Okay so it's been far too long again!! We've been to quite a few places since I last updated, went to Townsville and Mission Beach oh and Magnetic Island and now we are in Cairns next stop is Alice Springs... I've got my diary but I'll just pick out the highlights as it's been nearly three weeks now!!

Left Airlie Beach for Townsville on 2nd March had a really nice luxury bus with two seats to myself much appreciated! I was the only one to get off at Townsville everyone else was heading straight to Magnetic Island and Townsville wasn't particularly talked up by the driver so I was a little dubious! Had to wait quite a while to be picked up and taken to the guest house we were staying in, it was like walking into someone's house! but we had a nice little room and only there for one night anyway. Met Laura when she arrived and headed to the cinema that night to see Slumdog Millionaire and although it was good not totally convinced it was worthy of all the Oscars etc! Townsville at night is not a nice place though very empty you feel like you're walking through a ghost town and the only other people on the street are drunk aboriginals which was a little intimidating!! Went over to Magnetic Island on the next day and spent 4days there had to dodge snakes to get to our first room so upgraded the next night felt slightly safer! There really isn't too much to do in Magnetic Island though a bit boring tbh! However the backpackers we were staying in did the nicest Chicken and Bacon meal had that two nights running was amazing! Found out whilst we were at Mag Is. that there was a 2metre crocodile stalking the Strand (beachfront area) back in Townsville so that would limit what we could do there! Oh there is also a Cyclone heading for us atm, they are expecting it to turn into a category 4 and maybe hit land at Townsville but not sure if they are panicking for no reason! Anyway spent the next few days in Townsville constantly checking the news on the cyclone but it never came to anything went straight past us no problem, and found the nicer areas of Townsville which I have to say changed my opinion on Townsville saw the nicest sunset over the sea the whole sky turned red making the water look red not sure if I have uploaded any of these pictures yet?? Oh we also saw a guy catch an Eel at the marina and then his wife having a go at him saying what are you going to do now, they have teeth you know! don't get too close it has teeth etc etc we never found out what happened to that man and his eel...

So moving on and upwards we headed to Mission Beach.... there is nothing in Mission Beach! It had maybe 3/4cafes we could afford and that's about it. So it's a shame we have 5days here!! Went down to the beach and all there is as far as you can see is crab holes everywhere! all quite small but still not somewhere you want to be lying so really god knows what we will do for soo long! I did my skydive on Tuesday 11th and was amazing!! I had the best time did think I would maybe have a bit of a panic when I got upto the top just before we jumped but as i was first out didn't really have time! I had a camera man too so once he was out and hanging on the side of the plane I didn't have much option but to go! So out I went screaming and all sorts but once you have got to the point of being flat and just falling it was really enjoyable! There are a LOT of photos for this I am aware and when I am back most of you will get to see the DVD quite amusing!! So that was and is pretty much the only highlight of Mission Beach, definatly not somewhere to spend as long as we did!

So upto Cairns and one of our last stops... On the way I had to go into some crocodile farm where they tried to force a giant snake around my neck... not happening. Then I had to watch while they poked the crocs really hard to get them to face the right way for the crowds, they passed a dingo round as they are soo tame you can just hold them like any dog it's not nice to see and then they show you an overcrowed pool where the crocs they kill to make into handbags etc are it's not nice. Anyway finally got to Cairns and Laura was already here and our room is meant to be for four people but all single beds no bunks happy days!!! But no1 else has been in our room yet we have had it to ourselves for ages and the hostel looks like a hotel inside it's really nice! It's called Global Palace have a look at the photos! Since we've been here we have managed to get some really healthy food for once and avoiding the noodles and the pasta thank god! Going to a market tomorrow morning to get some more fresh food how I've missed that! There isn't too much to do in Cairns so went to the cinema last night to watch Confessions of a Shopaholic was quite funny and ironically that is all we have found to do in Cairns really is shop! Might see if we can afford to do a day tour soon though but then next saturday we are off to the airport to go to Alice Springs and Uluru then onto Perth our last stop before home!!

Sorry it was a bit short for three weeks but I am running short on internet funds atm!! See you all soon!!! xxxx