Rained most of the night and the tent was too wet to pack away, so we decided not to go walking today and take Betty to the doctors instead. So we drove to the nearest town and found a garage that could take a look at her. We left her with the Mechanic and went into Stawell for a few hours. The place was dead but we got some excitement as Clare got her purse pinched or lost so we spent the time trying to find it. Everyone in the town seems to now everyone else and lots of people said they knew who may of taken it, as she is always nicking things. Although when someone from the supermarket phoned her she denied it (obviously). Never mind Clare didn't have much money in it just some cards that she cancelled straight away.

I phoned the Garage and they claimed that they had fixed Betty so I went to pick her up. She ran like a dream, apparently all the points had seized so for just $50 she was fixed and ran smoothly up hills again. We headed back to the campsite for another big campfire.

Raining again, but we did a masterful job of taking the tent down from the inside out so that must of it stayed dry. Back to Melbourne today so we pilled into Betty for the 4 hour trip back to Hotel Bak Pak in the city centre which we had booked a few weeks back for the Grand Prix.

Hotel Bak Pak is massive, it has over 700 beds and no charm, its horrible, but a beds a bed. I couldn't stay in the place so I decided to go walk about and try and meet up with Tom and Sally who are also staying in Melbourne. Grand Prix fever has hit the town as nearly every one is wearing the standard issue red Ferrari cap. I headed down to the Hostel that Tom and Sally are staying in with the hope that they would be their and also because it is right by the Grand Prix Entrance so I might be able to pick up some our tickets for tomorrow.

Tom and Sally are staying in the Pint on the Punt, an Irish pub with a hostel above it. Its really cool, just like a proper pub, and they server Cafferys! I hadn't seen Tom since Everest and he looked very slim from his last few months in SE Asia, anyway two Caffreys later and it was too late to pick up the tickets so I headed back to the Backpackers to find Sarena all on her own, and right miserable for it. She was hoping to meet up with Tom and Sally for a drink too. So I took her out for a Chinese to cheer her up, which was pretty horrible, and a few more beers.

We headed back to our room to find one of the staff putting mattresses on the floor and searching desperately for spare beds. It seems as though they have double booked people. I offered to sleep in the van but still use the facilities for our money back (it was very expensive) which she agreed to gladly. Beau and Clare still stayed in the hostel and got no sleep whatsoever. hah hah.

Grand Prix day. We got up early and caught the free tram down to the racetrack so that we could pick up our tickets and get a good spot on the track.It was worth it as we one some of the first there, at 7 am, and got a great spot between corners 14 and 15 just before the finishing straight.

Sarena, Beau and Clare kept the spot whilst I went to get Tom and Sally. We pretty much stayed in that spot for the whole day. We have never been to a Grand Prix before and where quite impressed by the amount of things going on, several other races where taking place along with motorbike stunts, jet flyovers, parachuting, water skiing and bands. A lot of which we missed as we didn't want to loose our place. The weather was pretty cool and drizzled for half of the morning, but managed to clear up in time for the main race.

What a crash! Ralph Schumacer shot straight over the top of Barichello just after the start and by the end of the race only about 10 cars where left, Michael Schumacer won easily (as usual) but everyone was more excited by an Aussie drivers debut, Mark Webber, for Minardi as he ended up coming 5th, everyone went mad. As soon as the race finished we stormed the track, with everyone else, and went up to the pits. I tried to see if I could find an old school friend, Nathan Hall, who now works for Jordan. And reckoned I caught a glimpse of him working out of the back of the pits.

We went back to the Pint on the Punt, which was packed with F1 fans, and got thoroughly largered (on Cafferys) then crashed out in the back of Betty for the night. What a great day.

Still fired up from all the fast cars Sarena and I went to the Motor exhibition in town. Most of it was full of all the mundane factory cars, that all tend to look the same nowadays, but there where a few classics including a Ferrari Dino that was for sale for just $95,000 - very tempting!!!! There was also a Gas Turbine motorbike and a massive new Ford pickup truck (Ute) that was really cool. After visiting the car show I popped into the Post Office to find two Birthday cards waiting for me. One from Mum and Dad and one from Pat and Jack. Thanks everyone!

