Stradbroke Island (Straddie)

We took a ferry along with some other senior missionaries and went to Stradbroke Island, about 25 minutes off the coastline.  It had a lot of great animals running around! It was the first time we got to see the ocean.  We had a snorkeling trip planned that day but it got cancelled due to bad weather.  Clouds started rolling in as we hiked along the trail and before we knew it, it started raining!  I get sick when I get rained on and so Elder Bond and I turned around and made a beeline for the pavillion.  Everyone else got soaked.  They took cover and kept hiking.

      

Afterwards, we met up at the shops and cafes and ate.  We got to sit by an Australian couple--she was actually from Stradbroke Island!  They were about the same age as all of us and we had a good chat including why we don't go by the name "Mormon" anymore.  This couple had brought their caravan (R.V.) on the ferry for cars and had been camping for a week.  They said they do it all the time.

We saw wild kangaroos grazing here and there and even a wallaby which is smaller and is dark gold and black.  He got pretty brave and hopped all the way down to the sidewalk to look for food.  I always get a kick out of the koala and kangaroo crossing signs!  Oh, and we got on the bus from the left side!  I never get used to that!