Back to backpacking.

Today Bobbi, Nick and London left to go to Sydney and meet up with Gord and Diane. I woke up feeling good, but a little sad that our vacation (my vacation from my vacation) was over. I went for a quick dip in the pool and then had a shower and finished packing up my things. After my shower I obviously moved wrong or something because I have a ridiculously painful knot in my upper back near my shoulder blade. This used to be common when I was doing hair, but I haven't had a pain this bad in over 6 months. Bobbi felt around, but didn't have time to give me a massage. She figured from the way I jumped that something was almost out of place. I spent the rest of the morning entertaining London and trying to relax enough to get threw the day. It didn't work. Bobbi and Nick dropped me off at my hostel just after 10am. They had to catch a flight around noon as well as drop off the van. I was in tears most of the way to the hostel. Mostly because my back hurt so much it is actually painful just sitting and secondly I was so sad they were leaving and I had to go back to being a backpacker all on my own. I will miss having Bobbi as my sounding board and Nick keeping Bobbi in line (ha ha just kidding) and I will miss London. I was teaching her paddy cake. Hopefully when I get home she can sing it to me. She is still working on clapping throughout the whole song. She also enjoys when you whisper. She would put her ear right up to my lips just to hear what I am saying. Sometimes she would just watch my mouth to figure out how I was doing this whole talking thing. I will definitely miss them all. Since it was too early to check into my room I just dropped my bags off at the hostel and decided to check my emails. I was trying to line up a job or a place to stay. I have signed up to try WWOOFing. (Willing Workers On Organic Farms). I spoke with a man yesterday about going to their farm. I don't get paid to work but you are expected to work 4-6 hours a day and you get free accommodations and meals. This is great since you don't need to spend any money. Some hosts even show you around the area. Most hosts claim their are lots of things to do in the area like swimming, canoeing or fishing. I also applied for a few jobs online around Cairns. Doesn't seem to be a shortage of rooms available here, but the jobs aren't as available. I guess everyone wants to stay where it is warm all year. I finally gave up looking and got myself some lunch. After lunch I checked into my room and called about the WWOOFing. The guy I spoke with said he would call me back to see if they had room for me to come. I then decided I would go to a movie to see if I could relax since my back still hurt so much. I went to see Confessions Of A Shopaholic, since I just finished reading the book. This didn't relax me as much as I had hoped so I went to find a massage. I luckily walked in at the perfect time. I got a half hour massage at a nice spa. I told the girl I was having pains and that I hadn't had a massage in over 6 months. She worked hard to get out the huge knot but failed to relieve my pain. She also couldn't believe how tight my muscles were. I explained that this is what happens when you backpack and don't have a regular bed to call your own. I don't know what has set off my back but I am even having trouble moving to stretch it out. I felt a bit of relief from the massage, but not as much as I was hoping for. Once back in the hostel I decided to read a bit more about WWOOFing and see if there are any other farms I would like to go to instead, since I hadn't heard back from them. While I was eating my supper and reading my book I got a call from Graham whose farm I want to go to. He said they have room and that he is coming into Cairns tomorrow and will pick me up. I am relieved because I have somewhere to stay at least for the next week. If I don't like it I will either keep looking for a job or try a different farm. I have about 5 weeks before mom comes to visit. I would love to work and make some extra cash but if it doesn't work out, oh well.
So tonight I am just taking it easy trying to relax my sore muscles. Cairns seems like a pretty happening party place. All of the girls staying in my hostel went out drinking with their friends. So we will see how many times I am awaken in the middle of the night. Hopefully no one decided to turn the lights on for an hour and eat potato chips.
Until next time,
Cindy