Noosa
“The Aussies tried to deep-fry my pita pocket.”
— Smith
Noosa was a really strange stop. I’d heard how wonderful it was, but after getting used to having huge stretches of Australian beach practically to myself, suddenly I was surrounded by crowds. Noosa reminded me a little of Rodeo Drive in Hollywood, where I’d been a few months earlier. Despite all the obvious touristy stuff, it was a great place to surf, and I spent almost every waking hour trying. I surfed so much I nearly forgot to eat. You may think it was funny that a fat guy like me went surfing, but by now I was determined. I’d already watched too many eight-year-old Aussie kids laugh and point at me. I WAS DETERMINED TO EITHER SURF OR BE EATEN BY SHARKS.
Looking back, I realize I was probably more of a tasty Smith kabob for the sharks. But one strange and wonderful thing happened near dusk. Just as I was about to give up on surfing — yes, I was getting tired of falling down — a few dolphins appeared in the water. They started swimming and playing around the surfers and wannabes like me, even seeming to join in around the boards. After all my worrying about what might be lurking in Australian waters, this was one encounter I was very happy to have.
