Last Days in Cairns

Day 230 Tue 11/27/2012

Back to Asylum

                  



Jasmina



“Checking into the Asylum once again.  Angie was staying there as well.  Tommy, Ang & I went to the Cock N Bull.  Some crazy Canadians from our hostel also joined.  We took a pedicab to the bar.  One of the guys was running alongside the pedicab & as he tried to hop on he missed.  We completely ran over him.  He was 100% unharmed.  Very funny.  Most was caught on video.

Next we met up with Jasmina & Dutch Pete.  Tommy bought multiple trays of Jell-O shots from the hot shot girl.”

            Nothing seems to have changed here at the hostel.  People are still partying the entire time.  I wasn’t ready to separate from the boat crew yet.  Tommy, Jasmina & I were going to stick together for a bit longer.  Angie and other friends came with us tonight.  I think the funniest part of tonight was Tommy buying tray after tray of shots from the waitress.  She was super cute, but not cutting Tommy any slack on the price of buying the entire tray at once.  She was a tough server.  Tommy didn’t care, and bought the trays as fast as she could go get them. 

Jasmina & Tommy

Day 231 Wed 11/28/2012

Cock N Bull

                  

“Angie & I went to the Cock N Bull for brekkie, which turned into lunch beers.  Soon Tommy & everyone else joined & it was on again.  It was nice to be off of work.  Bart & Julia are “working” while we are partying.  Tommy flies home soon so he is 100% good timing it now.

Ang after the Cock N Bull

We met Jazzie (Jasmina) at PJ’s Irish Bar for another round.  This seems to be all too familiar.  I must get out of this crazy hostel/town.”

            Angie didn’t want Vegemite & cheese toasties, so she talked me into going to the Cock N Bull for breakfast.  They have good food here, and they also have great ciders.  So with very little coaxing she had another drink in my hand.  I still haven’t recovered from the night before.  In no time Tommy was there and we were celebrating like it was New Year’s Eve.  I didn’t even have a game plan for what to do next.  I was going to have to say goodbye to another set of amazing friends and start from ground zero all over again.  Wherever I went next, it wouldn’t matter that I had worked on the Rum Runner and been part of the most epic crew of rowdy asses in Australia.  I would once again be Mike from America.  I was not happy about having to give up my so called status in Cairns.  It was so easy to have great mates here.

Day 232 Thur 11/29/2012

Tasso Tuna Tasties

                  

Tasso in the Asylum hostel kitchen

“Tasso, from Richmond Virginia, went & worked for 3 straight days pulling nets on a tuna boat.  A shark chomped one large tuna so the deckhands got to take home some good tuna fillets.  He was making delicious little tuna wafer bites.  My bags are packed & I’m checking out of the Asylum today to go stay with Sharlene & Adam in Brinsmead.

Adam pulled up to the Asylum in a wicked Nissan Patrol Yute.  I was so glad to have a house to stay in for a few days.”

Looking tasty!

            These tuna bites Tasso, who back home had some cooking experience, fixed up were amazing.  He took a great deal of time to prepare these gourmet little tasties, and he spent the whole rest of the morning tracking down his friends at the hostel.  He wanted everyone to have a chance to try one.  Too kind! 

 

Wow, Tasso!  You caught this tuna also.  Nice work!

Thanks for sharing, my USA mate!



            I said my goodbyes to my friends there at the hostel.  I would be staying with Sharlene & Adam for a week or so until I figure out my next move.  I was so glad to have met two more super nice people who were ready and willing to have me stay with them a few days.  I was immediately relieved to see Adam pull up in a Nissan Patrol fitted with a tray back cage style flat bed.  In went my bike & SCUBA gear with no issues.  Adam took me back up to their house in Brinsmead.  They had a spare bedroom at the moment due to their roommate breaking his wrists while riding motorcycles.  It was so nice taking my bags and having an entire bedroom to lay my stuff out and not worry about other backpackers in the room.  It had been months since I had this luxury.

