so any of you reading this from magnetic island, welcome to my slow world of updates. it's been a great trip since we left maggie, lots of travelling around the atherton tablelands, up to cairns (yes i did finally make it there) and as far north as cape tribulation. after that the road futher north gets a little rough so we decided to head back down south and find a farm job in the tablelands near atherton. it's been good here helping out on a cattle farm doing odd jobs and eating beef 3 times a day. the land is gorgeous like the land hobbits would live in in the lord of the rings. we're both doing this a: for second year visa requirements in which you must complete 3 months of agricultural work and b: for just new experiences. 
a wild king parrot who decided the bird feed was worth the risk.we ate some cow brain lunch meat that kind of tasted like tuna. i guess there's a first time for everything. been going around on the atvs/quads and checking out some good swimming holes and trails.
so about a week ago we took a small sailing boat w/ about 15 other passengers out to the great barrier reef. my first time out there. it was amazing, clear and calm got to go snorkling a few times. went out to a sandy white beach about 10 metres wide in the middle of the ocean. on the way out got to drive the boat most of the way trading off with mikaela, anyone else was welcome to steer but i guess we were the only volunteers. on the way back we had a "how many times can you catch the piece of watermellon in your mouth' contest. i seemed to have won after disputing the fact myself but the judge insisted i had won. i had a funny feeling about what happens to the "winner"...a giant mixing bowl of all the left over watermellon thrown over my whole body. (and a beer and a watermellon crown)