We met back up with Beau and Clare after lunch, they had both had haircuts in the morning and drove down to the Ferry Terminal to catch our 13 hour sail to Tasmania. Clare was being a little dozy today, must of been the Cafferys, as when we sat in the departure lounged she thought she was actually on the ferry. Then she went to the loo but got in the lift instead. Then she bought a cup of soup from the vending machine but forgot to put her cup under the dispensing nozzle. durrr dopey!

The ferry was packed with oldies all hobbling around and getting lost in the maze of corridors. The others didn't realise that the tickets included a buffer dinner and where very excited when I told them. A hot meal where they can eat as much as they like, can't remember the last time we did that. The food was really good to, but I ate it so quickly that I felt full up after just two platefuls, Bugger!

Attempted to watch a movie but the cinema was full of chatting kids so just retired to my bunk and read.

We arrived in Tasmania at about 8:30 am. Sarena and I walked of the Ferry and waited for Beau and Clare to bring Betty out.

Wahhay, where in Tas. But where do we go now??? after a couple of hours deliberating we decided top drive straight down to Hobart in the south of the Island in the hope that we would be lucky and find a really cheap cottage that we could hire for a week on the way. With 'Luck' being my middle name Clare managed to spot some cottages just before Hobart and although they weren't as ridiculously cheap as the cottage we found in Smoky Bay, South Australia. They looked like just the thing we where after. Somewhere to stay for a whole week! wow what would that feel like!

Before we booked the cottage we actually continued right into Hobart in case anything better turned up. It didn't! and the owner of the cottages give us a discount when Clare phoned him from Hobart so we actually hired two for a week. The cottages are very smart (4 star) and are old colonial English style cottages. So Sarena and I had one to ourselves for a whole week. Very exciting we haven't had a place to ourselves for the last 6 months. So we celebrated by curling up on the sofa in front of the Tele. Aussie TV sure is crap!

Tried to have a lay in, but I think the bed was too comfy! so got up and had some weetabix and toast. Then set about sorting our stuff out. Clare emptied out Betty, to try and Identify a nasty rotten smell that was coming from her somewhere. She couldn't find it but betty is very clean now.

I spent the rest of the day updating the web site whilst Sarena went food shopping for the week. It took me all day to sort out the website. So Sarena cooked a curry. What a life!

We all got up a little to late to go to Port Arthur which was our original plan. So Beau, Clare and I drove to Richmond, one of the oldest towns in Australia. If was just like being back in England as we took a walk along the duck river.

After Richmond we stopped of for a quick game of golf. Did I say quick. It took us three hours to do 9 holes so we didn't even get time to complete all 18 holes. I was totally crap at it (77 shots over par after 9 holes)!

Spent the evening in front of the TV. Its Amazing how quickly you can slip back into your old habits.

Got up early and headed off to Port Arthur. On the way we stopped off at a few scenic sights, The Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch, Tasman Blowhole and the Devils Kitchen all naturally formed coastal attractions. Then we discovered the Tasmania Devil Park. Sarena and I went in but Beau and Clare stayed in the van as they have already been to a wildlife park.

As we entered they had a free flight bird show and we got there in time to see a massive spray eagle, a frog-mouth tawny owl and a peregrine falcon. The frog-mouth tawny was amazing. He was called Oscar and looked just like Oscar the Grouch from sesame street. He was the weirdest and most passive bird I have ever seen. After the bird show we explored the park and soon found some Tasmanian Devils, with babies. And some more birds. Sarena was practically taken with the walk-through Cockatoo aviary as one of the inhabitants, called Cheeky, was particularly taken to her and scrambled all over her shouting, 'Hello' in a very distinct Aussie accent. By the time we left the aviary Sarena realised that she had been bitten by something and her and was already swelling up. So we made our way around the rest of the park, pass the roo's and wallabies and more birds of prey until we got back with reception and checked with one of the staff what the might might be as by now Sarena's hand was pretty swollen and had gone numb. The park attendant applied some first aid and recommended we should go and see a doctor or chemist.