Day 233 Fri 11/30/2012

Shar & Ad’s Place

                  

“Adam & I took his dog, Kera, to the dog park today in their neighborhood.  She is amazing at fetch.  You can throw the stick as far away in any direction, & she’ll find it.  Faking her out doesn’t work either.  She might go look for 30 minutes in the wrong direction, or you could have tossed the stick or ball 1000 feet down a hill the other direction.  She will eventually come back with it.

Tonight we grilled on the barbie at Shar & Ads house.  There are always XXXX Gold Beers being drank at this house.  No matter what day of the week, a few get tossed back.  They have it figured out.  Adam is a tradey & Shar works for a law firm.  After work they wind down with some gold cans.”

            After the first night of drinking gold cans with them I made it known that they didn’t have to party for me.  I didn’t want them thinking they had to entertain me since I was their guest.  I really was happy having a place to sleep and maybe gather myself for a few days.  They assured me that sitting on their back deck, listening to music, & drinking some XXXX beers was what they do with or without company.  So they were happy to have me join.  I am so thankful for their kindness. 

Hahahaha, for Mike C & Mike S

This is for Mike M... ME!  Badass Toyota!

Day 234 Sat 12/01/2012

Yardwork & Mtn Biking

                  

Adam after hitting a downhill section

“We (Adam & I) went to JMU near Smithfield to ride bikes today after waking up early to do yard work for their home inspection.  I ate some green ants for brekkie.  Not too bad!  I used Adam’s weed eater & pulled lots of weeds.”

Kera - Adam's Dog

            Adam & Sharlene have a house inspection coming up this weekend.  There were a few things we needed to get done before the inspector came.  I was glad to help Adam with some yard work.  He showed me how tasty green ants are as well when I disturbed a nest of them.  I thought he was taking a piss when he grabbed one and handed it to me like it was a treat.  He laughed and said, “No mate, they are pretty good.”  He ate one to show me he wasn’t just being silly.  He showed me how to tear the head off of them before popping the body into your mouth.  They were surprisingly tasty.  They did kinda look like green skittles in color. 

            After getting the house finished we loaded up our mountain bikes into Adam’s Patrol and headed to Smithfield.  There was a downhill section on this ridge, but we had to lift to the top, so we almost killed ourselves getting up the mountain.  I have done so little mountain biking since being here.

  Adam put on a show near the end of our ride by backing up one trail to hit some jumps.  He came in with plenty of speed hitting the first jump.  He wasn't able to gather himself and get balanced for the second jump, so he hit it somewhat out of control.  This jump almost sent him into the woods towards some large trees.  I videoed the whole thing, of course.  It was hilarious.  Not only were the jumps enough to almost send him packing, but Kera tried to cause him to wreck in between jumps.  Good show Ads!

            I have been looking back at time stamps on photos to try and piece together some of these wild days in Cairns.  My journal is caught up to the day now.  Tomorrow we are loading up Adam’s boat and all three of us are going fishing.

Day 235 Sun 12/02/2012

Lake Tinaroo

                  

Adam & Sharlene

“Today we loaded up the tinny, named the Barra Bella, and we all went to the Lake Tinaroo to go fishing.  We took the dog as well.  We looked like some redneck Aussie’s for sure.  Adam in his flannel & straw hat, sleeveless shirts.  Shar told me that Ads had never caught anything from his boat, but I was determined to change that.  However, we caught nothing but some sun & good times.  I needed my fly rod with spinning reel.  That’s my excuse.”

Kera & the Barra Bella

            Kera is Adam’s dog’s name.  The four of us had a great time out on the water in their boat.  Adam & Sharlene are first cousins.  They get along so well, and are both so laid back.  We spent the day being lazy attempting to catch fish.  Mostly we sipped on beers and gave Kera a workout with many hours of fetch.

