Enjoying the Holiday - Exploring QLD

Well I just got back on Saturday the 14th from a wonderful 4 day trip in Airlie Beach on the Great Barrier Reef near the Whitsunday Islands. After a very delayed flight (we were in the airport for 5 extra hours…not exactly my idea of fun, but we kept busy), we finally arrived in Procerpine, which is about a 40 minute bus ride from Airlie Beach. The setting sun was on the horizon as we pulled up to our hostel. The girls and I settled into our dorm before getting ready to get dinner and go out for the evening. We met up with the guys and went to McDonalds — don’t judge. After dinner we walked down to the bar down the street, shared a couple of pitchers, and watched footie league on the big screen with live music in the background. It was a great night. I also got to see highlights from the Tour, which made me happy because I was afraid I’d miss it all!

The next morning we got some groceries for our meals to keep in the dorm, made sandwiches to take on the beach and then walked down to the beach. Okay, to start off, I love sailboats. I love how they look, I love being on them, and I love when they’re all together. With that said, this beach was amazing for me because just beyond the waist deep water, there were about 50 sailboats of all different sizes sitting out there. The sun was overhead, and I had a pb&j in by hand with a big bottle of water next to me. Life is good. After a few hours of reading and playing on the beach, we decided to explore what made Airlie Beach unique. That night, we had cheese and crackers and pb&j for dinner. Livin it up, I know. After dinner, Jessica, Piper, and myself went down to a bar down the way and met up with the other Butler kids. We came back home early for sleep because the next day had much in store for all.

We got up early on Thursday morning to pack a bag and head over to catch a 7:30 bus to the marina. We booked a day trip out to the islands that included a dive on the lower reef! The boat was totally booked, which meant that there were 60 other people on this boat with us. Not everyone was diving but still a lot of people on a small boat. The boat made three stops: a bush walk to an overlook of Whitehaven beach, actually to Whitehaven, then the snorkel/dive spot. The bush walk was not very strenuous at all, but the end was absolutely breath taking. Snow white sand, shades of blue and green in the water that hadn’t been named, cloudless sky. I couldn’t really ask for a more beautiful day. Of course after spending time admiring all that beauty, one tends to get hungry. Lucky for us, the boat prepared lunch while we were off! Sandwiches and fresh fruit were prepared as we got back to the deck.

We ate as the boat sailed away from Whitehaven and around the island to our scuba site. Jessica and I slipped on our wetsuits and hobbled back to the back deck where we picked up weight belts and flippers then proceeded to slide into our BCDs. Turn on the air. Reg? check. Buddy air? Check. BCD? Check. Gauge? Check. Everything was in place except me, so I sat down put on my flippers and my mask; I was ready to enter the water. We reached the site, and one of the deck hands helped me up to the edge of the deck. One hand on the weight belt, the other on my mask and regulator in my mouth. On the count of three, take one big step off: One, Two….Three. SPLOOSH! ::darth vader breathing:: I was in. I was back. It was great. It’d been a whole two years since I last dove. The rest of the group took the giant step off the back and joined me in the water, then we started the descent. BCD tube up, let the air out, and down we go. I remembered slow steady breathing as I sunk deeper and equalized my ears every few feet. We made it to the bottom, and it was another world. The fish nibbled at my flippers as I came close, and the coral swayed with the current. Our instructor gave us some signals to follow and off we went. It was quite chilly, but so much fun. Sea turtles came close enough to touch, and little fish swam right in front of my mask. Pretty soon my gague read that I only had 50 bar left in the tank, which means it was time to ascend. I can’t wait for more diving even further up coast!

The rest of the week was pretty much the same as before. Lots of beach, plenty of pb&j, and great friends to chat and laugh with. Sadly, we had to come back Saturday. We flew out of the smallest airport I have ever been to; I sat next to a nice local couple, who is sailing for the week off the coast of Sydney. Back in Brisbane, Debbie, Jessica, and I cooked up dinner and watched a movie. Great roommate bonding, I know. Orientation is happening this week and then classes start Monday the 23rd. Crazy it’s already been two weeks! Keep the emails coming, I will respond to everyone. I love getting news from home, and I don’t mind sharing my news at all! I hope all is well back in the states; more from me next week!

Much love.