A whale of a good time

Whales!
We had success seeing whales!
We were about 4 miles offshore from Surfer's Paradise (yes, that's a real place), working from the reports of other sightseeing boats and finally found 2 animals who were moving along and slowed down to fool around a little bit for us. These were Right or pilot whales, I'm not sure... small fin on back, great big long arms type of whales. One big flop on the water, some fin waving and lots of outbreathing. I was so touched that I got the opportunity to see them!
I was afraid of getting sea sick so when they offered some ginger pills, I took them and I was okay! Nina took them too, but was feeling a bit punky by the time we got back to shore. It was a beautiful low wind day, but the sea waves are big enough even in a calm sea and you don't just go up and down but rock sideways too sometimes all at the same time, especially when they slow the motor down when they are near the animals. Very exciting! I think I saw a sea turtle when we were on our way out to sea, but I can't be positive.
It is 5:40 as I write this and I have been up since before 6 this morning. They are doing some construction project down the hill from the hostel and seem (for the moment ) to be on a 24 hour work schedule. So, not only was the overnight construction work waking me up with the beep beep backup truck, but I was also worried about waking up on time to get to the meeting place for our ride to Surfer's Paradise.
The boat tour took the morning and then we had 2:30 hours to kill on the beach or the crazy Las Vegas La Jolla strip of high rise towers and swank shops. The beach was beautiful, white silica sand and all the appropriate waves. Lifeguards and all their equipment dots the beach. The strip was incredibly obnoxious, boasting meter maids in gold bikinis. Pictures to prove it too!
The coast from Brisbane down the Gold and Sunshine coast is littered with high rise appartments, condos, hotels and posh houses. When we were way out to see, you could follow it like weird white cliffs. They go on even past the line into the state of New South Wales
The place is about an hour's drive from Brisbane, so we got two things done today. Nina really wanted to see Surfer's Paradise, I wanted to see the whales and we found a tour that did both.
Tomorrow is rest day.
I am tired now, lots of sea air and too little sleep.....................zzzzzzzzzzz.