Skydiving!

Bye!,
originally uploaded by Hol Riz.

After a few days in Mission Beach we decided to see the beach from a different angle. From 14,000 feet up in the air in a purpose built skydiving plane to be precise. With only one way down and that was jumping out of the door for a 60 second freefall! After about 2 mins of preparation, and a quick interview for the DVD, they strapped us into our harnesses and we were on our way. Before we knew it we were in the plane and in the air! Becky had jumped before so knew what she was letting herself in for but it wasn't until this point that Holland actually realised what we were going to do! He had been happily pretending it wasn't really happening.

As we reached our altitude, more than 2 Miles above the ground, the plane levelled out and the perspex door slid open to a roar of wind and noise. Becky and her instructor were sitting right by the plane door so they were first to go. Without any time to think about it they quickly jumped out and dropped like a stone into the deep blue below. Immediately Holland's instructor slid him forward towards the edge of the door. It all happened so quickly and he was on the edge before he knew it! The cameraman stood outside the plane on the ledge filming.

Without hesitation the instructor threw Holland out the door in a forward roll. The plane zoomed upwards out of site and eventually the tiny pilot shute brought us horizontal. The instructor taps your shoulder and you can extend your arms. The view was absolutely magnificiant with the Tropical Australian coast and islands spread out below.

We reached terminal velocity of about 120 Mph within 12 secs of leaving the plane. the cameraman flew around us and span around getting cool DVD footage.

Before we knew it the 60 sec freefall was over and with huge tug upwards the parachute opened and we started our gentle descent to the beach. During the descent the instructors did power spins sending the parachute spinning almost horizontally round and round. Dizzying is the only word. The view was awesome! As we got lower we could even see our van in the campsite by the beach.

When we finally got to the beach the adrenaline hit was awesome! It took at least an hour to wear off! Thank god for solid land!!

Vanning around Oz

The van,
originally uploaded by Hol Riz.

We finally made it to some hot weather in tropical Cairns on the north east coast of Australia. The plan is to spend a month or so travelling down to Sydney where we will hopefully find some work to fund the rest of our trip.

We spent a week in Cairns looking for some transport to take us down the east coast and we have just invested in a new van! It is a big Toyota Hiace Camper and has got absolutely everything you could ever need in it. It has a big comfy double bed, duvets, pillows, fridge, kettle, toaster, gas cooker, TV, video, lights, outdoor table, chairs, four man tent, double air mattress, pump, two surf boards and even a kitchen sink! What a bargain. Hopefully we can get our money back when we get to Sydney and sell it.

We set off in our van to explore Cape Tribulation, an area of rain-forest and paradise beaches a few hours north of Cairns. We don't want to head south too quickly as it is still pretty cold down there so we spent a few relaxed days in the Daintree national park lazing on the beaches, walking through rain-forest and cassowary spotting (the third largest bird in the world).

We then headed inland to explore the Atherton table lands. This is a beautiful area of waterfalls, gorges and plenty of wildlife. We have been free camping as much as possible, which in Oz is pretty often as there are loads of public BBQs, hot showers and rest areas along route - great! We visited an area called Granite Gorge and were able to feed wild wallabies from our hands and swim in the clear water. We also took a trip into the outback to see some huge lava tubes, giant caves formed by lava flows. These were pretty awesome but the journey out there involved going head to head with 'road trains' up to 43 meters long on a single track road. When they approach you you have to get off the road and drive in the gutter while dust and grit block your view as you blindly plough on in case the car behind crashes into the back of you- scary!

We are now camping five metres from Mission beach and really enjoying the cheap travelling lifestyle. We wake up in the morning have tea and cereal and go for a swim. Then we play bat and ball until sandwiches at lunch. Maybe a bit of walking on the beach. Then more bat and ball in the tropical sunset before cooking pasta or nachos for dinner and drinking lots of wine which only costs 1 pound a litre!! We have made lots of friends on the campsite (which only costs 2.8 pounds each night) and last night had a big old fire on the beach and met some cool guys. We are now starting to head south slowly, next stop Arlie Beach where we have some friends of friends to meet with.

Love Holland and Becky