We didn't bother with the doctor but instead carried on to Port Arthur. It was nothing like I expected. The whole town has been preserved as a museum. Beau and Clare didn't visit the museum due to the expensive ticket price. But Sarena and I found it really interesting. Port Arthur was a prison for re-offending convicts who had been sent to Australia back in the 1800's. We spent about 3 hours in there which was just enough to visit everything and take in a Harbour Cruise.

We met back up with Beau and Clare who had gone to visit some caves down the road and then decided to head back to our cottages in Pontville.

Rather than spend or time rushing around an exploring as much of Tasmania that we can, I think we have all decided to just chill for the week and make the most of the cottages. The owner of the cottages, Rick, came round in the morning to show his new girlfriend... Sarena, a massive blue tongued lizard that he had found in the garden. It was pretty impressive and looked as though it had be sucking on a lollipop with its vivid blue tongue.

Clare, Sarena and I popped into Hobart in the afternoon so that we catch up on emails and I could download our newest version of our website. Then in the evening we decided not to sit around and watch television but played Trivial Pursuit instead. It got pretty tense each couple bickering with each other. I we didn't quite play long enough to finish a game. Back to watching the TV from now on I reckon!

Very very very very very very very very very very very very lazy. Got up at about 2 pm and then spent the rest of the day sprawled across the sofa. Only a minor interruption forced me to get up and wish Mum a happy mothers day.

Went to Hobart town centre to buy some essentials for the 80 km trek that the four of us will be doing tomorrow. Only to find that everywhere shut due to Labour Day bank holiday. So we decided to postpone our walk by one day and headed back to the cottage for another lazy day, our last one.

Left the cottages and headed back into a more livelier Hobart. Everyone managed to get their trekking gear. Beau and Clare got thermals and warm clothes whilst I found a cheapy gas stove to use for cooking on the trek. Then we checked our emails. Sarena received one form her mum (Sylvia) saying that Del (her stepdad) has had a relapse since his operations and was know in hospital on life support. This very upsetting peace of news had Sarena in tears and she was feeling quite helpless in Australia, so we spoke to Qantas and found there was a seat available to Heathrow tomorrow afternoon. We tentatively reserved it while we went to phone Sylvia to find out what the situation was. As expected Sylvia told Sarena not to come home, But we both thought that Sylvia would need the help now rather than further on down the line. So we booked the seat. When we returned to betty we found Beau sitting on the side of the street in his thermals and woolly hat busking with the guitar. He had made 50 cents.

The walk has now been delayed as Sarena will be leaving me tomorrow and returning to England. So we found a campsite in Hobart and went out to find a pub for a goodbye beer. The Pub was pretty empty but the Beer was good and so where the tunes as Clare took charge of the juke box. Beau was still dressed in his woolly's with his little bobble bouncing around as he head banged to AC DC. we ended up getting all our rounds for free apart from Sarena's as it was Toss the Boss night and the bartender had to flip a coin to see who was paying.

After the pub we headed back to the campsite but passed one of those dreaded McDonalds TM (c)... things on the way. Beau went to order a Big Mac TM (c)... and seeing him in all his woolly gear the waitress asked if it was cold outside. Big Bad Beau replied. 'No, we are doing the Overland Track tomorrow in his bravest manliest voice. The waitress looked a bit puzzled and then said, ' But I did that when I was 14' we all just burst out into drunken fits of giggles.

Beau and Clare where very thoughtful and gave us the comfy mattress in the back of Betty for our last night together. A combination of a few beers and and thick queensize mattress mean that I was asleep within minutes.

Got up early in the morning to overhear some campers next door talking about a strike at Melbourne airport that was delaying all the planes out of Tasmania, Oh dear, hope that doesn't affect Sarena's connection flight! I phoned Qantas to find out that they had rescheduled her flight 5 minutes earlier so that anyone with an international flight would get to Melbourne on time. I then decided to reschedule our ferry back to the mainland from the 19th of March to the 23rd of March as we are getting delayed for our 5 day walk along the Overland Track through some mountains in the west of Tassie. I then managed to get hold of Joy & Spit. Joy took very little encouragement to offer to pick Sarena up from Heathrow. What a star. Sarena didn't want anyone to pick her up, said she will catch the train. But after a 23 hour flight she would be very tired.