“Tonight the crew of the Rum Runner is taking Julia out because it was her last trip today.  Shar was game for some drinks, so we met them outside of PJ’s.  Typical Sunday session for a crew at sea the past six days straight.  They were destroyed!  Bart was TANKED.  So was Amos (the new DMY on the Rummy).  Julia was half decent.  Bart’s girlfriend, Laura, came as well.  It was damn good to be back with the crew again, but I was so glad to be able to catch a cab back to Shar’s instead of going back to the hostel or even the boat.”

Kera!

            Oh man!  Yea the crew was pretty wrekt.  Julia was handling herself very well.  They boys were not.  We all had fun though.  Laura came to help get Bart pointed in the right direction, to the next bar of course.  With Laura came Gwen.  They were both still working at the hostel together.  We sent Julia off with a bang!  I remember this one guy hitting on me very inappropriately tonight.  This was one of those moments where I was so glad I wasn’t near a tipsy as the other guys, or I may have just decked this guy.

            From what I remember my plan is to catch a ride down south and see how things pan out.  I frequent the Happy Travels travel agency to use internet and look for RideShares down the coast.  This is very popular here.  Heck, I got to Cairns with a RideShare with Frank & Roel.  It was nice knowing the two mates I was riding with, but I was game to meet some strangers and ride with.  However, nothing has panned out so far.

Sharlene & Ads!  Thank you so much for the boat trip & for letting me into you home.  Great times with you both!

Day 236 Mon 12/03/2012

Last Mad Monday

                  

“I met Julia & Ang to go on one last Mad Monday hostel pub crawl.  Neither had been on it yet, so what the hell.”

Day 237 Tue 12/04/2012

Sharlene’s Globe

                  

XXXX Gold Cans

“BBQ at Ad’s & Shar’s house.  Megs joined.  Whiskey & guitars.  Shar got her globe out & mesmerized herself.  Both of them were late to work the next day, but I think Ad’s might have a new hot girlfriend, Megs.”

Sharlene showing us where she wants to go next (Bali)

            Sharlene was so funny with the globe.  This was one of those glow at night light up globes.  She was talking about where she would travel next.  She already had plans to go diving in Bali next month.  After Megs left Ad’s was fired up for some whiskey.  We played guitar and sipped on some Tennessee Whiskey until I know it was past their bedtime.

Kera with her ball

Day 238 Wed 12/05/2012

Salt House

                  

“I had an arrangement to meet this dude at Happy Travels to see about a RideShare opportunity down to Airlie Beach, or Sydney, or just south.  He stood me up & never answered his phone.  So when the Rummy came in at 3PM today I went down to say HEY & get my wetsuit I had left on the boat.  Bart ratted Jason & Amos out & told me both had been wearing my wetsuit.  Hahaha, I love it.  Jason wore my wetsuit?  He must like it after all.  They thought I had left it!  No way!  Sorry guys, it’s going with ME.

We went over to the Salt House for the half off Wednesday appetizer deals, then we jumped into the lagoon for a swim.  Just like old times.”

            I forget the details about the guy I had contacted about the RideShare.  No big loss for me, for I was happy bunking with Adam & Sharlene for a little while longer.  They didn’t seem to mind me in the spare room.  There house was only a 30 minute bike ride north.  I could actually get down into Cairns from their place in maybe 15 minutes.  It took twice as long getting back die to the elevation change.

Day 239 Thur 12/06/2012

Botanic Gardens

                  

Telescopus on the Esplenaide

“Today I went for a rowdy (long) bike ride through the Botanic Gardens.  Then to the grocery store for a cheap lunch (Wooly’s), & finally back to Happy Travels for internet.  I also dropped by Richie’s house to have him sign off on my working at sea papers.  He was taking care of his son, Jebo.  They were staying in the aircon (air conditioning) all day.  It was HOT today, & I had to ride my bike back up the mountain to Brinsmead.  Sweat!

