Jump!

Australian Journey X

Let´s go back to 1995... We were close(r) to the end of one wonderful journey, arriving in Hervey Bay.

Did I ever mention that back-then 5-star-tidy-town Albany has icy-cold (free) public showers?

(Albany near the public showers at the sea:)

Well, forget about that. Hervey Bay tops it all. The starting point to Fraser Island.
There were two Teenage Girls in the little building by the beach, putting on their inliners. They whisperd, "hey... she´s not going to take a shower now??? Must be freeeezing cold!", followed by some rather mean giggles.
And, sure as anything, they stayed.

Was so darn cold, I couldn´t oppress some EEEKs. My fingers, again, turned yellow and numb from the cold - long hair can be a pain at times!

Well, but back to Fraser Island... our Holden Commodore Station Wagon surely wasn´t suitable for that island. We left our fellow home near the Bay, bought tickets and set over with the ferry.

And went along as Hitch Hikers!
Which didn´t work too well. So, after the first ride we waited forever cause everyone was just packed, we decided to take the shorter route where cars cannot go.

This... um... plant ... parasite? reminded me of long missed iceberg-salad btw.

I had broken my arm just a year earlier and the wounds from that rather complicated operation also at my shoulder were still fresh. Plus, we were using no good backpacks but those duffel bags you get at the German "Bundeswehr". I had some 11-12 kg.
Fraser Island. Sandy paths and thick vegetation beneath.

And there it lay. All over the way, a yellow snake. An arm-thick snake, wounded.
Ingo took a stick to see if it´s still alive, which was the case.

He repeated this until the snake was tired, ran and jumped!

By golly! I was that frightened I thought, oh, great. Now it knows what happens when I jump and bite me!
Took all my courage to jump anyways and certainly nothing happend.

Seldom I had more adrenaline helping to being that sportive.

Enough for now, more on that island is to follow...