We dropped Sarena off at the airport and waited around for a while. A TV news crew came in to film peoples opinions of the strike but for some reason decided to overlook 4 smelly campers in the corner of the waiting lounge. We finally left Sarena but as we left her she followed us out towards the carpark for another round of goodbye hugs and caught Clare with a tears in her eye. After our last wave goodbye we headed north-west out of Hobart towards the mountain parks of Tassie. Very Sad :-(

It was a very long and windy road but we made it as far as a mining town called, Queenstown. We were way up in the clouds now and everything seemed pretty damp but we managed to find a pretty respectable campsite to bed down for the night. I phoned a couple more people back at home to let them know that Sarena would be returning to help her mum whilst Del recovers.

The plan was to walk the Overland Track today, but Beau managed to pull some muscles between his ribs in the night when he got out of the van to take a pee. Obviously a very dangerous occupation... peeing! So we decided to drive to Cradle Mountain which is the start of the track and spend the day looking around whilst Beau rested his ribs.

It was a beautiful clear day by the time we got to Cradle Mountain, something of a rarity I believe as it rains for about 260 days of the year in this part of Tassie (and snows on 104!) so Clare and I took a 2 hour walk around Dove Lake at the bottom of Cradle Mountain. Beau waited for us, still in his woolly hat and thermals, then we found a campsite just outside the park. It had to be one of the nicest campsites we have stayed at, everyone had private bays to camp in and the kitchens and toilets where amazing. It got really chilly in the evening so we spent our time in the camp kitchen. Managed to see my first Wombat on the way back to the tent.

And then there where 2! Beau's pulled muscles hadn't gotten any better so It was decided that Just Clare and I would do the walk now. The weather forecast for the next few days was pretty bad, Storms and Gales, so Clare bought some waterproof trousers before we set off. Probably one of her best ever purchases.

The Overland Track is about 80 km and we have arranged to do it in 5 days and meet Beau at the other end, Lake St Claire, on the 19th. We also prearranged the huts we would stay in every night so that he could meet us at the last one if he felt better.

Finally we where on our way just the two of us now instead of 4 dressed head to toe in waterproofs, with Beau's departing words still ringing in our ears. 'I don't want you two having any sex!'

Today's part of the walk was only 10km but was pretty hard as it included a very steep climb to the top of Marions lookout, not much fun with 5 days clothes, food and a tent on your back and gale force winds. The clouds and drizzle was all around us and we couldn't see any of Cradle Mountain as we walked right beside it. Good job we got some photos yesterday!

We made it to the first hut in good time. The hut was not what we expected. It had four walls and gas. The Waterproofs had done a good job too and we weren't too wet. There was about 12 walkers staying in the Hut by dusk and it wasn't long before we were all wrapped up in our nice warm sleeping bags.

The longest walk of the trek today, 25 km and the wettest too. It rained all day and most of it was horizontal too blowing straight into our faces as we trudged across the high moors. As we made it into a forest I heard a yelp from behind and turned around just in time to see Clare sinking up to her knee in a muddy puddle. hah hah.

We made it to Windermere hut by lunch time, or snickers time as we are now calling it and rested for half an hour before carrying on to our hut for the night, New Pelion. The track just seemed to go on and on forever. Even when I thought we must be pretty close we still had another 2 hours of struggling uphill in thick mud and slippery roots. When we finally had the Hut in our sights the track we where following seemed to lead us the longest way around to the front door. So in the end I cheated and cut across a small bit of moor land. - it made all the difference.

Bugger! We where absolutely soaking and this massive hut was full of 50 odd trekers and NO gas heater, so nowhere to dry our clothes. So I put my fetching Long Johns on and sat down to a Pot Noodle. hmmm delicious.

