Hi all,

This is going to be a long one I warn you now.....

I have just had the most amazing week, packed full of adventures, meeting some really cool people and seeing some wonderful sights.

I left Perth early on Friday morning - kindly driven to the bus terminal by Julianne - and immediately the people on the bus were getting on and chatting away which was nice. There were 16 of us on the tour, of all nationalities, including English, Irish, German, French, Japanese and South African and our tour guide, Brad who was an Aussie.

First stop was Nambung National Park to see The Pinnacles, which are a wierd group of rocks - shown in the picture. We played the 'what can you make out of this rock game' which was fun....not only was there a very convincing Batman, but there was a turtle making it's way to a Cathedral too!

On from here we had a long drive up to Geraldton, where we went sandboarding, which as it suggests is where you board down sand. It is loads of fun, but a lot of hard work climbing up the dunes. They need to invent sand lifts! On my first try I stacked it rather badly and rolled many times down the dune. I had sand absolutely everywhere - as did everyone by the end of it I think; in my hair, in my eyes and ears, resting on my eyelids and in my pockets and pants....very comfy!

In the evening we stayed in Kalbarri and drank into the night. 2 of the lads went to a neighbours party and Steve didn't get back until we were all getting up. He felt a little ill the next day!

An early rise, then a drive further North to Kalbarri National Park, to visit the Murchinson River Gorge. This was an absolutely lovely place, though it was boiling hot and we had to stop to reapply suntan lotion every 5 mins. A massive river running through rocks of reds of oranges, very peaceful.

After a fair walk down the gorge we came to a point where we were given the option to abseil down the 25 metre wall (this doesn't sound very high, but I'm only 1 metre and a bit, so it is to me!) I was the second to do it, and was absolutely wetting my pants. I swore several times and giggled nervously, but the instructor was very patient and encouraging, as I backed down over the edge a milimetre at a time!

I was definately very slow to get down, but I was so excited when I got there. I did nearly throw up mind, not because I was scared, but because my mouth was very dry (combination of adrenelin and last night's alcohol me thinks). I couldn't wait to go again, though I was a little shaky. The second time I did it I went forwards off the rock, which I feel very brave for doing, but I didn't enjoy it as much, as the rope was close to my arm and I though I was going to get rope burn. The instructor told me to run down, but I think it took me longer this way, definatley over a minute. I really want to do it again!

After the abseiling and a semi-hard climb back to the bus, which included some very unattractive being pushed and pulled up rocks (damn my short legs!), we went to see Nature's Window, another part of the Gorge where a huge rock has eroded to form a type of window...you'll see the photos anyway! We ate lunch about 11.30am, which was very much needed after all our hard efforts of the days.

In the afternoon we headed to Denham to our hostel, but on the way we stopped of in a watering hole for a swim and saw some stromolites which are wierd looking rock things in the sea (look it up for more information!). Our hostel was really nice and we all played killer on the pool table, before a reasonably early night.

I had such a lovely morning. We headed to Monkey Mia in Shark Bay and ate breakfast on the beach before walking to the shore to see the dolphins swimming in amoungst the pelicans waiting to be fed. There are 4 dolphins that get fed and they are only given 25% of their daily intake, so they have to hunt also. A scientist from the dolphin centre gives a talk before the feeding and then a few people are picked to feed the dolphins, and lucky me I was one of them.

After this several of us from the tour did and Aboriginal Culture Walk, where I learnt what Aboriginals used and tracked to sustain themselves in the bush. We learnt how to track kangaroos and echidnas and to tell the difference between snake and lizard markings. It was very, very hot though and at one point I though all the group were going to pass out!

Some of the tour people left us here to join up with another group, leaving us with 12 people.

Before going to Carnaveron to stock up on supplies we visited Ocean Reef, which was a really small kinda sanctuary for sea creatures. Unfortunately it was also a sanctuary for flies and we spent the whole tour flapping our hands near our faces. We ate here too so we made our sandwiches and ran onto the bus to eat the food. Not nice!

In the evening we made our way to Warroora Sheep Station, which was a really great night, in the middle of no-where. It was Sorcha's (now known as Scorch,Scorcha or Scorchio), one of the Irish girl's, birthday there and we planned a little suprise consisting of ribbons, balloons and cake, oh and a sparkly green hat! We had a really nice evening, ate nice food, attempted to play the diddgeredoo (cannot spell at all), drank, listened to music and best of all, played a very funny game called coin drop. (You basically have to stick a coin up your arse, run to a cup and drop it in! Doesn't it sound great!) We also climbed on top of the toilet block, turned all the lights out and looked up at the stars. Seriously you would never believe so many stars existed if you didn't see this sight for yourself, it was truely amazing. Surrey/London people I don't think we see even a quarter of what is out there!

After just over 2 hours sleep we were up again at 6.15 for breaky, then on the move to Coral Bay. 5 of us from the group went on a very expensive, but most certainly worth it boat ride over the Ningaloo Reef to swim with Giant Manta Ray. This was absolutely unbelievable, though hard work....Giant Manta's are pretty fast swimmers don't you know! The military operation, it seemed to be was very well contralled. A boat would take us just passed where the Manta was and where a guide swimmer was following the Manta with one arm in the air, so you could always follow her (I don't know how she swims so fast with one arm!) Then they would practically push you in the water and you would have to swim (snorkel) as fast as you could to catch up with the group. If you had to stop/couldn't catch up, you raised your hand, the boat would pick you up and you went again!

At all times there was a plane scanning the water from above checking the area for sharks, and only after I got back onto the boat did I learn that they had sighted a large Tiger Shark not far from us. Aaaagh!

In the afternoon I got to swim with a turtle, which again was amazing (wonder how many times I have used that word!?) and then small reef sharks, which I was very nervous about, but did anyway. I screamed through my snorkel when I frist saw one and always had in the back of my mind that I was about to be eaten at any moment, but I wasn't so it's all good! That night we stayed in Exmouth at the Escape backpackers.

The next day was much more relaxed, but again was out in the sun again the whole day. There are lots of burnt bodies at the moment! After visiting a lighthouse we went to Turquoise Bay for more snorkelling. I love snorkelling, so was very happy with the choice of activities. At lunch we played stupid water games too, which was fun.

The evening was rather civilised and we all ate in a restaurant next to the backpackers place. About 1/2 the group were staying up here to do further trips, so this was their last night. Several drinks later (only the girls left flying the flag for beer I might add!) we made it to our little beds.

The next day was the start of our journey home, which consisted of lots of driving, though we still did some exciting things on the way back: held pythons at Greenough Wildlife Park and visited Prince Leanard and Princess Shirley of Hutt River Province (some crazy guy found a flaw in the Aussie law and started his own country in Australia....he has his own currency and stamps!)

Juli thankfully picked me up on the Thursday afternoon, as I was very tired and fell asleep about 9.00pm that night. An absolutely fantastic week and I hope to meet up with some of the people I met along the way around Australia.....I took approximately 170 pictures!

Whilst I was away Georgia cut her first two teeth. Very exciting.

Anyway, hope you managed to stay awake for all that.

Loads of love

Lynds x x