Lol, I was about to start this blog update with 'well' and then realised there seemed to be a running theme and I should attempt to start with something else...hmmmmmmm, why is it all I can think of to start this blog is now 'well'!

Nevermind, WELL, a RIDINCULOUS amount has happnend since my last blog update so I apologise this could be a bit long and tedious for the both of us, don't say I didn't warn you! I have driven an unbelievable 5255km across Australia in Scooby with an English dude Luke (there really is no getting away from the British across here)!

Day 1: Cairns to Lake Barrine.
Left Cairns late in the afternoon after gathering up all the supplies of fuel, food and of course, some goon!! I had my first Australian driving experience in Scooby (thank goodness they drive on the left side o' the road, my blonde head couldn't have coped otherwise) and headed up the Bruce Highway (I kid you not)! After a couple o' hours driving, still in Queensland, we arrived at Lake Barrine and camped here for the night. This is actually right next to Lake Eacham, the volcanic lake I went to on the Uncle Brian's Tour! Was pitch black when we arrived and I rediscovered that I don't like the dark too much when in the middle of nowhere, a fear I felt I had to conquer otherwise I may struggle on my Australian road trip (unsuccesfully I may add)!

Day 2: Lake Barrine to Georgetown. (425km Cairns to Georgetown)
Early start and woke to see a beautiful lake with one or two folk wandering around. What a way to start your day even although it was overcast and raining! Drove on to Millaa Millaa Falls (the Peter Andre waterfall) so Luke could see it. Because it had been raining the waterfall looked even more impressive! Have to admit I did not get in for a swim this time though, wayyyy to cold! Continued the drive onto Undarra where we stopped at The Lava Tubes (didn't go in though) but cooked lunch in the car park area. This may sound rubbish to be cooking in a car park but it was amazing! We were in the real outback now with kangaroos jumping past us! Very cool! Got back into Scooby and drove onto Georgetown, this tiny, wee town which unbelievably just happened to have their annual Rodeo on! When we arrived we sat down for a schooner and goon in the local bar (with an English barmaid) and chatted to the locals. After we headed up to the rodeo grounds and parked Scooby up between all the rodeo riders and ringers vans. Was the most surreal thing to see! Went into the Rodeo bar bit and chatted to loadsa locals whilst listening to a guy playing country and western music from the back of a trailer! Looked like something right outta Dukes of Hazard! And also very Texan feel to the place! The Australian Champion for bull riding then taught me how to ride a bull and I very nearly even had a go on one of the smaller bulls but sense then took over and we figured it probably wasn't a very sensible idea...oh well (bet you are happy your daughter is getting sensible in her old age folks)! Also discovered today, Luke does not make for a good back seat driver, thank goodness I take well to my driving being criticised constantly... (ha!)! ;O)

Day3: Georgetown to Croyden to Karumba (384km)

Today started as a great great day (I GOT A SHOWER AFTER 3 DAYS!!). Believe me, whilst travelling, every shower you get is like a little slice of heaven (and I'm sure it is for everyone around me too...)!! Watched a bit of the dummy ropers in the morning at the rodeo (wee kids doing the lassoo thing over bales o' hay with a plastic sheeps head stuck in it)! Pretty impressive! We hit the Gulf Developmental Road and headed for Croyden. It was a very quaint, old mining village with very little there but it was beautiful all the same! Then drove 'bout 2 minutes up the road for lunch at Lake Bellmore. It was stunning here! A man made lake which was fairly large with free gas barbequeues (they are everywhere over here) and picnic area. So we made lunch and then decided to go for a swim. Luke got his kayak off the roof of Scooby and put it in the water. I was originally gonna go on the kayak with him but we discovered rather rapidly that my balance was pretty much non existent and i managed to tip over the kayak before we even left the shallow bit...oops! Nevermind, I went for a wee swim anyway. However, I lasted about 2 minutes as the wee kids swimming there were saying they had just seen a croc. We had been told that although there were warning signs for crocs they were all up the other end of the lake and even if we did see one because they are freshwater crocs they would probably just swim away...AYE FLIPPING RIGHT!!! I tried to go in a few times and managed a fair bit in but had to turn back as I got so scared I was gonna be the crocs lunch!! Anyway, after all the excitement we packed up Scooby and continued on our way. We drove to Karumba for apparently the some of the most beautiful sunsets in Australia. However, as we were running a bit last minute Luke ended up having to put poor wee Scooby through his paces and gunned it to the Sunset Tavern to catch sunset with about 30 seconds to spare. It was defintiely lovely to see but I have seen better in Scotland. Anyway, at this point the water was way, way far out but yet there were loads of signs for saltwater crocs in the area (and lots of them). And saltwater crocs are definitely not friendly....By the following morning the water was right up to about 10 metres on front of us! I imagine there were several big crocs pretty near us at this point...