The storm had passed in the night and there was actually spots of blue sky in the morning. As a bonus it was only 9 km to our next hut, but we had the option of taking a 6 km side trip up Mt Ossa (Tasmania's highest mountain). When we got there it still had clouds over the summit so we decided not to bother and just carried on down to the Hut, which we reached by Midday in glorious sunny weather. I spent the afternoon soaking up the sun while Trekkers from the night before turned up. Kia Ora hut was pretty small compared to the last and was soon completely full up with people.

One of them was a completely mad lady called Adele, who had entertained us in last nights hut with her mad stories and banshee style screams of laughter. She arrived like a vision with her wild straggly hair and all in one rainbow stripped thermal jump-suit attire. She continued to entertain us with her stories of Phillpe and Bernard her two imaginary friends that where walking with her, and Anton a boy she met on this track 10 years ago with his parents whom she still fantasies over even now. We were convinced that she wasn't on holiday but lives on the the track feeding of trekkers sensibilities and the local fungi! But she has invited us to stay at her house in New South Wales on our way to Brisbane. So we can check that she really does leave the Overland Track.

The easy days are over now. We have 19km to walk today. The weather was still good again, not sunny though, which makes it much more comfortable to walk in.

After yesterdays rest we bolted along the track taking in some of the magnificent mountain scenes. But we where soon passed by some very determined groups that were walking 60km of the track in 2 days for charity (they where then kayaking the last 20 and cycling another 100km).

During the mornings walk we took a small side trip off the track to see a couple of waterfalls and then made our way to Windy Ridge Hut for lunch. Some of the charity walkers where there too, including some helpers. One guy, John, actually does the track in 7.5 hours!!!! (and his friend does it in 5.5 hours!!!!!!). John spent the day running up and town the track between the different teams to check that they where okay. We must of passed him 3 or 4 times.

We made it to Narcissus hut by about 4 PM to find Beau standing outside waiting for us. This hut was pretty old and was by far the worst we had stayed in along the track. This is probably because a ferry service runs from this point and takes most of the walkers to the end of lake St Claire, missing out the last 17km part of the track. CHEATS. Were not though as we stayed the night to walk the last section, which Beau had done to meet us at the hut.

The last day of the Trek and only 17 km to go. Most people don't walk the last bit and catch the ferry instead. This is because the track just follows the edge of the lake in the forest and there isn't much to see. But we were determined to walk it anyway.

The sun was out in the morning and as soon as we set off we saw a huge black snake on the pathway. It didn't seem too bothered with us as it laid there to soak up the sun. And after our attempts to scare it off by stomping our feet, 2 more huge black snakes appeared. They weren't going to let us pass with out a fight and as all snakes in Tassie are deadly poisonous we didn't feel much like fighting and thoughts of the ferry ran through my mind. After a bit more stomping though they slowly slid away into the bush, although one of them only went as far as sliding underneath some tread boards on the track. Big brave Beau went first and ran as fast as he could passed the spot where the snake was hiding under. Then Clare who looked genuinely terrified and then me who WAS genuinely terrified. I ran as fast as I could whilst lifting my feet as high as I could with my backpack on and without falling over but as I ran passed the spot of the last sighting of the snake it leapt out and bit hold of my right ankle. The pain was terrific as it sunk its huge venomous teeth into my flesh and I could actually feel my blood burning hotter and hotter from the point of attack. It seemed a good few minutes before the snake released its grip and then a few minutes later I was dead...

...Only joking just thought I would liven my diary up a bit now Sarena is back in blighty.

We made it passed the huge man eating snakes with no problems at all. And started our days trek in earnest. It took us about 5 hours to walk the 17km (including breaks) and it was quite a relief to see Betty waiting for us in the Car Park.

