Woke up early (6 am) and went to drop off our big backpacks at the boat company storage area (since each of us could only bring a small bag onbaord). Then walked to Abel Point where the crew (Anisley - scuba girl, Brent - skipper, Abby - chef), Kiana, and the owners were waiting for us. We got onboard and set sail for the islands (saw turtles and jellies on the way). The first islands we passed through were the MOLE islands. Once through there, the boat was anchored near Whitsunday Island (the largest of the all the islands). In two groups, Brent drove us over to the beach in Kiana's tender (zodiac). From there Anisley led us on a hike to the lookout which overlooked the beautiful Whitehaven Beach (famous). Apparently the sand there is 98% silica (best in the world). It's the softest sand I've ever stepped in. After hanging out at the lookout taking it all in, we hiked down to the beach and set up camp (beach towels :)) on the same part of the beach that Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaghy were shooting their new movie a couple weeks ago. Brent later told us that Matthew was hanging out at Beaches Bar (the hostel I was just at last night) trying to pick up girls.
I've been reading a book all day (on the boat and at the beach). They have a selecton of books here on Kiana (including some by James Patterson). Yay!
Have been feasting all day. Lunch consisted of chicken/ham, buns, colslaw, potato salad. Snacks: fruit, chips (with salsa). Dinner: all steamed (inside an old beer barrel, really neat) - lamb, squash, pumpkin, potatoes, peas.
We're now anchored at Hooke Island (the second largest island) for the first night. After the sun set, Brent shone a big flashlight in the water and we saw big jellies floating near the surface along with a squid (it was eating little fish that we blinded by the flashlight). Stargazing was amazing!
Tomorrow when we go diving and snorkelling we'll have to wear stinger suits because of the bad jellies (this time of the year there are alot of them around, and if you get stung they fly you out on a chopper because it's so painful).
The boat:
David and I are set up on a bunk system near a bathroom that has both a toliet and a shower (it's a pretty neat set up). Since the boat can only hold so much freshwater everyone's limited to a 2 min shower.
Brent just told us that since there's no wind, tomorrow night we get to stay out on the reef!
I get to do my first scuba dive tomorrow, it's an intro dive. It sounds really scary, but was the same with surfing and I really liked that!
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