The first night camping went well, and I was very happy with my self for the things I had done so far. But what is camping without rain, and what is a tropical forest without out rain for that fact as well. So when I laid own the second night, it gave no warning, just the sound of one drop, then another, and all at once, as riot broke out, and my tent was the victim. I held up most the night, by placing my towel and shirt in the corners of the tent where the water was seeping in, and I through all my stuff in the middle with me. Being an Eagle Scout and knowing my luck with rain on my many previous campouts, I was prepared and had previously before departure sealed every item in plastic baggies. So I was not worried about my clothing getting wet, and the other things. But let me say by experience that waking up in a puddle of water with a wet sleeping bag doesn’t really give you hope for the day. I was keeping the water from myself, and my bed. So I took on the storm for the night and managed to keep dry even up to the morning, but morale was dead, and all I wanted to do was pick up camp, and go home. I even repeated in my head “there is no place like home,” since I had no ruby slippers and damn dog, I only was able to wish myself to eat breakfast, but I walked.
In order to accommodate my stomach with food, but still keep a realistic budget and expenses low. Since I left Newcastle I had been dieting off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Ramen noodles. One has to forget that they have taste buds, as I did. I wasn’t bothered though, is not like I could have cooked a feast anyway. Food is a necessity, but as long as I ate something to give me energy I didn’t care.
Once the rain stopped I packed up every and waited to leave on the ferry. But then I had the sudden urge to hike to the summit of the island. I through it all down and began the climb. It only took around a half and hour a constant upward hiking. I know my butt got a workout after the climb, because it was very sore. The view was enjoyable. I could see far up and down the coastline, and even to the outer Great Barrier Reef. They were giants colourful islands that hovered a foot beneath the water.
I got on the ferry and wen then back to Cairns. I went back to my hostel, and booked my tickets back home to Newcastle. It was two and a half day journey this time to get home. The best part was sitting next to an 88-year old WWII veteran. Sunday the 25th of April is Australia’s ANZAC Day, kind like our memorial day. He was going down to Sydney to march in the parade. From him I learned all about Australia’s fight in the war, and even his life story. We drank coffee and sat up till 1:00 in the morning talking on that train ride. So that felt real good to be next to him.
So what did I learn, I hate travelling alone. It is pathetic when the only way to share the beautiful things you see in life are by talking to yourself. I also realized that I have a problem with being scared of all manner of creatures. From ants to sea coral. This must be why I like to woods best in winter. I learned that the tropics just aren’t my thing. The forest freaks me out and the cities are too touristy, and the only way I will go back to this area is if I had my own boat, and I dived the reef not as some tourist. I also learned that when you go North in Australia the weirder the locals become. Here is the story, I was talking to Grandma Houseal on the phone at the train station, and this trashy guy came up and slapped the side of my phone cubical, and cussed many times and said to get off the phone. I told him I was on an overseas call, but he kept harassing me, so much that I couldn’t even talk to G-ma any more. So I hung up, and let him use the phone. But then he just dialled some number, and didn’t even talk to anybody. So immediately I said, “ what the Fuck,” I cussed his ass out in front of the whole station and people, told him I was on the phone with my G-ma overseas, and he had no right to cuss and harass me, then I call him “a good for nothing piece of shit.” I felt better after that, and he boarded his train and flipped me off as the door closed and said he was going to kill me. Man, I wanted to punch the crap out of him. But I knew I couldn’t back my talk up, where was Shay when I needed him.
There is truly “no place like home,” and it is great to be home.
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