Hey everyone, were back for another installation. Don't panic about the pics, we havent had time to put them on yet but will have it up to date by the end of next week hopefully. Internet isnt cheap & its pretty slow too!!

So we left you knowing that we booked a scuba dive on the barrier reef on Sunday & thats where we'll start this one.

Day 82:

Day 82 already. Aaargghhh!! Only joking, time is standing still for us it's awesome. We boarded our boat this morning, a huge yacht with a capacity of 160 people, the height of luxury which amazed us because it wasnt any more expensive than the tin boats!! Best part was that only 25 people were on board & only 9 were scuba divers!!

The weather was hideously overcast, which put us on a downer & once the boat set off & we left the harbour, the waves were huge. I don't think we've ever been on anything so rough as that, neither of us were sick, although Carly looked like she left her colour at home! After 2 hours we arrived at the reef & the waves calmed & the sun broke through & the clouds disappeared. It was perfect conditions from then on. Our first dive was good fun, getting back into the whole diving thing again & the group of 4 divers makes it so much nicer.

We dived 3 sites during the day, although the last was only a snorkel. They were Milln Reef, Pellowe Reef & another part of Pellowe Reef. The coral is just how it is on TV, we saw turtle, held a pineapple sea cucumbers & loads of other cool fish. Still didn't see that elusive shark which is really beginning to annoy me!! We had a great lunch on the boat & the staff were awesome all day long. It was so worthwhile & we decided to chill at the hostel in Cairns & watch a DVD.

Day 83:

Today we filled 'Big Daddy' up with his favourite breakfast, Diesel. Got some supplies & set off for the Atherton Tablelands. The weather was cack, but the scenery was superb. We were driving through the clouds at one point & the views over the cliff edge were something else.

Our first stop was Lake Eacham, a volcanic crater that over the years became a perfect circular lake. It had crystal clear freshwater & was home to turtles, fish & platypus. There was even a pontoon to swim in.

After lunch we carried on through the mountains, Big Daddy was enjoying the push. We stopped at Lake Tinaroo to check out the dam, then continued round the lake to find a campsite for the night. We pitched our tent right by the waters edge, it was stunning. Two sour notes were the weather & the Kookaburra's that attacked Carly at the dinner table & stole her bowl of pasta from under her nose!! It attracted about 10 species of bird to our table so we darted to the car & ate our tea there & took cover until the birds had finished their meal as well!!

Day 84: We decided to carry on South & not waste any time because the weather was still terrible. We checked out Dinner Falls & another volcanic crater which was so deep & the echo was immense. We were cheesed off because we forgot to charge the camera! So annoying.

Then we headed to a circuit of waterfalls called Millaa Millaa. It was a gorgeous drive & the falls were all spectacular. Decided to get to Mission Beach ASAP to get a camp setup before dark. Found a great spot right on the beach for $12 a night. Picked up a gazeebo to shelter us from the rain & chilled out. We are becoming seasoned campers I tell thee!!

Day 85:

We took a walk into town today to look for the 3rd book in the John Marsden 'Tomorrow' series. We're both hooked on it, even if it is aimed at teenagers, it's a good read! No joy there so we looked in the Info Centre to get an idea of what was good to do in Mission Beach.

We booked onto a Crocodile Spotting tour. It was cheap enough & sounded fun. Guaranteed sightings or your money back. Couldn't go wrong. Or so we thought!!

We were picked up at 4 & taken to the boat. Saw some Wallabies on the way, that was as good as it got to be honest!! We took the boat along the river all the way to the Ocean with no sign of crocs.

Then we waited for the sun to set so we could do some night spotting, its easier cos you use spotlights to pick up the eyes in the distance. We did see two crocs, though neither of them were bigger than my hand! Complete let down. The guy was apologetic, but we felt a bit robbed. The sunset was sensational, bright pink skies but Carly forgot to put the battery in the camera!!

Day 86:

This morning we packed up our things & left Mission Beach. The weather was improving rapidly so we took a long drive to Townsville. On the way there we decided to stop in at Australia's tallest waterfall, Walloman Falls.

The single drop from top to bottom is 278m. Thats higher than the observation deck of the KL tower if you can remember the views we had from that!! We were blown away & this time we did have the camera!! Halfway down the falls, a rainbow stretched right across the water.

Carly lost her belly bar in Townsville so we hunted for a tattoo parlour or body piercing place with no joy. We couldn't find the book we were looking for either. In a bad mood we carried on beyond Townsville to Bowling Green National Park. We got lucky & found an amazing campground called Alligator Creek. Rock & Tree Wallabies wandered around the sight freely, not bothered by us being there at all.

Day 87:

We went back into Townsville today because we had calmed down & decided to visit the reef HQ. It is basicallyt a big aquarium but all about the Great Barrier Reef all the different fish and corals. It was really good but as with any aquarium we were bored after about 2 hours. So we headed on into town - carly was on a mission to get a belly bar as last time she left it out for 24 hours it closed up. We managed to find a tattoo place and get haranother bar - she was chuffed. After this we headed back to Alligator Creek, Carly tried to put the belly bar in but the top had healed over she even attempted re-peircing it with a needle but not joy. She must be some kind of super quick healer.

We spent the afternoon just chilling out by the creek, it was a beautiful day and there was like a little beach down there. We also met a Canadian girl who was travelling by herself in a wicked van called Adrianne. In the evening we had a few drinks with Adrainne and cooked some tea - she was impressed with what we cooked up on the gas stoves.

Day 88:

Today we set off early headint to Airlie beach, we drove about 300k and then finally got there. We checked into a campsite where we bumped into Adrianne again so she pitched up next to us. We went to reception and got loads of information on the Whitsundays, they just kept telling us about all of the expensive ones though which we could not afford. So we headed into town and managed to get a really good day on a 2day 2night sailing trip leaving tomorrow. So we booked that one. Looks quite nice only 25 people on the boat and it has hot showers and you sleep on there and then visit all of the islands in the day and do lots of snorkelling. Can't wait.

After this we went to yet another body piercing place so Carly could get her belly bar put back in. The guy had to end up re-peircing it, but he only charged us $5 for doing it which was good. In the evening we drank goon and chilled out with Adrainne. Tonight she cooked and made loads of platters with dips which was lush. We also met a couple from exeter so we got chatting to them aswell.

So that is that for this installment - we will try and update you next on wednesday and let you know how the whitsundays sailing trip went. We are both really looking forward to it - just hope that the weather gets better as it rained all last night :(!!

Thanks for all the messages. Take care x x x x