Speechless Magnificence

The sun rising over the beach

Day two started again at 6 am. We were woken up to watch the sunrise at 6:36 and we started off to start a super full day. I thought I might not be able to sleep in a boat but it turns out when you're so exhausted, it really doesn't matter. I mean, the cabin was cramped and never smelled very good, apart from when meals were being cooked, but it was much more comfy then I honestly expected. Anyways, we started super early so that we could be one of the first boats over to Hill Inlet which is where they drop us off to go see the number one beach in the world. For real. It is listed as one of the most magnificent beaches in the world and is called Whitehaven Beach. You get dropped off on the far side of the island because no commercial boats are allowed in the waters around the beach so you get a nice little bushwalk in to the lookout and then down the beach.

The beauty of this place was surreal. It was like being in a dream or fairy tale. If I could only give the beach justice in my descriptions and pictures. The sand was pure white and reflected in the rising sun. To the touch it was like flour or powdered sugar... silky soft, fluffy almost, and amazing to touch. This beach is one of the only ones in the world where its sand isn't normal sand, instead it is 100 percent silica sand. They warned us that if any gets into any electronics, it is so so fine that it will literally break anything it gets into and you won't be able to fix it. You can also use the sand for polishing jewelry, polishing your TEETH, exfoliating and a couple other uses as well. To say it was beautiful does not even cover it. As the sun continued to rise, we walked down the beach with our toes in the sand just taking in the scenery. The water was cool but pleasant and the sand was imprinted with the curves of the waves. We got to spend two hours here and it was probably two of the best hours I have had in Australia. Makenna and I went off on our own for a bit for some pictures and just to walk up the beach. Before leaving we decided to go back up to the lookout one more time since the first trip was so early in the morning. Aren’t we glad we did that! The difference in the pictures is noticeable and stunning. As the sun rose, the blue of the water became more pronounced and the white swirls of the sand became more of a contrast. Ahh it was so amazing I again don’t know how else I can describe being there. All I know is that I kept thinking I couldn't believe this was my life and that I was actually there in that moment. It was so worth all the months I have worked to get here.

Amazing. This is what people travel all over the world to come see

Unfortunately, we did have to leave this beautiful place and so we all got rides back to the boat at around 9:30 am. (See, so much had happened since 6) We got going again and had about a two and a half hour sail up north where we were going to do another round of snorkeling but this time we were told the snorkel was a 8 or 9 out of 10. I was so excited! We got there and were told we had two hours to snorkel. So side note, back in Townsville Makenna decided to make a big purchase of buying one of the ‘tough’ cameras that can go in water, sand, be dropped etc. At this next snorkel spot I cannot tell you how good of an investment that was. I will be posting a bunch of pictures from her on facebook. It was INCREDIBLE! There were so many fish it was like we were in a giant aquarium. Again I got that surreal feeling where I could not believe I was actually doing this! I stayed in the water for almost the entire two hours and did not even realize it. It was so cool. Again the weather and visibility were perfect. Above and underwater. You could really see all the amazing colors of the reef and the fish. Super intricate patterns and life all around you. The water was so buoyant that you hardly had to swim as you looked down and occasionally the deckhand would throw some bread in the water and all the fishies would swim up around it. There was one GIANT fish called a Maskee(?) that swam right up super close to me. From far away he looked just like a black fish but when he got close and in the sunshine he had amazing patterns and changed colors. It was like a piece of artwork in living form. Apparently they are very curious fish so he just kept coming and checking everyone out. Once we realized that mostly everyone else was back at the boat Kenna and I headed back in. A handful of people were jumping off the boat to cool off and just be out of our stinger suites and I joined in. They warned us that our travelers insurance wouldn't cover us if we jumped in the water without the suites on, but I took the gamble since the real dangerous ones are no longer around. That was pretty fun. I did a couple flips, tested out if I still knew how to dive thanks to senior year in high school. Overall just a continuation of an amazing amazing day. The best part? It wasnt over!

