Two days, three states.

On Thursday we travelled to the Gold Coast in Queensland. Looking out of the window as we flew there was very little to see other than a patchwork of fields and trees that followed the path of water. So much space without towns or cities.

As we approached the Gold Coast Airport it became clear (or more precisely not clear) that the Sunshine State wasn't feeling very sunny, maybe it had heard about the coronavirus. 

 As we landed the heavens opened, we had been expecting sunshine, so none of us had thought to bring a coat and my showerproof jacket was in my case. As we walked across the tarmac we got a bit wet and it turned out so did my case. It must have been on top of the pile as the rain had managed to make the contents slightly damp!

We drove down to Surfer's Paradise to have lunch . I retrieved my jacket from my case and Lynne found out her fleece, but Dave braved it in shirt sleeves. We managed to get to the place we were eating without getting too wet as the showers came and went. After eating the story was a very different one, at that point the shower became torrential rain with a wind to match. Dave popped into a shop to buy and umbrella, which instant turned itself inside out. We tried walking back to the car, but the wind was so strong we had to take shelter in the protection of a hotel lobby. Eventually as the rain showed no signs of abating we decided to just go for it, by the time we got back to the car poor Dave looked as if he had showered with his clothes on. Luckily there was a dryer where we were staying. 

On Friday I set out early (5:45) to make my way on public transport to the kayaking and snorkelling trip I had booked. Although the rain had stopped there was still quite a breeze and the sea was slightly choppy so we were driven further up the coast where the waters were slightly calmer and we were closer to Wave Break Island. We kayaked over to the island, but it was a real struggle for me in my one person kayak, trying to keep up with the twenty-something couples in the other three. The currents were too strong and so the second island was cut from the trip, even the strongest pair couldn't make headway. It didn't really matter to me, it was the snorkelling that really interested me. 

In the afternoon Dave drove us down the coast to New South Wales to Cabarita Beach and on the way I stood next to The Centenary of Federation State Border marker that stands on Border Drive to prove I had been in two states at the same time. 

 As we drove back in the twilight I look out of the window to see bats, well actually flying foxes. I was amazed by their size, as I said to Lynne, in the UK we have flying mice, in Australia they have flying cats!