I packed up all of my gear, threw away stuff, gave useful items away, & got ready to try another RideShare the next morning.  Maybe tonight will be my last night in Cairns.  It has been so nice hanging out with Sharlene & Adam.  Thanks guys for allowing me to have a home for a few days.  Thanks to Richie & Jase on the Rum Runner.  What an amazing few months it has been living on a boat.  I barely touched the surface on this part of the adventure.  I will add more when I re-type all of this.  Too much happened on this boat.  I could fill up this book purely with Rummy tales.  Living The Dream – Rum Runner Cairns.”

Cairns Botanic Gardens

            At the moment I have a meet and greet with my RideShare in the morning.  I am prepared to leave south, but I guess the girl offering the RideShare wants to look me over.  I don’t know.  Maybe she has other people meeting her there and she will make a call for how many to take if any on the spot.  Having full SCUBA gear and a mountain bike doesn’t make me ideal to take along either.

            Sharlene & Adam were too kind to me during my stay with them.  Not for one second were they not tossing a goldie my direction or putting a hamburger on the Barbie for me.  They were not going to let me go thirsty, hungry, or lonely.  I hope I can repay you guys in the near future.  Love you guys!

Day 240 Fri 12/07/2012

Townsville

                  



Thanks for everything, Sharlene



“Sharlene helped me out again by taking my bags into town while I bombed down the mountain on my bike.  I mailed a package full of extra clothes & what not back home.  I am supposed to meet this Canadian chick named Emma, who sounds pretty hot over the phone, for a RideShare opportunity south.  She sounded very easy going & sane.  She had another girl from Germany, Malin, also riding with.  I met them outside Happy Travels, and it was a go.  I tie my bike onto her roof. 

“And we’re OFF!” Emma yells.  ‘CLICK… CLICK’  The battery is dead.  She had left the stereo & air con full blast for 40 minutes now.  I found some jumper cables.  This (Canadian) girl was a mess.  The car wasn’t registered.  There were no headlights.  Doors wouldn’t lock.  Whoa boy here we go.



Emma, Malin & I leaving Cairns



Emma couldn’t drive at all!  She scared the SHIT out of me.  I am a wimp in other’s cars with years of riding with my friend, Chip, & old girlfriend, Christian.  Emma’s driving was in the same league, but she was adventurious.

“Babinda Boulders turn here?  What’s that you think, eh?  Let’s take a look,” as we make the corner on 2 wheels on our detour.  There were very nice swimming holes here where we all jumped in.  Poor Malin’s swimsuit was packed deep in her bags, so she went in her undies.  No complaints from me or any other dude at the blue hole.  Nice!

280kms from Townsville.  I loved Josephine Falls & all of its swimming pools, the neatest being full of black water due to the black rock bed underneath.  Malin once again jumped in wearing undies.

Innisfail – Green Like You’ve Never Seen the sign reads as you enter.  I am pretty sure Jed the Jedi from Essex, my good mate from the Asylum Hostel, took work down here on a dog farm.  There are lots of banana farms here.  I think Angie is here too.

In Cardwell we were in a service station where I swear Emma had never seen ketchup in a small square plastic dispenser before.  They call ketchup tomato sauce here in AU.  She blew one package up in the servo here making the place look like a crime scene. I was the victim.  It was so funny.  I had to show her how to use this highly advanced ketchup packet, LOL.  Across the street they were doing construction, but we hopped a fence to get to the ocean & walk on the pier. 

Townsville for the night.  Emma knew some people so we had a free house to stay in.  We all went out.  It was a long walk to the city.  We are with the group & having a good time.  All of a sudden I look around & don’t recognize anyone.  Did I really just get left?  I call Emma.  No answer.  I don’t know the address of the house.  I had no idea how to walk back either.  I end up finding another random nice couple.  He was into hard rock so we went back to their place & watched Ozzy Osbourne & Motley Crue videos.  I slept on the couch with a scary black cat.  They also had a thing for vampires & zombies.  Thanks Brandi & Tim.”

