Cannot believe how difficult it is to find both the time and facilities to get to update our blogs, its madness. So, first off so sorry it has taken so long, but i am ready to give you at least a small update.

So, last you knew we were just waiting to be picked up from and finally get out of Airlie Beach. Well, at 6.45am on monday Sonic picked us up on the Oz bus. We were very relieved to be finally leaving Airlie Beach, especially as there was still no power and none expected for at least a couple of days. Driving out through Prosepine and Mackay the damage caused by the cyclone became very clear, with the tops having been ripped off of mobile homes and tree's down all over the place....turns out it had been a lot worse than we had initially realised. After a breakfast stop at a service station in Mackay, and our activity of playing barefoot lawns bowls having been rained off, we travelled for about an hour and a half when next thing we knew, Sonic was turning the bus around! It was explained to us that thanks to the cyclone, two hous in front of us (in which time there was absolutely nothing) the road was flooded and we were not able to get through. It is in a situation like this that you realise the sheer size of Australia, you can drive on a road for more than two hours passing nothing, including no side roads! Anyway, it was decided that we would drive back to the nearest service station and see if we could borrow a phone to call the office and get some advice, it would then be decided if we push on and wait until the flood subsided (no idea how long this would take), or if we would have to drive back to Mackay and wait there overnight, which would put everyone off schedule.

After waiting for an hour and a half at the service station, which like Airlie Beach, also had no power, Sonic told us all to get back on the bus and we would try and get through the flood. A couple of hours later and we reached the flood site, whilst the main road was still flooded, on a tiny little track ring road the flooding had subsided enough for us to get through. Back on track bt well behind time we pressed on with the long drive. About half past four all very hungry we stopped for a quick late lunch break before boarding the bus for the final leg of our journey to Kroombit. During the last few hours of the journey we passed through another two flooded roads and also Sonic was informed that the road into Kroombit cattle station where we were to stay that night was also severely flooded, far too badly for the bus to get through. However, we were all assured that this would be sorted and a solution would be found.

At 7pm after having travelled for 12hours, we arrived at the point on the road where the bus had to stop and could go no further. Our way across the flood.....the open trailer of an artic lorry! So, we unloaded our bags from the bus and passed them up onto the trailer and then all climbed up ourselves. The river was running so fast and we were quite suprised that the lorry could still get through so easily, an made the final 15mintue journey with us all on the back. It was scary but also, what an amazing way to arrive at a cattle station...awesome!

On arrival, we were greeted by a much appreciated beef roast, a lesson in cracking the whip and a few go's on a mechanical bull. Absolutely shattered by such a long day, and with the prospect of having to be up, breakfasted and checked out by 6.45am the next morning, i made it to a respectful 11pm and then crashed out!