Day 4: Karumba to Gregory (417km)

When we got up in the morning there was a wee Sunday market going on right next to our campsite so we had a wander. There were some beautiful paintings here if you had a spare couple o hundred dollars! Afterwards we hit the road again: The Wills Developmental Road, where we saw loads (and I mean like 40 every 10 seconds) of termite mounds! Got a picture with one about as tall as I am! Also saw some more road trains which are crazy!!! They are like 54metres long!! Just imagine a normal lorry back home (the arctic type ones) but instead of having just one trailer thing it has 3!!!!! very scary! Anyway, we arrived at Gregory (basically 2houses, a few cabins and a bar, that's it!!) where there was no other town for hundreds o kms! Had a beer in the bar (this time an Irish barmaid) and then drove round the corner down to the riverbank where there was a free campsite with quite a lot o' friendly, older folks about. Unfortunately within 2 minutes poor Scooby got stuck in the sand but it was so funny! Ended up getting all the folk there to help us out with shovels and push Scooby back onto solid ground. What a giggle! Sat and made dinner on the mobile stove and ate under the stars with the compulsory glass o' goon (so, so beautiful - the stars I mean, not the goon)!

Day 5: Gregory to Camooweal to Barkly Homestead to Threeways (960km)

We left Gregory very early in the morning (which was a bit of a shame cos it was so so beautiful but we had a lot o kms to travel so push on we must)! However, when we were at the public shower blocks we discovered a couple o the older folks there had had someone trying to steal stuff from his van overnight! Scary! Anyhoo, off we set on our magical mystery tour...on what we discover to be no more than a dirt track for 220km (in a NON 4WD van)! We saw only 2 cars on the 'road' the entire time...and they were burnt out on the side o' the road!! Also spent the majority of the time drifting all over the shop 'cos 'o the sand and all the corrugations in the road...VERY VERY BAD! Probably the most scary road I have ever been on and not somewhere you would wanna break down!!! However, there were kangaroos everywhere and I even got a video of a few o' them hopping along the road right on front o' us, just like you would see dolphins swimming along the bow of a boat!! Was an unreal experience! There were also LOADS of stunning tropical birds: almost fluorescent green coloured parrots and eagles by the dozen (one nearly clippped my window with its wing it got so close)! Was like a safari! After the hair raising dirt road in the burning heat (and yes people, there is evidence of a tan beginning) we arrived at Camooweal where we filled up on fuel, had lunch and a beer (MUCHLY needed after that dirt track I can tell ye)! And also the location of my first spider bite!! Have no idea what bit me, it just looked small and brown and left me with a very itchy and red hand for a good few days! Unfortunately lost my sunglasses here too but hey ho! Camooweal was bascially another strip of a few houses, a local supermarket and the obligatory pub! Blink and you would miss it (although the pub is proportionately huge for such a wee place! We then drove onto Barkly Homestead for fuel (just a garage in middle of nowhere but yet again, from looking at the map you would swear it was a small town) before reaching our final destination of Threeways: namely because it had a road that went in three directions from it; south would take you to Alice Springs, north to Katherine/Darwin and east (where we had just come from). The aussies like to keep things simple!! Threeways had a truckers stop with a caravan site and HOT SHOWERS!! ye!! Dinner and an early night after a long days travelling.

Day 6: Threeways to Devils Boulders to Ti Tree to Alice Springs (540km)

So we turned left at Threeways to take us down to Alice Springs. Not in our original plan but Luke couldn't resist the temptation to go down to Uluru when we were so close (I was already going to do this road trip anyway so just meant I was getting it done sooner than I planned)! So down we trundled in Scooby on a REAL ROAD this time with road markings and everything! First stop: the Devils Boulders. Had unbelievable views here and got some great photos! Then we travelled onto Ti Tree to refuel (VERY VERY SCARY aboriginal place with folk yelling at each other everywhere and only contained a petrol station and a shop)! I rapidly locked Scooby's doors whilst Luke was out paying and looked forward to leaving ASAP! After leaving here we also had the unfortunate experience of road kill...a MASSIVE bull had been killed the day before after being hit by a 4X4 (and had managed to write the car off)! We just had fingers crossed the driver was alright! Reminds you of how careful you have to be driving over here with animals left, right and centre and always ready to pounce on front o your car! However, afterLast stop was Alice Springs. A place I had heard very mixed reports about (due to the strong aboriginal presence) but I automatically loved it. It had character and just something about it. We got there about 1400hrs and went to tourist information and bought our Mereenie Road pass to get us to Ayers Rock! Went to the campsite (Stuarts Holiday Village) and completely gutted Scooby as he was covered inside and out with red dust fae the dirt track roads! BBQ for dinner with roo steak (yum yum yum)!! Very Aussie of me! Met a lovely family from near Melbourne, Victoria who chatted to us for ages! They were farmers! Had a great night with them and then prepared for a sub zero night...!! I Hate desert weather (ridiculously hot in the day and freezing at night)!!