Boomerang Crab

Friday, 10 June, 2005 by Cheryl W. Colan

Another beautiful dawn on the beach and visit to the Colored Sands, this time with Vanessa.

After breakfast we cracked the whip, getting the students who had finished painting their own designs involved in filling in background areas with color and adding details to the body of the Rainbow Serpent. We were somewhat worried about not finishing the mural, and wanted to be sure we honored that commitment before we went out to explore more of the island.

We got plenty of work done, though, so we packed up a barbecue lunch and drove to Indian Head. Gemma went straight out to the stones below the cliffs and said a prayer for those who had been massacred at this site. Many others walked down the beach looking for interesting shells. Charles brought out the portable barbie (barbecue) and grilled some delicious burgers and sausages. We also had a truly delicious fresh pineapple grown in Hervey Bay.

After eating most of us climbed Indian Head, but Gemma remained behind and Linda stayed with her. At the top we were blessed, sighting two sting rays in the clear water below, a group of five or so dolphins playing out in deeper water, and two or three whales breaking the surface as they swam past us. Joe told everyone the story of Indian Head, though he went up so quickly that some of the slower climbers missed hearing it. I told them what I knew about the area but encouraged them to seek out Joe and hear the story directly from him. I came down after a few minutes, saying a prayer of honor for those that have gone before.

Soon after, we saddled up again and headed for the Champagne Pools. I will never forget how much fun it was to ride in the back of the 4X4 with Gemma. When we would come to an area of road with a lot of loose sand, where it was easy to get stuck, Roger would gun it and drive through as quickly as possible. As the 4X4 slid back and forth and bounced around, Gemma would hold on to the ceiling and scream in wild delight, shouting “go, go, faster!,” and the rest of us followed suit. We had a great time and did not blow out any eardrums.

When we arrived at the Champagne Pools, I was eager to swim, so I ran for the changing room, then ran down the stairs to the beach in my swimsuit. I waded in and the water was cold, but a refreshing cold rather than a numbing cold. Within a few minutes I had plunged all the way in and was floating around in delight. Several others joined me and we had a wonderful time looking at the fish in the water with us. Joe came over eventually to show us a crab he’d picked up - it was gorgeous. He plopped it in the water with us, and as everyone started to move back, it crawled right back up the rock toward Joe’s boot. Joe said, “that fella’s what we call a boomerang crab, he comes back to you.”

I managed to slip on a rock and badly bruised my toe. It turned black so fast and was so nauseatingly painful I thought I had broken it. Thank goodness for Advil. I was fortunate and did not hit the toenail, so I don’t think I’ll lose it.

We drove back to camp in high spirits, had a great meal, and continued paining after sunset using the flood light again. The mural is really coming together. I have been taking photos as work progresses, and I am very happy to be a part of this collaboration.