We decided to drive to Katherine and make our minds up there as it's North for Darwin or South for the East coast. It took us a few days to get to Katherine huge amount of driving constant from 8am until 5/6pm.

We had another blow and the clutch went in our van, wicked we're in the middle of nowhere and no clutch. Not the easiest thing to do but Steve managed to drive 3ookm to Katherine, lucky we didn't have to stop for much because that would cause probs!

First port of call was to find a garage, now is where we get a greater insight into the aussie work mentality. The first garage said he would look until Tuesday (It's Thursday)"sorry mate no can do, I'll look on Tuesday should have the parts by Friday". Garage No 2, without even taking a look said the gearbox was shot to pieces and tried calling around for a new one (he hadn't even looked at the van!!) "yeah, I can get you a gear box, gotta come from Darwin, won't get it till Wednesday, you're looking at $1500" See ya!! Clutching at straws as no one seems to want to help us and even take a look we go to the scrap yard, there's a mechanics there.."No dramas, yeah we'll take a look" "Well that's your clutch mate" Bring it back at 7.30 Monday we'll see what we can do" Diamonds!!!!

From Friday till then we spent the time in the hot springs around the area, had Steve's 30th Birthday as much as he didn't want any kind of birthday (not because he was 30 just because that's Steve)he did have a cake, myself, Steve, Rog, Hayley and Luke all played Monopoly!! We really know how to have a good time!!

Monday came around Luke and Hayley set off for Cairns on Sunday, we couldn't expect them to wait around when we didn't know how long we were going to be. It's quite anxious times waiting to hear whether there's something majorly wrong with the van, apprehension of shelling out even more money is sickening.

It was the clutch, they had the part, we could leave today! $600 lighter but we're back on the road. Thank God.

I didn't think much of Katherine loads of drunken, loitering abbos again sitting around the shopping centers and bottle shops, get a job. And they stink, a little bit of personal hygiene training really wouldn't go amiss I nearly spewed the smell was so awful . I'm sure the aboriginals who are in keeping with their culture are true and fine people but the only encounters I have had are really letting the others down. Pleased to be leaving is an understatement!