            Due to the detail in this entry you can tell I was in a car for a few hours writing in my journal.  Sharlene was a huge help taking my bags down to Cairns while I rode my bike down.  We shipped off the package with some items I didn’t want to toss out.  I told her goodbye as I set out for Happy Travels to meet the girls for the RideShare.  They were parked loading up Malin’s one single bag as I showed up with a cart full of SCUBA gear and a bicycle.  Actually, I left the bike around the corner locked to a pole.  I waited until the introductions were finished and they seemed keen on having me ride along with them before telling them I had a bike.  I believe I was prepared to give the bike away at this point, but Emma didn’t mind hauling it as well.

Jumped the fence & headed out onto the pier

            Her vehicle was just like the station wagon Frank & Roel had travelled Australia in.  However, this car had not been cared for at all.  I forget what part of Canada Emma was from.  Malin was German.  Emma was about 22 years old, and Malin was 18 or 19 years old.  I was definitely the creepy old guy riding with them.  I would sit in the back seat.

Emma from Canada & Malin from Germany

            Yea Emma was a scary driver, but I am super picky about driving.  Looking back she might have been OK.  We can ask Malin what she thought, but Malin didn’t have her driver’s license, so maybe her opinion has zero weight.  Emma was a space cadet.  If she read a sign about anything we were going to take a look.  This was fine with Malin & I though, because we were in no hurry.  However, Emma was kind of in a hurry.  Something about a guy south of Ayr that sounded to me like a bootie call in two days.

            Emma informed us of all the issues with the car.  Like how we had to pull over at dark because her headlights didn’t work.  You have to be kidding me.  First stop we make I take a look.  It was either a fuse or blown bulbs.  I think I fixed one fuse and replaced a bulb.  The light bulb was expensive, I do remember this.  She paid for it as long as I could replace it.  Actually her dad’s credit card was getting this bill.

            The ketchup explosion was hilarious.  We fixed the bulb, got fuel, and I went inside for some lunch.  I got a sausage or hotdog from the servo.  I cannot remember what Emma bought, but she couldn’t figure out how to use the ketchup packs I bought.  That’s right, you didn’t get free ketchup packets, but instead they were sold for $0.25 each.  I had bought two and given her one.  I didn’t realize I needed to be supervising her with the tomato packet.  These were a newer style dispenser, but all you did was fold the packet in the middle and it squirts ketchup out of the crease.  I don’t know what she did, but there was a POP and ketchup flew everywhere.  I had the tasty tomato sauce all over my face.  It was on the floor as well.  People were looking.  We had a great laugh.





Malin & I in the black water swimming hole (Josephine Falls?)



The bar in Townsville I got left in

            When we got to Townsville we found the house where we had a floor to sleep on tonight.  The house was full of rowdies, who were all going out for a Friday night session.  It was a very confusing commute into the city.  I remember thinking to myself “I wouldn’t be able to get back to the house alone.”  Why would I need to though?  I wasn’t going to drink too much anyways.  I had no plans on staying in Townsville, so there is no need to be out making tons of new friends tonight.  I was just chatting away with people here and there in the bar we went to, when all of a sudden I see no one I know.  Malin is gone.  Emma is gone.  The few other people I briefly had known are all gone.  I run outside and see no one.  I cannot get Emma to answer the phone, and I don’t even have Malin’s number (if she even had a phone).  All my bags, my SCUBA gear, my bike, everything I own is out of reach.  I know there is no way for me to get back to the house.  It was a 15-20 minute walk to here, and I had already told myself I better have an escort back to the house or I was hopeless.

            Until Emma answer’s her phone I am on my own.  “OK,” I tell myself.  “Where is the cutest girl in this bar?”  I look around.  There is a group of hotties playing pool.  I go to the other end of the bar and find some gal who looked married and divorced twice.  I don’t have time to chase lost causes.

Scary black cat, right??????  LOLOL!