The first port of call was a nearby Garage that does the biggest greasiest home-made hamburgers in all of Tassie, and probably the most undercooked chips in all of Tassie too, but they still tasted great. Then we went to find somewhere to stay for the night. Beau had thoughtfully booked some space in a bunkhouse but they where pretty grotty. So we ended up back in the park and at a free campsite. They had showers for 50 cents ago so I wasted 15 dollars and 50 cents on it then we headed to the pub for a good ole beer around a good ole log fire. Beau spotted that they did roast dinners so soon ordered one. I was still full up from my burger. As soon as he finished eating a storm blew up and took the electricity out. So we spent a few more minutes standing around the log fire in the dark then headed back out to the campsite. No power there either, but I managed to find a phone box to giver Sarena a ring. It was engaged for the first hour and then the bloody answer machine, how thoughtless of her not to wait by the phone for me to ring.

It poured down all night, the tent was soaking and cold, but I still managed to get a decent nights sleep. Finally managed to get through to Sarena (she was on the Internet all the time yesterday!) only then to get cut off just before I had finished talking to her. Managed to find out how she was though and Good news that Del is getting better. I really miss her now.

We packed the tent up in the pouring rain and headed north towards an Town called Burnie. We will spend the last few days in Tassie on the North coast. Betty Seemed to be driving particularly well today, despite the rain, and we made good time. As our Clothes and Tent where soaking and smelly we checked into a motel in Burnie so that we could wash everything and dry it properly. I even got a bed with sheets so I didn't have to cocoon myself in my sleeping bag for another night.

A bit of a tourist day to day as we have decided to spend our last few nights in Tassie on the west coast, so we popped into a few tourist attractions along the way.

The first was a cliff top lookout on the north coats called, Table Cape, from which you could see right back across Tas. Then we stopped at a beautiful beach called Sisters Beach. One of the biggest attractions of Tas is, 'The Nut', which is a huge volcanic rock on the coast much like Ayres rock. We weren't quite touristy enough to take the chair lift to the top so we walked. After a breath stop in a town called Smithton to get some much needed razor blades we ended up at the most western point of Northern Tasmania, Marrawah.

Marrawah is a one horse town, like most towns in OZ, but has the bonus of a free campsite on a surf beach complete with free electric BBQ's - cool. So we just pitched up for the rest of the day and watched a few surfers. A couple from England then turned in there huge(ish) camper bus. Mat and Sian were really nice and after Mat had been for a surf we spent the rest of the evening chatting around the electric BBQ (for warmth).

It was a cold night but I think I was warmer in the tent than everyone else in their vans as I got a great nights sleep.

The surf wasn't up to much and to our delight Mat produced a guitar so we spent the most of the day sitting around playing songs whilst waiting for Mat and Sian's friends to turn up. Much to Clare's disgust! Then someone passing by told us where a sperm whale had been washed up on a beach nearby. So we all headed of for a look just as Mat and Sian's friends turned up, Jason and Naomi.

The beach with the whale seems to be a popular marine graveyard as we passed remains of a Dolphin, Sea Eagle and a Penguin. Then as we turned the corner we saw a huge Sperm whale that had been washed up on the beach around a week ago. As you can imagine it stunk and due to the heat it had also exploded so there was a huge whole in its stomach. The whale must of been around 15 metres long and was obviously a male. I couldn't believe its size. It must be amazing to see one of these swimming around. Unfortunately the park rangers had removed the whales Jaw to prevent the teeth being sold on the black market. But you could see from the remains just how big its teeth where. Just its head makes up about 1/3 of the whales entire length. Anyway, we didn't stay too long because the smell was starting to get the better of us.

We all headed back to our free campsite as Mat and Jason wanted to go for a surf so the rest of us stopped in the pub for a quick refreshment. Soon after we got back to the camp site all the local surf dudes turned up for their start of there surfing weekend. They all must of been between 16 and 18 and it wasn't long before they where all pissed. This was bad judgement on their part as they all got pissed before they put their tents up. Their pathetic attempts to erect their tents left them giving up to just sleep under any bit of canvas they could find. Ohhh to be young.

All the surf dudes where up and gone pretty early so that they could catch the best waves. The camp site looked like the Armageddon scene from Terminator II.

We pretty much packed up as soon as we got up. Then said are long goodbyes to the 4 new friends we have made and headed back to Devonport to catch the 4 pm ferry back to Melbourne.

Breakfast at 3:30 am. wots goin' on here! Beau didn't make it for breakfast - sensible. The ferry docked at 5:15 and it wasn't long before we where off and on our way across the mainland again.

