Queensland and Upwards

I didn't think that it had been 12 days until I was thoughtfully reminded. Wow 12 days ok so this might be a long one. After Byron we picked up 5 girls who payed for gas for the ride up Surfer Paradise. 2 Canadians (Jenna and Shanon) 2 Americans (Lexie and Brittany) and an English girl from Blackpool named Kelly. You have seen the car situation so it was the 10 of us spread between the Fairmont and the Euro's van which has lovingly been named "muff the magic wagon" which may or may not be related to the actual activities that take place in it but regardless of that I've not been sleeping in it (and i don't think that i would recommend it) Anyways its packed pretty tight

We spent 3 days in a hostel in surfer's paradise which we timed to coincide with the biggest Australian rally race which they close down the city to conduct. With massive amounts of barricades and fencing over a course of 3 months each year they convert the otherwise bustling city into a three day clusterf*ck of non moving traffic congestion, absolute pedestrian chaos and the sloppy boozfest that is hopelessly drawn to the ear splitting reckless speed of Indy racing. I'd never been to races before and they are awesome. We got free entry the first day by working in a corn dog stand. After making them for about three hours and because I care very much for all who are reading this blog I tell you this, NEver ever ever eat a corn dog ever again.

I enjoyed staying in the hostel and partying by the pool but we inevitably were forced to the plethora of clubs that Surfer's sports. I am getting convinced the the same 500 people are in every club and that they are just quickly bussed from tourist town to tourist town in order to jump in the queue just before you. The group is subdivided into many parts of which I can go on and on about but my particular unfavorite is the sweaty European group in leather pointed shoes and silk shirts. It should be noted that this group is generally smelt before seen (usually after you've just fought your way to the toilets through the 10 or 15 greyhaired men with bellies who don't dance but linger for that one girl whose just so sloppy she might not notice age.) You may be getting the idea that I don;t really prefer clubs... and you're right.

by the way, I've gotten a mowhawk
We left work early in the afternoon because we said that we had plans to settle that night but that we would be back the following morning to work a full day (8-6) but instead showed up and enjoyed the racing. It was a bit sketchy because the tickets we got to work are actually work tickets and when we showed up a bit tipsy at noon to "work" it took some fancy speaking to get us in. We didn't get paid for the three hours of work but we got 2 days entry into the races and I got to keep my tee-shirt uniform which I must say is pretty trendy.
Needless to say I was happy to leave the hustle bustle of surfer's paradise and when we got on the road three days later it was up to Noosa Heads for a night. With the addition of the 5 girls camping at actual camp cites has become an option because so many people cuts down the price to about 4 bucks a person. Unfortunately for all the couple and families taking a leisurely vacation we are up quite late and inevitably make quite a bit of noise. The man the spot next to us was raging when for the 4th time he had to yell out his window at us about people trying to get sleep or something, sleep is definitely a thing that is overrated at times and I'm finding one can do quite well on the minimalist amounts of the stuff.
After Noosa Heads we went up to Rainbow Beach where we were meeting up with our tour group for Fraser Island. About 50 ks south of Rainbow the Fairmont broke down and we towed it with the van for the rest of the way which is probably the second scariest thing I've ever done. Driving 100 k/h in neutral attached to a van only 8 feet in front of you is always scary.

Fraser Island is one of the biggest all sand Islands in Australia, with a local population of about 10 (rangers mostly) it is a last frontier of wilderness and endless coastline. You have to have a 4x4 to make the shady roads and still we got stuck several times but man is it so great. 11 people to a truck you have free reign of the place occasionally running into other groups or local fisherman. At our first camp site we met some guys catching Talia who fried up some for us and man was it great. I think that overall they were thankful for us considering we were a group of thirty 18 to 29 year olds that they got to reminisce with for a couple nights. The coolest part, by far, of the island is a massive spring in the middle called Lake McEnzie which had the clearest water I've ever seen. It seems that all tourist activities in Australia include massive amounts of Alcohol or perhaps it is just that this is my first tourist experience old enough to participate in this sort of thing but no mater what we do their is booze intimately involved. They call boxed wine here Goon and you can buy 4 liters or it for about 9 ausi bucks making it the drink of choice for money scarce backpackers. If you ask around you will find that it goes well with every meal (even breakfast). Met some really really great people on Fraser that we are traveling with (Sarah a Canadian and Bianca and Graham from England.)

this is Sarah, Bianca and Rhian.

the whole group at the champaign pools
After Fraser and an additional 3 nights in Rainbow Beach we have ditched the girls and picked up some new traveling partners and headed back south. On the way back from Rainbow to Noosa Heads is the Australians Zoo (former home of the beloved and missed crocodile hunter) and it is all it is cracked up to be. I fed an elephant, petted a kangaroo, hugged a Koala, held a giant lizard and attempted to pick up a wallaby (which didn't make it very happy)

Needless to say the crocodiles are amazing and we got to see them fed and man are they scary. I am almost positive that I will be extending my trip a month (I find out tonight) and so this backtracking is fine and actually I'm glad of it cause we missed some stuff coming up to Fraser so fast. Tomorrow we're going to Stradbroke Island which has a similar feel to Fraser but there are no vehicles allowed on it, making it an "untouched paradise" as the brochure assures me. I promise to continue with the updates, my camera has finally kicked it and its hard to get as excited about writing without pictures to share. Keep tuned in though cause it wont be as long next time. Hope everyone is doin great.