Saturday 1 December 2007

Dingo Island


Today the kids had a day off their usual training so used the time to visit the legendary Fraser Island. It is the famed home to the wild dog known commonly as the dingo. Yeap, the very same dingo that ate someone's baby. There are less than 200 on the Island these days (30 were culled after the baby killing) and spotting one isn't a cert. I unhappily found this out once we'd signed up, paid and were on route in the back of what can only be described as a four wheel drive dustbin wagon.

I also found out that swimming in the sea is a no no 'cos of man eating sharks, to be careful of snakes and don't forget the spiders. Headington this isn't. Luckily we were taken to the 7th most desired place to bathe (allegedly) at Lake Mackenzie. It's a beautiful crystal clear fresh water lake with fine white sand and beautiful place to swim. This made for the perfect place to play with the new Olympus 795 waterproof camera (you have a lot to answer Graham!). After Eek and I nearly drowned from laughing so much while trying to snap shots we finally got the hang of the new toy. Can't wait to take it out in the surf and the Whitsunday Islands...

Anyway, going back to Fraser Island: we were dragged around the tourist sites with a truck full of peeps most wouldn't chose to be with. And the whole time I was waiting for the local dog to show its fierce little face. As the day drew closer towards the end and we were heading for the ferry home, somewhat disappointed at the lack of spotting I have to point out, the driver managed to get our 4x4 50ft long beach dragster sideways. At first we thought the problem was the tide as we motored along the beach with the waves now ripping under the wheels.

Then the moment arrived just a few minutes before we due off the island. A dingo was spotted. In a comedy moment that felt like it had just left the stage post drink and ciggy while complaining at wages for appearances, taxes for dogs and bloody tourists, the scrawny ruffled creature kicked around to have its photo taken. I didn't care though. A dingo is a dingo and snapping it from just a few feet away was better than the koala asleep up a tree, the roos on the golf course and the dolphins at Byron Bay. Luckily there were no babies aboard so no problems there. What a day.

As for this week training has been going well and life at the pool is never dull when it comes to stars in the area with Grant Hackett kicking around and sharing a lane with local coach Nick Croft's mum, a former Commonwealth Games medalist. Nuts.

1 comment:

Custom Made said...

Ahhh she looks cute, not like a baby eater at all! I took a picture that looked a little like that in Joshua Tree National Park but its subject was a manky Coyote that was hopping about on three legs and hanging round the car too see if we had any MacDonalds or Crispy Creme leftovers! We didnt!