Its a bit of a mission for all of us to get to Brisbane now. So we got straight onto the main freeway and headed for Canberra. 12 hours later and one exploded tyre. We arrived in Canberra and booked two nights in a Caravan park n

Canberra city is a pretty small place, not what I expected from the capitol city. We walked into the city centre via the Botanical Gardens and along the lake. Nothing much in Canberra really. Spent the day checking emails and developing photos.. Clare spotted a cool pub that did Mexican lunch for 5 dollars. After which we walked back towards the government buildings and then to the caravan park. Watched the Oscars, and went to bed.

Drove back through Canberra on our way out towards Sydney. The first stop was a view from Canberra from the Telstra tower 800m above the city and then we drove past the Prime Ministers house, John Howard. That's about as exciting as Canberra got! I was hoping to visit some friends I had met in Tibet, just east of Canberra on the coast, but couldn't get in touch with them so we have decided to head straight upto the Blue Mountains for a day before we head for Sydney for the weekend.

It was only about a 4 hour drive to the Blue Mountains, The only mountain range we have been to in OZ that has a freeway running right through it, very pretty - not. Found a cool little campsite at a place called Katoomba, but not long after we set up camp a Thunder storm blew in, causing a couple of campers tents to be washed away. They ended up sleeping in the campers kitchen. My tent was OK. It leaked a little bit but I still had a great nights sleep, as usual.

Last nights thunder storm had left the Blue Mountains in a thick blanket of mist. so we couldn't actually see anything. We hung around one of the major attractions in the park, the three sisters. And waited for the mist to clear. Whilst waiting we where joined by loads of Japanese tourists who where busying themselves with photos of the mist from several different angles. The mist did clear for about 30 minutes causing shrieks of excitement from all the Japanese as they pushed themselves around the viewing platform clicking and flashing madly. The view was actually spectacular as the mist swirled around the bottom of the three sisters. But it soon closed up again and that was all we where going to get for the day so we decided to head into Sydney. Beau phoned his friend, Andy. Who lives there to say we would be popping in for a cup of Tea. And we arrived 2 1/2 hours later.

I felt pretty bad that we had just turned up out of the blue. But Andy, Wendy and Phil (Andy's friend from Whitchurch, UK) seemed really pleased to see us. After a few cups of tea Andy and Phil took us to Bondi for a few more substantial drinks. Wendy had to work. I crashed on the Sofa that night while Beau and Clare found a flat piece of road in the neighbourhood to park Betty up for the night.

Clare and Beau want to do the Sydney Bridge walk this weekend. So Phil accompanied us to the city centre, where we then split up. Beau and Clare went to book there walk and take a look around. I just had a quick mossey around. Did a few emails and headed back to Wendy and Andy's flat. Beau and Clare arrived soon after as I caught a different bus back and got a little lost when the route changed. Not wanting to invade their already busy flat, the three of us headed into Bondi to find a backpackers for a couple of nights. Luckily we found one right on the main strip in Bondi at a pretty good rate. Andy and Phil drove back out to meet us for a few more drinks that evening. Bondi is a pretty Lively place with loads of pubs and characters parading their sun bronzed bodies up and down the strip. We decided to grab a Kebab and sit and do some people watching before retiring to bed.

The Backpackers (The Biltmore) is a pretty run down place but has loads of energy about as most of the guests are 18 year olds all on their year out from Uni. By 8 am they are all competing with each other with tunes from their stereos. It was pretty cool taking a shower to The Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill.

Wendy, Andy and Phil turned up at about 11 and took us on a walk along the coast from Bondi Beach and towards Botany Bay. It is such a busy place where all the Pretty People seem to live and work out. We even spotted one guy skinny dipping in the middle of the day. (Just to show off his body probably). All these perfectly formed bodies where making me feel slightly uncomfortable. So I decided to eat a huge BLT and forget about them.

