Hi everybody,

We are now in not so sunny Australia. We arrived here safe and sound on the Wednesday 25th and checked into a hostel in the centre of the city. Realising on route that Australians drive on the right side of the road - Alec became instantly more excited about getting the campavan! The hostel was nice, has a 'roo' bar in the basement where the clientele were so well behaved that we got to witness one resident being ejected by the police.

On the Thursday we went exploring round Melbourne, a very beautiful city - a bit like a modern version of Edinburgh with very clean streets and nice fresh (if a bit cold) air! After a trip around the shopping district we crossed the river and found salvation from the cold in a casino...after losing $3.50 on the 2cents gambling machines we decidedto cut our losses and leave before it got serious?!

Friday was the magical day we got the campervan, its the 'Mormons' van with the slightly offensive slogan ' Mormon elders make the best lovers because they practice so much on their own'!! we cant decide if this is funny or just bizzarely offensive, though many pedestrians think the latter. After being told to walk around the block for half an our because we were eagerly 2 hours early, they gave us the keys to the van and we were on our way! (after a quick stop for petrol - tight gits!) With a map full of camp sites and a van full of fuel, we headed south towards the Great Ocean Road. We decided to make Torquay our first stop and set up camp on a site right by the beach. The weather reminded us too much of home and so the nights sleep we had was similar to a night in a tent in Skegness!

We woke up on Saturday and decided to move up the coast in the hope of chasing the sun. We moved on to Lorne, a quiet fishing village. At the tourist information centre we were directed to our first free campsite (after paying $26 for a night at the last place we thought this was a good idea) Anyone who had ever seen any camping-in -the-middle-of-a-haunted-forest type horror film would have been very sympathetic for us, though we did have wine so all was not lost (or remembered the next morning!)

On sunday, slightly jaded by the english weather, we decided on a new plan of action - we were going to drive all the way to the end of the Gt Ocean Rd and work our way back in the hope that monday would bring a week filled with sunshine. Our destination was the university town of Warrnambool but first we stopped at Apollo bay for sightnseeing and chips (its a bit like Alston, but without all the excitement). After setting up camp in another beach side site, we headed into town for some drinks with the locals. Being sunday, not too many places were open but we eventually found a warm bar. Being 9:30, we only had time for a G&T and a guiness before closing time, debbie was pleased to finally have a real pint of the black stuff!

On Monday, we woke to find that the sun was trying harder to shine which was a big improvement. We were advised to visit a nature reserve called Tower Hill before we headed back east so we went to investigate. Tower Hill is a dormant volcano with a vast array of wildlife and plantlife inhabitants. We drove through and caught sight of a pair of Kangaroos (5 minutes earlier, debbie stated that she didnt want to leave australia until she saw some, so she was pleased!) which were wierd looking and very hoppy but cool all the same! We also saw Emus and Alec was surprised not to see a ginger man with fake legs riding them and forcing involuntary lunges towards peoples crotches (ask your parents...) We decided that we would try and make it as far back as Anglesea whilst taking in as many sights on route as possible. Along the Gt Ocean Rd, we stopped at the Bay of islands, the Grotto and the 12 apostles (see the photo above) All of these are land features formed by erosion of the limestone - like Marsden Rock but still standing! We couldnt make it as far as Anglesea so we stopped in Lorne again, this time splashing out on a site which didnt remind us of the blair witch project.

On Tuesday we travelled to Anglesea where I (alec) bought my first surfboard and wetsuit. After a long decision on which board was coolest and which suit was sexiest (I'm taking this very seriously) I made my purchase and spent the rest of the day surfing in Torquay.

On Wednesday, after a conversation with a man in the Quicksilver shop, it turned out that alec's cool board was actually a girls board (who'd have known that "surf betty" was a girls brand - no joke!) we decided to upgrade to a big boys one, but not before debbie had a go on it and unfortunately came out of the sea with a black eye, needless to say the board went back and debbie doesnt like surfing anymore! On this (finally) sunny day we managed to get a good deal on a proper board to compensate for getting ripped off and celebrated by spending the rest of the day taking in the sun!

So far today has been rainy and the campervan did not want to start, despite alec's vast knowledge of mechanics (!) Were heading to Queenscliff this afternoon to hopefully see some dolphins on the ferry and some sun in the skies!

We hope youre all well, please stop posting pictures of your tatoos daniel (we know its you!) and keep in touch

lots of love,

Debbie and Alec