Fraser Island!

After our unreal experience on our sailboating tour, we needed a few days of R&R. Hence, we called up our buddy Mick, from Brissy, and were able to stay with his sister in Rock Hampton for a couple days to recoup. We spent a whole day watching season 5 of Gilmore Girls - not quiteeee the whole season, but close! Hahaa. We also had some solid beach time. Was exactly what we needed before taking a night bus to Rainbow Beach, the coastal town across from Fraser Island.
We had heard Fraser Island, largest sand island in the world, was beautiful and we'd seen the pictures to prove it, but our experience even better than I imagined. Our tour consisted of 30 of us, plus Karl, our 'Captain' (or guide, as some might say). We were lucky enough to stay at a resort while we were on the island, most tours camp on the beach (and hope the Dingo's don't eat them!). Day 1 we went to the Champagne Pools for a quick dip, then Indian Head lookout, 360 degree lookout where we could see Turtles and Manta Rays! Sometimes you can see sharks from above too!
Day 2, November 29th, was my quarter birthday! We were hanging out with some people we met from another tour (some fellow Canadians!) around midnight, so Jennine told them it was my 1/4 birthday, and they all started singing to me. Was a great start to the day! We headed to Lake McKenzie early on, a freshwater lake with ridiculously soft sand. Karl's tours always have this competition to see how many times they can keep a volleyball up in the air. The record was 158, the lowest scor
e was 19. Thankfully, after a while of trying, we finally hit 93! Pretty decent. After lunch we headed to see the Maheno Shipwreck, which washed up on Fraser Island in 1935. After some photos, we headed to Eli Creek, and floated down a couple times - I felt like a crocodile. We played some legit volleyball on the beach!SO FUN! Met a couple Danish guys, whom we ran into at our hostel later on, one of which we noticed had a super swollen ankle. We thought maybe it was a sports injury of sorts, but soon discovered he got bit by a SNAKE. Yeah. Intense (just to freak you all out a little ;)  I also got to drive the SUV, on the right side! First time everrrr. Was definitely the best quarter birthday I've ever had!
Day 3 we headed to this sahara-sized sand dune (maybe that was an exaggeration) with a lake (Lake Wabby) on one side, which is slowly evaporating. It likely will be entirely gone in about 5 years.
Headed on back to the mainland after lunch.

It's been super cool running into multiple people over and over again from destination to destination. I feel like I know people everywhere we go! It's great!

Each time we go to a new town, experience new things, we leave thinking things can't get any better... and then they DO! hjfdfguguifhaefheuiaelhfhdaugudfhdhfr
JUST LOVING LIFE. I feel so blessed to have had the experiences I've had so far. Day after day, I fall for 'Straya a little more. Weirdest thing ever... it's December. Christmas is in 20 days. It is SUMMER. The shops are all decked out with Christmas decor, but since the ground isn't covered in a blanket of white, my brain is so CONFUSED. Although, we listened to Michael Buble's Christmas album this morning, so that helped.

Just watched Finding Nemo, we spent the entire movie going "OMIGAWSHHHHH! THEY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THAT IN REAL LIFE!", "Hey! I touched Crush!", or "I SAW GIL UP CLOSE!" was really funny. I'll never be able to watch that movie in the same way again.

Kay. I'm done blabbing now,

Continue on enjoying your lives.

Much love and prayers!

-Silks (the name I often go by now, cause 'Silken' is too complex! ...yeah. I know.)