After 4.5 months we've finally left Sydney woo hoo! Even if it was on the back of a tow truck!!?? Unfortunately "Duchess" our new beloved Ford Falcon which we bought 2 weeks ago, decided to give up the ghost on Easter B/hol weekend - and we didnt get her going again until the day we were planning on leaving Sydney. Something went in the starter motor- but thank goodness the garage we bought her from fixed free of charge!! As you can imagine all a tad stressful...but very eventful.

And so we've began our travels up the east coast to enlighten our lives further. 1st night we camped out in Port Stephens in a lovely hostel in the woods. They had their own baby kangaroo who was resident in the kitchen in a peg bag (sweet!). After that we headed off to join our surf camp in Myall lakes national Park. It was a 2 day course in the middle of nowhere - very quiet but picturesque. We managed to get there early and bag our own 22 bed log cabin - all the other 18 peeps had to share the other next door!! Definately a highlight of our stay!! Camp was good, learnt lots but Alaine gave up attempting to surf on the 2nd day...Mark did manage to stand up though!!!

After that it was on the road again - heading north, following that sun!! The weather is getting alot nicer. Stopped off in Coffs Harbour y'day and should hit Byron Bay tomorrow. We're camping all the way (well thats the plan!!?) sleeping in our car, putting up the tent when we can be arsed. Highlight today was stopping off in a place called Maclean - which boasts the claim that its the "Scottish town in Australia" pretty cool place loads of scottish memorbilia, and all the electricity poles were painted different clan tartans!! The place was a real hit cos its the first place Alaine managed to get a battered sausage (even though it was a saveloy!!) and proper "fish shop" chips. We're getting serious cravings now for all the food back home...especially Pot Noodles (Alaine) and decent Roast Duck (Mark)...

Anyway hoping to be on our little holiday for 3/4 weeks so we'll update this as we go!!

Hope everyones ok...love to all

xx