Fraser, Mackay and 4th of July!! :)

*WHEW* I know, I know, we've been MIA yet again but I've wrapped up 3 major events in one big post for your viewing pleasure. Think of it as your 4th of July gift from us :) First up, the last weekend of June we headed up to Fraser Island.
Voted in the top 10 best things to see in Australia, Brian was meeting up for a big dirt biking ride with about 16 other guys :) I came along for the adventure to soak in the sun, and check out this awesome island made of sand!!

We stayed at the Kingfisher Bay resort where I sat by this pool and read...ahhhh...

While B was out riding, I went on a guided canoe paddle where we saw a shark in these waters!! (I couldn't bring my camera with me on the tour, but you'll just have to believe me on this one)

B took me for a 4wd adventure to the other side of the island.

Our eco-friendly hotel was built INTO the trees, thus making it a huge treehouse!! (Our room is in this pic)

Just barely caught the stunning Lake McKenzie before the sunset. (Freshwater lake in the middle of the island) ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE AND CLEAR WATER!!

The ferry that brought us here :)

Just got back from a ride and exhausted but LOVING LIFE!! (Stay tuned because I'll let B blog more about Fraser-he knows heaps about the dingoes, wildlife, his riding experience, and the utter bliss that was his weekend)

Moving on to...this bloke? Yup, I spent a few hours with this man in Mackay, where B's company sent me along with him on his LAST WEEK FOR HIS MACKAY WORK PROJECT! (yes, I am yelling due to my extreme joy) While B was at work, I took the rental car and explored the country town where I took a tour to find out all about how the sugar cane are transformed into sugar that YOU consume all over the world. Most of Queensland is notorious for its sugar cane fields, and my sweet tooth and I learned all about how it gets from the field to the cup of coffee.

Yes, I went for educational purposes, but they practically made me eat fairy floss (above), drink rum, taste pure sugar cane juice, and fudge :)

I checked out a couple of local beaches (gorgeous) and wiggled my toes in the sand.

Again, I'll let B tell you more about the coal terminal and the work he's been doing for the Government but we'll just sum up Mackay with saying it was a small town with nothing to do.... I stayed in the hotel to watch MJ music videos and EAT! Luckily his company paid for all my food....oink OINK...but so glad to have this boy home in Brissy!

Ahhh yes, now onto America's bday! We invited (forced) our mates to come to the pub to celebrate the 4th. Since there are so little Americans here and (let's face it, nobody except Americans celebrate it) we couldn't find any public celebrations except one tiny bar who made craft beers and had ribs & hot dogs for dinner. Our friends were great fun and we all ate, drank, lit sparklers indoors (the obnoxious American way!) and were merry :) I even decorated our Irish, Aussie and Pommie friends with stars, and we listened to MJ because our friend Leah was the DJ! :)

Hope everyone back home had a great 4th, and are staying COOL in the summer heat! We are bundled up in this southern hemisphere winter :)