Location: Hook Island, Whitsunday's, Australia
It is hard to think back to the rush of adrenaline through my spine when I first came aboard Argo 70 days ago. The nervousness of meeting my crew members, the anxiousness of the journey that lay ahead, and the change that could happen for me as a person. Now we have reached the end, and finally, the home stretch, and oh, what a journey it has been. Although the ending is within sight, there are still many things that need to be accomplished both on Argo and in the waters of Australia. A 50-mile motor from Mackay to the remote Hook Island brought us all that much closer to separation, so each moment must now be cherished from here on out. However, despite a rather rigorous morning of 4 am crew wake-ups and a full list of classes, Mother Nature never fails to disappoint in this part of the world. A mother Humpback whale and her calf decided to keep us company for a few hours of the day. From a distance, we could see the mother breaching fully out of the water. As the boat drew closer, it became apparent that this breaching seemed to be a teaching lesson from mother to baby; for less than 100 yards away, the baby humpback continuously attempted the full breach. I have never heard so many “awww’s” and “ooooh’s” from a crowd. The day came to a close with a voluntary night dive in the waters of the Whitsundays. I have no doubt in my heart that these next ten days shall be ones to remember.