Hi All,

Well we are finally in the Land of the living in Melbourne City, Please enjoy our travel story of the past week ;

Tuesday 29th Jan

We headed out in our trek gear for some adventure. In Halls Gap there was lots of walking to be done so we decided to climb the Pinnacles which are high rocky mountains. It took us around 1hr to reach the top with a few trips and falls along the way by me (Iain). No damage done!!! We went through some canyons and steep rocky passages which was fun.

Our next journey took us to the Mckenzie waterfalls, this was less of a climb and more of a decent around 600 steps. Once we got down though the falls were filled with water and was good to see.

We then took a trip to see the lake before heading home for some fine dining in our little log cabin. After Tea we walked out to look at the sunset, we noticed that all around the campsite there was wild Kangeroos (25 plus) and Emu's. Was an amazing sight.

Wednesday 30th Jan

We decided that on this day we would hire some mountain bikes and do some of road tracks. We headed down the main road on our bikes to the Dams to take in the views which were great. I tried to throw stones in the water but it was to far away and I now realise that my shoulder is still sore from 2 years ago so might need to get a scan as it just ain't right. We headed back across town to go on the EASY track, it was no where near easy and at some points C and I had to get of the bikes and push them up the sandy hills.

We got to a point where we came across a wild Kangeroo (one of the biggest ones I have seen) and it looked straight at us standing really tall in the air, scratched it's chest and leaning towards us. We have it on video but it's too long so will work out a way for you all to see as it is soooooooo funny!!!!

That night we went to the pub and had a few drinks and some chips, They served pints so I was happy. We watched the Kangeroos bounce around the land as we sat on the veranda.

When we went to our cabin and were all tucked in for the night I looked out the window to find lots of Kangeroos munching the grass outside the window.

THURSDAY 31st JAN

We packed up and headed into town to the Aboriginal centre, C painted a bommerang and I painted a memory stone. This was all done using Aboriginal techniques.

We headed to a goldmine town called Ballarat and pitched our tent for the next 2 nights, headed into town and bought some food and Alcohol for me and then played a game of mini tennis, which I won, hee hee!!!, We also jumped on the kids big junpy castle.

FRIDAY 1st FEB

We went to the Soverign hill village, which is based on the old mining town. Everyone dresses in the old gear. There were horses with old carts. We went down some real mines that gold was found along with getting some history on the place. We spent a full day there as we really enjoyed it and C even managed to hold a $120,000 block of gold after we watched it be transformed from liquid to a solid. We struck gold in the river, well minute tiny pieces of it so we ain't rich but it was something to take away with us.

We played some more tennis and I won again!! hee, hee!!!

SATURDAY 2nd February

We went around the goldmine museum where all the gold it kept, I thought about armed robbery but it probs wouldn't have worked!!! The next stop was Eurika museum which was about the civil war between miners and the government, really interesting stuff!!!

Now that we had camped and had a few nights in a cabin we were booked into a spa town called Hepburn springs to a B and B. We arrived there and it was really nice, booked ourselves into a retreat package at a spa for the next day and wondered around town. One of the couples staying at the B & B were really nice and we sat up all night drinking on the veranda. The girl was for yorkshire and her fella was from Melbourne so we are going to meet them again next week. They are moving back to UK to get married and are considering Edinburgh as their new home. Good night we had!!!

Sunday 3rd February

We got up late around 10 for the first time in weeks, no birds, no sun rise etc to wake us up before 6!!! We had a big sunday breakfast on the house in a cafe as part of our deal and then strolled down a few hours later to our spa, where we got in and out of Sauna's, plunge pools of natural water and mineral water spa's. My skin has never felt better!!!!

We felt so relaxed after all those backs on grounds nights in the tent. We had dinner in a local cafe and headed to bed watching Billie Elliot!!

Hepburn springs is 80% the source of OZ natural spring water so it was a real cool place to see. We did go to some of the springs but there was only 1 that we could taste as the drought over here has had a real damaging affect due to global warming.

Monday 4th Feb

Well we finally have made it into Melbourne for the next 9 days, without crashing the car I may add!!! We tried today to change our flights as we are unhappy at staying 16 days in FIJI, we can't change them yet as C's student ticket has restrictions to the seats. Really annoying, We will just need to wait and see what to do, all the fun of being a backpacker!!!!

We have changed our America flights however with success, I dont want to say the dates yet as if Quantas Airlines come up with the goods it may change again.

Well now we are in magical Melbourne we will be closer to Internet Access and able to tell you our tales.

Until next time.

Goodbye for C and I.