Beautiful Fraser Island

March 20

Last night was laundry night. With only 2 dryers in the whole park, I didn't get my laundry done. Some one left their laundry in the dryer...wet! And the other one was used. It's 715 pm and the laundry room is closed at 8:00 pm. So I take my wet laundry and hang it all in my van (right about now I feel homeless and mad at the inconsiderate people who left their stupid clothes in the dryer). I'm off to bed because I have an early 4-wheel drive tour of Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island.

Up at 3:30 am... Worry about my laundry? (Don't ask me why). I head off to the washroom only to find the cleaner cleaning the facility. So I ask him if he could open the laundry room... "I'm sorry but I'm not allowed to open it, I don't even have a key." He says. So back to Casa Mighty I go (even more mad). About half an hour later, I realize the laundry room door is open, so I sneak in and start my laundry. It's now 4:30 am and I have to meet my tour at 6:15 am at the entrance if the holiday park. I eat breakfast, get dressed, and get my laundry (yeah!).

I'm at the entrance by 6:00 am waiting....waiting....waiting.... It's now 6:30 am, my ride is 15 minutes late.... Still waiting..... He finally shows up at 6:45 am! Off we go.... To Fraser Island and Rainbow Beach. Our driver explains that it's still high tide, instead of driving on the beach we would take the side roads to Rainbow Beach to catch the Manta Ray barge to Fraser Island. 2 1/2 hours later, we are driving off the barge right onto the beach.

Fraser Island's World Heritage status and is a precious part of Australia's natural and cultural heritage. The island is 122 km in length and 21 km wide at its widest point and is the largest sand island in the world. There are over 100 freshwater lakes. Fraser Island is the only place in the world where tall rainforests are found growing on sand dunes. The roads are all sand and only 4-wheel drive vehicles are allowed on the island. The beaches are considered their roads and all driving rules and speed limit must be followed. Logging began in the island in the 1800's and continued until 1991.

Sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle sure gave me the best seat of the house. We toured the island and stopped for lunch at Lake MacKenzie, one of the many freshwater lakes. This lake gets its water from the rain and is absolutely stunning. The water is clear, you can see the bottom, and the sand is white (really white). The lunch area is all fenced off because of the Dingos. They are predators and will attack for food.

We also did a walk in the Rainforest on Fraser Island. Here are some of the thngs we saw.

Rainbow Beach is a tiny town with spectacular multicoloured sand cliffs and white sandy beach. On the way back, we drove on the beach of Rainbow Beach, stopped to see the multicoloured sand cliffs. It was a long day but it was definitely worth it.

I had planned on staying one night at Rainbow Beach, but now that the tour took me there I have to make new plans.

March 21
Got up early and was on the road by 7:00 am. I made the decision to head up to Rockhampton (5.5 hours away from Noosa). Rockhampton is the beef capital of Australia. I also crossed the Tropic of Capricorn. It also has a zoo with koala bears and kangaroos (thought I'd better find a zoo before it got too late). The very nice man at the Information Site gave me all the information I needed (Holiday Park, things to see, things that weren't open). Apparently, the zoo hasn't been open since the end of February... that was when the last cyclone blew through this area.

So with the zoo closed, I decided to keep going on to Yeppoon. As I drove to Yeppoon, I noticed that the damage is extensive in many areas. Trees are down, debris all over the place, roads are closed because of landslides, and even part of the walkway along Yeppoon Main Beach is closed.

The drive from Noosa to Rockhampton was an emotional one for me today. I really missed Gerald and found my mind wandering back to how life was before he was diagnosed. I so want that life back, for him to be here on this earth to share everything. I've said many times that if he were here, he would not have come on this trip (or I would never be on this trip). He would have said "see ya!" I have to thank my girlfriend Lisa for helping me out of that deep dark hole. I also had another thought..... my laundry.... why am I such a control freak? Why can I not let things go? I'm going to work on letting things go......