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Album 1
Album 2

This all feels like a fairytale. We just came off of Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world. And the only sand islands that can grow a full rainforest on its land. With our 4WD rental (yes, we took a rental out on the sand...) we ventured onto the island. We braved more dingoes, pythons and crashing waves in order to explore this fantastic island. We can't wait to share our photos of this amazing place so you all can see what it's like. My personal favorite spot was the Champagne Pools. I bought a postcard with its picture on the front... but the pools are filled with people on the card. We got up at 5:30 am to beat the tides (have to be off the beach at high tide or else your car will get swept away!) and got to the Pools before a single soul arrived. The sun was still coming up over the clouds and shone on the Pools to make them just shine. The water is salty, but so clear that when it's still you can't even tell it's there! The Pools are formed by water crashing over the headwall of volcanic rock, so the sight and the sound together were simply marvelous. The rest of the island was magnificent too-- the rainforests were grand; we hiked through them on an incredibly tiring (for me) 8 km hike. In that same inland area was a huge freshwater pool of crystal clear, blue water. I've never been in such blue water before-- it was freezing but so amazing!

It's been raining here quite a bit. Just our luck to bring rain to the droughted country. But it's been an immense blessing, as we've seen at least one rainbow a day!! The first day, we saw three. On the island, we saw two full ones and it looked like we were going to drive under the second. We tried to find the pot of gold at the end of it, but those leprechauns must have made it invisible to the human eye.

Speaking of leprechauns, I know Welshmen are not the traditional leprechauns, but the guy we met last night might as well have been perched on that pot of gold we're seeking at the end of the rainbow. A little guy, about our age, maybe a tad older. We spoke phenomenally indecipherable English. He cringed when he heard we were American, and cringed even more when someone suggested we might claim we're Canadian. "No one likes the Canadians," he cried. Eventually, after offering us the fat from his steak, he invited us to his campsite where other backpackers were hanging about the picnic table with Toohey's, boxed wine, and a guitar. We sang, listened to them chant traditional Irish songs, then ventured out onto the beach as a group. Other than out on the dock and trampoline at Lake Oxbow, NY, I've never seen so many stars. And I've certainly never seen such different ones!! I found the Southern Cross almost immediately-- the constellations are marvelous.

[So, to sum it up: Day 5 was spent driving to Noosa Heads from Byron Bay, after spending a bit of time at the lighthouse in Byron Bay. Day 6 we drove to Rainbow Beach to take a ferry at 2pm over to Fraser Island. We explored, set up camp, met the Irish backpackers and slept. Day 7, we awoke at 5:30 am to check out Champagne Pools, then drove down the beach to get inland before the tides washed us away, visited a large freshwater lake and hiked 8 km through the rainforest, then got on a ferry off the island at 4pm and drove to Bundaberg, where we are now. They make the famous Bundaberg Rum here, which, when mixed with Coke is called a 'Bundy&Coke.' The Australians have a nickname for everything. Tomorrow, we'll head to Mackay and on the way maybe stop at an Aborigine Reservation! Can't wait to tell you about it!]