Hervey Bay, OZ

Yeah, I'm still here. I've been taking it easy and the fact that I can live in my car for $5 a day and the internet's $1 per day (yep), helps things. Also, it turns out that Hervey's a prime spot to outfit Vacilando for the drive North. I've got the two new speakers wired in. I picked them up last week when we first arrived in town. The day after I got back from Fraser I picked up another tent for the van. I guess someone pissed in it, so the group had to pay for it. No one wanted it and I overheard them making plans to take knives to the sucker rather than give it back to the hostel after having paid for it. I said I'd take it, piss smell and all. It's been washed since then.

Finally, I got a third room for Vacilando! Well, fourth if you count the kitchen and living room separate (don't forget the penthouse). Paul, a guy who works here gave me an awning for Vacilando that has zip down walls. It's pretty sweet. I've got it up now so I've got a front deck. Considering I spent $15 for the speakers, and the rest was free, I think I've made out like a bandit.

Escape is one of the less sociable hostels I've been in, it's a constant flux of people going and coming from Fraser, no one stays long. That said, I like it. In addition to the price the take away just outside the gate (30m from Vac) serves really good food, possibly the best nachos that I've had in OZ. Every night I get a bat in the tree above Vac, there was a bit of a fight for the branch last night. I don't know if it's the same bat, but I prefer to think it is.

The weather has been crap, which may also explain my lack of movement. But, for whatever reason, I needed these days off. But I think I start moving again demain, onto to 1770. Really.