So I've just come out of a spa with a lovely, toned, chunky dutch guy! I met him a couple of days ago and we're going to drive to Sydney together today. I'm now in Canberra, the capital of Australia if you didn't know, its a planned city, it wasn't here about 100yrs ago! Its quite a cool place though nowhere as good as Melbourne and everything is very angled and lacks character. Its been ages since writing so much to say, my trip round The Great Ocean Road was fantastic if slightly cold, I hitched most of the way and got up to the Grampians and Arapiles National parks where Kangaroos were jumping around practically within touching distance, special! Climbing at Arapiles was soooo good, I got picked up by a German lass and taken right to the campsite, we climbed together for the following day. There were some climbers who had lived there for a couple of months and there was a real nice vibe coming from the camp, I want to come back another yr and be a climbing bum. Someone made some wax bombs which I show you when I get back! Back in Melbourne nearly a week later to relax-yes relax, I didn't once get up later then 8am! After a couple of days in Melbourne I headed up to Albury and then Canberra, the first bit I tried to hitch but my overgrown beard must have been putting people off and I ended up getting the train most of the way to Albury. Upon arrival it preceded to rain the hardest it had ever been for nine yrs! Great for the locals in Drought but not for all the tourists, Its been freezing since I got here and even snowed on the hills the other day! But at least everything is green which everyone keeps telling me is really unusual but I didnt come to ozy for the cold so I must head North soonish where its a warmer 28 degrees C! Anyway from Albury I hitched all the way to Canberra and met some cool people and saw lots of national sights. Well I could write more but I think I'll save it for a book.

Laters Dave :-)