            This gal in just a few sentences drove me to taking my chances sleeping in the streets.  She was definitely crazy.  Twice married and one point five times divorced.  I think her current boyfriend was on the way.  It was a mess.  I managed to get away.  Plan C – crush booze.  If I got into party mode and found some rowdies I would be set.  Yager shots.  I end up talking to some guy who saw my snakeskin boots about music.  Long story short, him and his girlfriend lived just around the corner.  They wanted to go back and crank up some tunes and drink at their place.  I was game.

Brandi showing me their collection of
kives from scary movies, no joke.

            I have no idea how I even remembered their names.  Tim had every heavy metal video on his computer, while Brandi had huge knives and swords all over the apartment.  I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.

Day 241 Sat 12/08/2012

Ayr

                  

“I wake up, leave a Thank You note, & start walking.  Finally my phone rings & Emma gives me the address.  She FELL ASLEEP last night the second they got back.  Bullshit.  Oh well, I managed.  We loaded up & left after a small argument about her wanting to stay in Townsville for a few days.  However, I booked 2 dives in Ayr on the famous Yongala Shipwreck.  I OK’d this with her yesterday right before I called and paid for the trip.  There were no refunds, so get your ass in gear girl.

Once in Ayr that night the girls decided they didn’t like it there.  “We are going to continue down to Makay for the night,” Emma said.  That meant we were done.  Holy smoke.  I got all of my belongings & put them on a picnic table at the dive center/hostel.  Malin would take my bike to Airlie Beach and ride it until I made my way down there.  Oh man.

Walking back to the house in Townsville
where I lost Emma & Malin.  Lucky!

We said our goodbyes & the end.  I never saw Emma again.  The boat skipper & instructor, Mark & Olli, were out back with 3 cute Danish girls drinking beers.  Mark tossed me a beer.  “Just one, I had a rough night last night,” I told him.  I drank half the beer and poured the other half on the ground.  “I am going to bed guys.  See you in the morning for dives,” I said.  The girls had already cashed in.  They were sleeping in their big Toyota box camper.

“Nononono, no Mike, we are going out to town in a bit, mate.  You’re coming,” Mark explained.  I assumed WE meant Mark, Olli, & some of the divers that I’ll be diving with in the AM.  So 13 of us jump in a van & hit the town.  It turns out 10 out of the 13 were fruit pickers on the island (backpackers not there to dive, but picking fruit for money).  I was with mark & Olli solo.  Great, I am the only diver.  Olli’s girlfriend came later.

Well before we even left the hostel Olli fell down the steps, hit his head, & needed stitches.  So we took him to the hospital and dropped him off with his German girl.  Met back up with him later.

Mark tells me first thing when we get to town and into the first bar.  I hear him clear as day.  “Mate, NO yager-bombs.  Whatever you do don’t order any effin yager-bombs.  I’m going to the toilet,” Mark finishes.  Yea, I got it.  Too easy.  I order 2 beers.  He comes back from the toilet & I hand him his beer.  “Oh, cheers mate,” Mark says as we cheers & sip our beer.  Next, Mark looks at the barmaid & says, “2 yager-bombs, & 2 more beers please.”  He just told me no way in hell do I order yager-bombs, but he has just done so.  He kept ordering them!  OK man, I’m game.

So the fight we got into later that night is pretty simple.  Mark flirted with the wrong dudes girlfriend.  We were in another club by this time.  I am just hoping any minute our ride comes to take us back to the dive hostel when I see a bloke put his hand around Mark’s neck like a choke grip or something.  We’ve long lost Olli & his girl.  Mark is the only person I know & he is about to get beat up on.  So I just lay out the dude.  This guy has more friends in the bar than me.  Mark & I are immediately outnumbered.  I took a few licks to the back of the head & Mark’s shirt was ripped in half.  The bouncer threw all of the roughnecks out the front and snuck us out the back.  That was too close.  No, I shouldn’t have slugged the guy, but I had one second to make that decision & I was extremely impaired at the time.  We had a good laugh & took a cab back.  4:50AM.”