We left that spot around 3 pm and still had a good junk of the day left so we continued up north to a little sand island where we planned our last snorkel and to watch the sunset. The wind had picked up a bit from earlier in the day so this snorkel was a bit more bumpy and I happened to pick a shitty mask this time. That kind of sucked because it kept fogging or leaking and that made it harder to see and enjoy. However, before it really stopped functioning we got to see hands down one of the most amazing things ever. It happened right below me. Right as I looked down there was a massive sea turtle just starting its accent upwards to get some air. I quickly got Makenna’s attention and we followed him. We got close enough we both were able to touch him. I TOUCHED A SEA TURTLE! How frikking cool is that!!!?? Add in that Makenna had her camera and seriously got some spectacular photos of him right up close and personal. He dove back down though and we lost him for a bit. Makenna did find another one but it was hiding and sleeping down super deep and wouldn't come up. We hovered over him for a while hoping we would get another chance to really see how magnificent they are again, but no luck. After a while we gave up and my mask was really just annoying me so I called it quits altogether. Went back to the boat got all dried off and then headed back to watch the sunset with the group. It was very peaceful and serene and we were brought some snacks while we watched the sun go down on one of the best days of my life.

Once back on the boat again, we had an amazing home cooked meal of cheesy mashers, veggies, and something yummy infused beef and gravy. It was ideal to feed a huge group of people that were starving from the days events. So, the first night on the boat everyone had stayed up drinking and playing games getting to know each other. This second night though, we tried to recreate that but everyone was just so beat. The game was half hearted and died out pretty fast. I gave in and went the other side of the boat to look at the stunning stars and just relax. There are so many stars its just so amazing to take a second and look at them. I saw a fair amount of shooting stars and when Makenna joined me, she pointed out that it is a bit weird to not recognize any of the constellations. You grow up looking at the same sky your whole life and its one of those things you never consciously think about changing... that it even could or would.

I fell asleep pondering that very thing, outside under the stars. I woke up a bit later and moved down into the cabin as the wind picked up. You could feel the weather changing slightly in that last night. The water got choppier and the wind picked up. I was woken up super early again and this time, even though technically we could have slept in, the boat was rocking pretty intensely. Up until that point I hadn't felt sea sick at all but staying down below while we went over crazy waves was a bit much. I bundled up and went up on deck. It was so rocky for probably 45 minutes that I started to get worried I might get sick if that lasted the whole two hours we had to go. The boat was so light you could see the whole sides come up out of the water before crashing back down again. It was still sunny out but the wind was so intense everyone was cold and wrapped up in jumpers and sweats. Some of the people on this trip were really quite cool and we exchanged contact information with a woman traveling alone named Jody from England. She was really cool and was getting ready to head to Asia. We hung out with her most the two days and if either of us ever needed a traveling buddy she would definitely be up for it and be a good travel connection. Once we docked, everyone said their goodbyes and it was kind of sad. I did not want to come back on land. I wanted to keep doing what we had been! boo. Two of the girls are actually headed to do the same Fraser Island trip that we are heading to next so we will see them there.

But alas, everything must come to an end. We said our goodbyes, hiked back to the car with all our crap and got going on the road to Bundaberg where Makenna is visiting her friend JD. I don’t think we really realized just how far we had to drive because we left Airlie at around 11am and did not get into Bundaberg last night until after 10 pm. Makenna started the drive while I took a short forty minute nap and after we switched I realized I drove over 300 km yesterday. We switched again in Rockhampton because I was about to die and be stuck in the seat forever and Makenna had gotten a two hour nap in so she was nice and refreshed. We met up with JD at some club called The Central and really I was only going for Kenna and she knows that. You would think after working in a club for the last four months I would enjoy the scene a bit more. nope. not at all. At least this one was so big it had multiple places to go and multiple music rooms so I could avoid my least favorite. A semi good cover band came on for a while and that was cool. I had one beer Makenna bought me, I would rather spend what little money I have elsewhere. I was still exhausted from driving for five hours that around 1 I gave in and came back to the van. They left not long after and I went on an adventure to find the campground I had called earlier in the day and that is where I am now! Nice little caravan park with decent enough facilities and a safe place to sleep. We will be spending the night here again tonight and heading to Hervey Bay tomorrow. I am so content right now and am so happy to be doing this. Regardless of being dirt poor, I know that starting with these last two days, this trip is already unforgettable.