Well it's been a busy few days. After leaving the Sykes family on the 17th, we were on the road for the first time in our fancy Mitsubishi Outlander. This leg of the journey is via the Pacific Highway and will take us to Brisbane. Our highlight on the radio had to be the local ads eg. ''Come to Penrith White Water rafting! You'll wet yourself!'' We stayed the first couple of nights at Treachery Beach Camp site, Seal Rocks, a few minutes walk from the beach - and what a beach! The place was sooo quiet compared to having a bustling apartment full of people and... well it wasn't luxury. But not bad for a camp site.

We saw a dingo on the first night, running around the site. Then when we awoke in the morning, a turkey was strolling past our window! We went for a run on the beach and saw dolphins swimming in the surf, right near the surfers. So all in all a pretty normal day for us really. We got a chance to see the dolphins again a bit later before the heavens opened and it rained for about 24hours solid. It was a really peaceful place and would be great to spend a few days if it wasn't raining.

We drove on for an overnight stop in Port Macquirie. As one of our front tyres blew on the way (I was driving this time!), we arrived a bit later than planned so didn't get a chance to see much. We had stopped at the Billabong Koala Reserve on the way up and had a brief koala pat (!) but managed to see some in the wild at Kooloonbung Creek Reserve in Port Macquirie which was much better. We had fish and chips overlooking the beach as the storms rolled in across Town Beach and then called it a night. We were pleasantly awoken at midnight by the gentle noise of one of the English girls throwing up loudly in our room. Or that's what it sounded like. The toilets were just across from our open window and she went at it for a solid hour. We ended up getting the giggles as it was such a contrast to our lovely time in Sydney. And of course we felt pride in our nation!

In the morning it was a beautiful day so we went back to Town Beach and had a legstretch before setting off on the 400km journey to Byron Beach. We were a little worried as everyone was telling us about the cyclone, floods and giant hailstones further north in Brisbane and more were predicted for the area that day! We needn't have worried from our point of view as it was hot, sunny and we only had a couple of quick showers on the way. Rob had the time of his life as we saw signs for Fredo's Pie shop and made a stop. They do 56 varieties! We managed to leave with just 4 (it could have been so many more) and ate them in a picturesque picnic spot in Coff's Harbour. (see the Pie Sequence in the Food for Thought album to appreciate their full impact on Rob).

We arrived with no problems in Byron and it was beautiful weather. For about 2 hours.. and then it absolutely tipped it down. There was fork and flash lightning, everything was blowing over and a child even screamed. But apparently that's just what happens at this time of year. No giant hailstones so far... but Brisbane hasn't fared so well - that's where we're heading next. It's been a surprisingly gorgeous day here today after the storm, our hottest yet and no rain in sight, so we've been in the sun and the sea. It's so warm in the sea! Off to get a pizza now......It's a hard life.

Spent the next day in Byron much as the first but less energetic. We were staying right near Belongil Beach so camped out there again. The Lonely Planet says it's a part nudist beach but actually it was just full of people walking their dogs. Big dogs, small dogs, happy jumping dogs - the place was full of them. Very amusing to watch them bark and paddle in as far as they could go after their owners and then just stand there watching as they were left behind. At any one time a number of faithful friends could be seen along the shoreline awaiting their masters patiently! Had a tasty kebab by the waterfront as it got dark - this is definitely a place we could have spent longer.