            What a messy two days.  Emma now wanted to stay in Townsville.  I got pretty upset with this.  I had spent the money on the dives.  I was going to make her stick to her plan.  She waits until we pull into the hostel in Ayr to tell me they are ditching me.  Not to go back to Townsville where she wanted to stay, but now down to the next town where her hookup is.  She is all over the place with what she is doing.  I figure I can catch another ride from here easily.  I unload all my gear minus the bike.  Malin says she loves riding, so I pretty much give her the bike.  I tell her if she ends up leaving Airlie Beach to just lock it to a pole somewhere I can find it.  Leave the key at the backpackers.  She says she has plans to stay there for some time.  I get her number, and I hug the girls bye.

Olli (Dive Instructor), Mark (Skipper) & I playing pool.
This night was doomed from the start I guess.  :)

            I walk around back.  The dive center is the only hostel on the coast here.  We are in the middle of nowhere.  Two of the crew are out back drinking.  It is completely dark outside by this time.  I have met nowhere.  From what I can tell these Danish girls are damn cute, and I love their accents.  They go to bed within 10 minutes of me arriving.  I have poured this beer on the ground, and I am ready to call it a night.  The only reason I agreed to go out for another night of drinking piss was thinking the other paying divers for our trip in the morning were going out for a drink.  I didn’t know anyone except I had met the skipper and dive instructor.  I would like to meet the other divers.  Skipper Mark is from Adelaide and seems like a super likeable guy.  Olli is from England, he is nuts, and also a super nice guy.

Olli from England

            Well fruit pickers are going into town from across the street.  There are no divers going.  I realize this half way back into town.  It was a 30 car ride from the coast where the hostel/dive center was into Ayr.  I am in this for the long haul.  On the ride to the bars Mark looks at me and says, “Whatever you do, DO NOT buy shots of Yager.  NO YAGER BOMBS!”  He looks me in the eye.  I think, “How responsible.  He is driving the boat tomorrow and wants to be safe about this.”  I agree.

            We get to the bar.  Olli goes across the street for smokes.  Mark goes to the toilet.  We have been in Ayr for 20 seconds and I am left alone.  I get three beers.  The least I can do is treat the dive staff to a beer.  I get the smallest form of beer in Australia, a pot.  Mark walks back up from the restrooms.

            “Cheers mate!” we clink.  He looks to the bar tender.  “Also, can we get 3 Yager Bombs?”  That fast.  Time passes.  Drinks sling.  We go meet Olli’s German girlfriend at the hostel, where they have a bar outback.  Spend some time there playing pool, drinking pitchers of beer, and playing with my dive camera on the funny settings that is making Olli lose his shit. 

Mark post bar fight

            Not really sure where it goes from here.  Normally I would stop telling the bar story, because I am tired of writing about drinking.  I am sure you are tired of reading about it, but this story has to go on.  We are in some dance club with loud music bouncing off of the walls.  I am just trying to stand up straight and make it to the time we get to go home.  I look over and Mark is being held by the throat by some bohgan Aussie.  I come in swinging.  I only know one dude here in Ayr at the moment, and if he gets beat up I don’t know what the hell I am suppose to do.  I drop this guy, his mates come in, there are beers flying everywhere.  I take a few hits on the back of the head.  Mark takes care of the dude I just blinded.  A bouncer or three come in and somehow we get out of a back door and separated from the group of dudes.  The only damage done was Mark’s shirt was ripped to shreds.  Neither one of us know more details than that.  The bouncer said he saw those guys come after us, even though I know those guys didn’t see me coming.

 In the next blog I will write about why I am even in Ayr (One of th ebest shipwreck dives in the world - The SS Yongala).  I meet my cutie of a dive buddy, 3 Danish ladies, a future shipmate, future roommates, and another city that parties harder than Cairns!  Next week I will be in Airlie Beach.