Today was the day we were to pick up our campervan. I was excited at the prospect since we had splashed out for the next 8 day leg and booked an 'Apollo Hitop' which has all the amenities - fridge, stove, sink. microwave and electric hook up - a total luxury after the horrible poorly designed 'Wicked' van we'd hired in New Zealand which practically had none of the above amenities and smelt horrible - and was ridiculously small! We can actually stand up in the Apollo van with head room to spare and it is clean and new - yay!

After a late start with a relaxed brekkie and playing with Maggie, Jess kindly gave us a lift to Tullamarine next to the airport where we had to pick up the van. We got some photos and said our sad goodbyes - hopefully it won't be so long till we see our Aussie friends again next time. We had the obligatory paperwork and terms and conditions to read and a look over our lovely van before we set off to the nearby Westfields shopping centre where we were told we could find a Coles supermarket and a place for lunch. Since it was now 1.30pm and we were peckish we thought better of going into a supermarket hungry (a recipe for spending double what you'd planned!) Instead we headed to the food court, resisting Scott's suggestion of McDonalds. Ironically I said ' I don't want all that unhealthy fatty stuff', and then we ended up getting noodles with satay chicken in a noodle deli - it looked like it probably contained as much fat as a Mc'Donalds if not more! Nonetheless it did the trick and filled our hungry bellies before we set off to Coles and stocked up our little fridge for the week. 'Little' is the operative word! It seemed much bigger in my mind as I breezed down the supermarket aisles filling up our trolley with fresh veg - I was determined to have fresh stuff after having to live largely out of tins with only an ice box in New Zealand. Getting back to the van it was like a puzzle trying to fit it all in the fridge - if I open the door stuff falls out!

We then drove west of Melbourne around the western ring road and down the M1 towards Geelong. Scott took to driving the van like a breeze - manouvering in and out of the car park spaces smoothly. It was a refreshing and reassuring change to see him driving nice and slowly and reservedly (unlike the rollercoaster trips we take in his Golf back home!) On arrival in Geelong it was now 4.30pmish and we decided to head past the town to a spot with a campsite on the coast and the mouth of the river called Barwon Heads. Barwon Heads was v v windy but still a beautiful spot. From the little windows inside our camper we could look out across the beach to the ocean, and with the wind up there were some spectacular white crested waves breaking. It made me dwell on the fact that the Great Ocean Road which we are due to hit tomorrow is meant to have some of the best surfing beaches worldwide. I don't think it would right to go by without hitting the surf. But Scott is going to require some more persuasion; he is still put off by the risk of Great White's. What are the chances?! Slim I'd say...we can't live our lives in a cocoon.

After setting up we got chatting to a pleasant Aussie couple from Cairns whose caravan was parked next to our van. They had sold up and retired, quit their jobs in accountancy and lived out of an amazing $75,000 caravan travelling round Australia. We took a peek inside - it had a shower and toilet/wet room, full queen size bed, wardrobes, separate lounge with leather sofas, washing machine and massive fridge freezer! Oh we can only dream.... We took a walk along the boardwalk next to the beach - the day had been sunny and I still had my shorts on. The wind whipped up the sand shooting the small grains into the back of my legs causing me to cry out in pain. I quickly came to the conclusion it was better to look at the beach from inside so we nipped into a beachside restaurant and enjoyed a cider in their pavilion. Dinner back at the van was Salmon steak and salad - an attempt to give the fridge some much needed breathing space as I piled our plates with lettuce! It was so cosy in the van; and we felt like all the people who normally sit smugly in their vans with a steaming mug of tea watching the poor sods like me and Scott trying to erect a tent in the wind or rain. Oh to be on the other side felt so good and we told ourselves we really would get our own van one day- even if it is out of our financial reach at the moment.

We set up the bed ready for a cosy night and to my excitement got a facebook message from my sister Nicola who had met the consultant obstetrician and was going to be induced that afternoon back in the UK. At 42 weeks pregnant I'd thought it's about time the little sprog popped out. I drifted off to sleep excited that by the morning she could be in labour, and I could a bit closer seeing a photo of my first ever nephew! Thinking of you Nic.x