Wendy had offered to cook us all dinner tonight. So Beau, Andy and I went for a swim at Bondi. Some of the waves where huge and several times I was washed up onto the beach after being spun over and over in the wave. We then headed over to Andy and Wendy's flat for dinner only to find a $63 parking fine slapped on Betty's windscreen. Bugger. Wendy had cooked us up some amazing fish (Red Snapper) and Andy had mashed us up some amazing potatoes We met Wendy's mad sister, Chucky, there who supplied us all with wine. Chucky offered to let us stay with her at her flat just down the road. So we took her up on the offer and said we would see her tomorrow at a BBQ we have all been invited to.

I got up pretty early at the backpackers so that I could try and find a free parking spot for Betty and avoid another fine. I managed to find one surprisingly easy, well at least one that gave us free parking for 2 hours. Just enough time for a slap up breakfast. To update our website and check out of the Backpackers.

Once we had all checked out we went on an Easter egg and alcohol hunt for presents for everyone and for this BBQ we have been invited to this afternoon. We then headed back Andy and Wendy's flat who in turn took us to Chucky's flat who in turn took us to the BBQ.

The BBQ is being held by an Italian born Brazilian Communist called Biscuito (Portuguese for Biscuit). Biscuito had cooked us Goat. When I first heard this I was instantly reminded of the Goat Feast I was invited to by my friend Ram in Nepal. This goat however was stewed in a variety of vegetables and contained no organs or brains, or at least none that I could identify. It was very nice. But for some reason I have a thirst for alcohol. After several bottles of beer and a few games of Ping Pong. We returned to Chucky's Flat with her Brazilian friend, Anna who was slightly pished and didn't shut up all the way home.

I didn't take much persuading from these two girls to carry on drinking in Bondi. Although Beau and Clare had their Bridge walk tomorrow and get breathalised for it so sensibly they decided to stay at home. We went to a bar called the Blue Chip where Chucky's Thaekwon-do mates (both Chucky and Wendy are black belts) where all playing in a Latin/Salsa style band. Chuck and Anna danced the night away whilst I found myself drinking at the Bar, with a very forward girl called Amanda. A bit of a fight broke out in the bar, but was soon dealt with. Amanda said she was impressed with the way I held them off and would I like to go to bed with her!!!!!.....

...I have a problem with bars. I am slightly deaf and as soon as there are background noises I find it very hard to decipher what people are saying to me. My usual response is to smile politely and nod my head to anything that is said to me. In this case the response was a tug on the arm towards the exit. It was then that I had worked out what she had said So I insisted that we have another drink. By the time I had finished that drink the band had also finished playing and Anna and Chucky suggested we go to the Bondi Hotel next door for another drink and maybe a game of pool. By 3 am Amanda went home. Without me! Chucky and I also left leaving Anna taking to her Lebanese friend, Hooman Been (serious).

It wasn't until I got back to Chucky's flat and attempted to blow up my airbed that the effect of all the alcohol hit me. I think it was seconds before I was out cold on the living room floor.

Open eye...Open other eye... need water... find feet... stand up... wobble...sit down... stand up... walk to door... walk into door... open door... walk to kitchen... stick mouth under tap... turn tap on... choke... yelp... turn HOT tap off... stick mouth under other tap... turn COLD tap on... drink... Go back to unconscious position on living room floor. ( Click here to view video (1,336 kb))

Beau and Clare came in all bright and cheerful. Seems that their doing a sodding walk over Sydney bridge. So What! Why do I care! Leave me alone!... So they did. Soon after though Chucky emerged from her room and tempted me out with the promise of fried breakfast at the cafe on the street. It worked and made me feel a whole lot better. But I didn't venture far from the flat and just sat there taping some of Chucky's CD and watching crap Aussie TV with great interest. Anna came around at around 3 and we waited for Beau and Clare to return before heading back out to Bondi. Chucky kept us amused whilst waiting by pouring out glasses of wine. Clare had a bit of a dodgy tummy so decided to stay in while the four of us headed back into Bondi for a few more drinks.

I felt pretty rough by 10 PM but managed to keep going until 2 am before grabbing a hot dog and returning back to Chucky's flat.

< AUSTRALIA FEB 2002