Gutted!!! We just lost the final of the Grampians Pentanque Championship 2006. Pete, myself and a fellow backpacker (Jan from Munich) lost in the final 13-10. We took on all comers from the surrounding villages. To be fair we lost to a team who beat the Victoria state champions only weeks ago but I am still upset that we lost. We did win a runners up trophy each and a massive plate each that none of us can fit in our backpacks. I also gained membership to the Grampians Pentanque Club due to my exceptional tossing skills! I will have to come back next year to try and win the whole tournament.

Since we left Perth we have hired a car from Melbourne airport and took to the road again. Warnie was on our flight from Perth to Melbourne so both me and Pete got his autograph and I took a photo, of course (see the photos section). We have spent the last three nights travelling down the Great Ocean Road. First night we stopped at Jans Juc which is by Bells beach. 24 hours previously a surfer was bitten in half by a Great White at Bells beach. Apparently shark attacks only happen every ten years! We have been in the region of two in the last 3 weeks, I reckon they happen all the time! I certainly haven't been in the water for three weeks.

The first three nights in the car we thought we could spend like we did in the van. So we checked into a campsite and slept in the car. This was incredibley uncomfortable and we got bitten to pieces by mosquitoes, so tonight after two more similar nights we decided to stay in a backpackers. It was a good move because as well as gaining free entry to the Pentaque Championship we also got to enjoy the Halls Gap community Christmas party with FREE bbq. WE met loads of cool people and had a really good laugh.

The scenery down the Great Ocean road has been truely outstanding, with huge cliffs being pounded by powerful waves (see the photos - so many photos!). As well as stopping in Jan Juc we have also stpped in the towns of Apollo bay and Port Fairy. Both are beautiful little seaside towns with awesome beaches.

We took a detour off the great ocean road betweeen Jan Juc and Apollo Bay, after an hour of off road driving we arrived at lake Elizabeth. We undertook this massive detour because we were promised the oppurtunity to see the duck billed platapus. Unfortunately we didn't managed to spot any of the critters but we did get to see a very bizarre lake (see the photos).

Still gutted we lost in the final, we had chances to win - but I've got the T-shirt.