The hours in the day seem to run out quicker than ever these days….by the time I’ve finished the days activities, blogged about it and then sorted through the photos and video there’s nothing to do but go to bed.

Something had to suffer and it’s turning out to be this website…much to my own disgust as its you guys I should be keeping up to date with everything that goes on behind the scenes of what I still consider to be the best job in the world!

The last post here was way back (or does it just seem like it was way back as so much has happened) when we headed north to Cairns, well since then we’ve done a southerly loop down to Gladstone and out to the islands of Heron and Wilson. You can read all about that on the islandreefjob.com website instead of me rattling on about it here.

The photos of Heron Island are here

The photos of Wilson Island are here

We got back into Brisbane on Friday and spent the day with TQ at the offices catching up on some of the things which have been going on since I was there last and also for a new concept the one hour long Twitter Q&A session where people could send direct messages relating to the Islands and I’d guarantee I had good reception to be able to answer them, unlike on some of the islands. This was all good in theory but what we didn’t bank on was a hacker breaking into both Twitter and Facebook that night rendering them both useless! What it did mean was a quiet night on the tweet front…..

Spent the Saturday shopping in Brisbane and it’s a pretty easy place to navigate yourself around, the river acts as a great reference point but the only thing is I haven’t yet found the smaller independent shops on my walkabout, you know the quirky little places and one-offs. Yes the main street has everything in it but sometimes I just want to loose myself in a myriad of junk and weird stuff! Did manage to pick up a few books though – a couple to help with the blog and one by the man who ran 50 marathons in 50 days, Dean Karnazes. Should be a good source of motivation when I get my current read out of the way….at the end of the year!

And my thoughts are turning to the end of the year already, I have to otherwise I’ll get there and be left with a huge vacuum and nothing to do…almost like arriving back from Afritrex in January.

I want to do something that involves travel, endurance and raising money for charity…as with Afritrex.

From chatting with people along the way a few things spring to mind:

• Mountain bike along the Bicentennial Trail which runs from Cooktown to Healesville, a total distance of 5300kms
• Row the length of the Great Barrier Reef, something like 2000kms in a kayak or Woodvale style boat (my friend Tom is leaving in November to row the Atlantic – best of luck mate! Have a look at http://www.atlanticrowyt.co.uk)
• Run across the Simpson Desert?!
• Balloon across Australia with the help of Sir Richard Branson and Virgin
• Climb the 10 peaks in the Kimberley’s in a 10 day period. That’s one a day (not sure about the logistics of this really)

AND ANY OTHER IDEAS WOULD BE WELCOMED…REALISTIC OF COURSE!

It’s particularly difficult to try and stay fit whilst doing this job you know, constant good food and a lack of routine have meant that my fitness is restricted to the few days I have at home on Hamilton Island…so I’ve been out for the last couple of days, busting the tracks around the island. I even put together a little video for you!

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