours down the beach with the waves lapping at our feet, the soft sand in between our toes, the warm sun in our faces, and the cool breeze at our backs

The Lookout

.  We had almost decided to turn around when we found a little exit off the beach. (They were not many)  We went up, and found that it was to Captain Cook Holiday Village, where we had intended to stay before finding out it was around 5 km out of town.  So, we went of have a look.  Well, that look turned into another km, when we finally came upon the village.  We knew there was a restaurant/bar so we hoped for a beer until we found the sign, OPEN at 5:30.  Still early afternoon, DAMN.  We were again ready to head back, when we said hello to the women writing on the chalkboard sign by the roadside.  She was a new local, and loved the place.  Practically forced us to walk on down to the harbour, "just a bit down the way".  So on we went.  Was all worth it though.  We found this fantastic cafe and had a great lunch topped off we an amazing lemon and lime tart.  Found out too that it was just too rough to get out to Lady Musgrave, and decided we would leave the next day as intended.  And we started our trek back.  Long, but really enjoyable.  Had a swim before we went over to the restaurant closest to the beach for some fresh local fish, and a bottle of Aussie white wine, the stump jump.

The next day we came down here to Rainbow Beach, where we have now spent three nights.  We were greeted off the bus at Fraser's backpackers by Matty, the owner.  He invited us over for some beers at the bar, which was only for guests staying there, and some live music, since they didnt have a room for us.  Seeing as it was Amanda's Birthday we figured that would be perfect.  We went across the street and set up camp at the holiday village.   Tried for a walk on the beach but were foiled when the rain came in.  As we were walking down the beach we noticed some dark clouds coming over the cliffs, and then all the sudden... you couldn't see the cliffs.  We ran for camp, and almost made it before the downpours came

Sea Foam

.  Met a great Aussie couple, and their kids, on vacation, while we waited out the rain.  Some more swimming when the sun came back out, and then back for a big steak dinner, and some red wine, over which we chatted with our new friends.  Then we headed off to see some music.  When we got there, some guy was jamming out on a digeridoo.  It always amazes me how many sounds they can make with those.  Then Matty and his band got up and played a set.  They ended it with "It Aint No Fun, If the Homeys Cant Have None", two acoustic guitars, and an electric base, all white boys, base player looks like slash, and lead guitar looked like Axel.  We were laughing our asses off.  Though we seemed to be the only ones paying any attention.  It was the bartender's birthday as well, though he had a big night the night before.  When Amanda asked him to do a shot, he refused, but came back with a concoction for her, that tasted vaguely of chemicals.  We chatted around, and headed home around midnight.  Fairly tame, considering birthdays past, but fun.

After a day of nursing a hangover, and lazing about, today we got to do the walk south to the Rainbow Cliffs.  Giant sand dunes being eroded by wind and sea.  Different colors all over, and steep cliffs.  Huge tide pools as the water recedes.  More swimming, and sunning, both of us have mostly erased our farmer tans from working in the vineyards.  Tommorrow we head south again.

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Here comes Rain	Amanda, hiding out	Rivers of Sand	Quicksand!
Rainbow sand cliffs	Our walk back

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