Saying my goodbyes and thank yous at the Rivlins, i took the bus down to Brisbane and went straight to the sea taxi terminal to get over to North Stradbroke Island to meet Jo and her family. No mobile coverage caused a bit of confusion but me and Jo eventually met up and had a mad scramble around the local shops to get me some Christmas food and booze, as i had come with nothing. "Straddie" is beautiful and very laid back and beachy but not in a tropical way....

After two very relaxing nights in lovely Rainbow Beach, i got back on the coach but just for two hours this time, down to Noosa. I am lucky enough to have somewhere to stay here - with an old friend of Pop's, Dr Ian and his family. Sorry Ian you're not old, you know what i mean. Its been great staying in a real house and Noosa is gorgeous. They've taken me for fish and chips at sundown, to a Christmas cocktail party, a 5am bike ride (its already 27deg then) a...

Left Airlie Beach in the afternoon facing a 14 hour bus trip through the night down to Rainbow Beach. This dark world of the night bus is weird and could realistically be used as endurance training for the SAS, as far as i'm concerned. The time passes much more slowly than in the day and there's nothing to watch out the window obviously but they showed a Steve Irwin video which i really enjoyed! Crikey she's a beauty! Luckily no-one was sat next to me for ...

Sadly i hadn't saved enough to spend any time exploring up here so i'm getting down the coast fairly quickly. Had a 10 hour bus trip yesterday from Cairns through seemingly endless sugar cane and banana plantations. I am now in Airlie Beach which is very backpackery and not really my scene. The hostel is a rancid ex-motel with no aircon in the dorm - God help me!! But it was worth one night of torture cos the stupid bird at reception gave me the wrong chan...

Back in Cairns and back in the YHA, i waited for little Joey to arrive. She's been up here doing her own thing for a few weeks and we couldn't wait to meet up. Just like when i've had other visitors from home, i get really nervous and it's like an interview of first date - such anticipation! What shall i wear? I must paint my toenails. Well there she was, in front of me and we just jumped up and down and yelled at each other for a few minutes and got freaked ...