21st March 2012

Helloooooo.....it's been a while - we've been busy!

We loved the wall to wall sunshine in Western Oz - but unfortunately you really can have too much of a good thing! The heat and the lack of escape from it all became a bit too much and we headed south to cool off.The western coast of Oz is very remote so we had to stop off at Coral Bay again on the way down - we stayed there a few days and made friends with the ants again - pesky things! Spent another few days enjoying the gorgeous beach and happy hour in the bar! We thought we'd stop again at Monkey Mia and soak up the sun but en route, after a very uncomfortable, sweaty lunch break we looked at the temperature gauge approaching 40 degrees and we looked at each other and both decided we'd had enough - sorry people but it was just too hot camping in that heat with little else to do but sit on the beach - sounds terrible I know! But when Dave can't even sit in the sun - it's too hot! So we made a long journey back to Perth via one stop off to sleep the night. Little did we know that Perth was about to enter into a heat wave and we continued to experience temperatures of 38 degrees and above!

We enjoyed Swan Valley wine and food region - Dave enjoyed tasting some wine, port and beers as well as a selection of cheeses, coffee and chocolate! I joined in with the chocolate part as I was the skipper (driver) for the day - not really sure how I ended up there but hey ho - Dave got squiffy and I laughed at him!

We also visited Rottnest Island and cycled around the beautiful island for the day - extreme heat made it hard work - poor us! Tee hee. It was a hard cycle with the heat and we saw a few people in trouble and needed help - not funny! The quokka's were cute - they're like teeny weeny kangaroos always scratting for food! Cute though.

Next stop, after a quick flight was Alice Springs where we decided to upgrade to a double room because we couldn't pick the car up until the next morning so camping was outta the question! Our double room turned out to be an old caravan in the hostel garden - but hey! Who are we to complain? We had a double bed for the night! The morning after we picked up a car and started our journey towards the famous rock! Heard of it? Tee hee...Our first stop was Kings Canyon - a very large canyon you can walk through and around. We were relieved to experience cooler temperatures which meant less flies - phew! Fly nets were not needed. After a short walk we pitched our tent in a very quiet campsite aware of the local dingoes! The toilet blocks had dingo guards to keep the dingoes out but when I went to brush my teeth, both entrances to the toilet blocks were dingo guard-less and I started sweating as my heart rate went up! Dave told me not to be a silly and go in there so I did and as I did - the dingo eyed me through the entrance the other side so I quickly shut the gate! We listened to the dingoes howling in our tent and I spent the night cwtching up to Dave much to his annoyance and lack of space in a two man tent! Wuss - I know!

Ayres Rock was spectacular and not at all dusty like it looks in the pictures. Following a heated debate at the bottom of the rock we decided to go for it and climb up. I didn't 100% agree in climbing it as the aboriginal laws ask you not to climb the sacred rock but the tourism carries on allowing it. Dave wanted to do it and I didn't fancy sitting on my own for a couple of hours while he went alone so I went for it thinking I'll only be here once. It was extremely hard work and scarily steep but the top view and satisfaction when we finished was worth it. Although Dave did have a few blisters on his toes by the end of it as he had me clinging onto his back all the way down! We stayed up for sunset and managed to get up for sunrise to enjoy the views of the rock changing colour. Dave took lots of photos on his beloved camera - tee hee! Our little tent made it until the very last night and then we parted with it as the pole snapped half way through our last night. It did us proud but we were both secretly relieved to say goodbye to it although I did feel a bit like we were quitting camping as I thought we would camp for the whole of the Oz part of the trip. We have a campervan booked now though for the east coast - a Hippie Camper - which may have big flowers all over it! Dave loves it! Tee hee!

Following our quick visit to the red desert we flew to Sydney to our spot of luxury - a holiday within a holiday! We met Mum & Dad Turner and settled into our city apartment. We walked our little legs off exploring the city and the surrounding areas and we were very lucky with the weather. We got the bus to Bondi beach and did a spot of surfing, caught the ferry to Manly and walked along the coastal path as well as soaking up the night lights with a drink in the Opera Bar by Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. The city lights were fabulous! We also had a few treat meals out in Darling Harbour and enjoyed a few beers or wines - something we have not been used to!

We are now thoroughly enjoying the Cook Islands staying on the side of the verry beautiful Muri Lagoon in Rarotonga. We've been lazing on the sun loungers, swimming in the lagoon, snorkelling and kayaking around the little islands - lush! We've also been making the most of the BBQ's and the quiet way of life with a few meals out along the way. We hired a moped today and explored the island which is only 34km around. We went around it twice, stopping off a few times to rake it all in. Kaz - we saw lots of piggies but don't think they're the same ones as you visited every day - tee hee!

Dave is at one with the nature here, or so he thinks!The local wild chickens with their chicks in tow appear twice a day so Dave feeds them cereal and bread - bless him.We also have a few new canine friends who visit us daily and walk with us on the beach.We had six dogs walking with us one day - they are harmless and very friendly!We see Scooby and Scrappy most days!

We did a wind surfing lesson which was fab - we were ok at it but will need a bit more work to cope with the stronger winds - Dave did attempt it during a rain storm when the winds picked up but could only figure out how to go one way - he had to swim with the board back the other way! We will ahve to keep this watersports thing up now! Maybe Glyn could do with some kayak lessons after falling out of one quicker than he got in! Hahahahahaha!

Thank you very much to Mum & Dad T for a fabulous couple of weeks! This week really has been relaxing and allowed us to recharge our batteries ready to hit the east coast of Oz!

Huge hugs to all at home - Happy Mother's Day and Happy Easter! Enjoy the Easter eggs all!

Can't believe it's almost April - scary how fast the time goes!

Lots of love,

The Turners xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sorry there are no photos, the internet here is on island time - they will follow soon!