Here we are at last…….soooo sorry we haven't kept up to date as much as you'd like but we have been having such a seriously good time its been difficult to fit it all in!!

Ok so we arrived at Byron Bay after a long bus journey throughout the night, it was ok I suppose if you don't mind sitting on a bus for 12 hrs!! But cool to do it through the night as we saved money on hostels. The Sun was shinning in Byron Bay and there were loads of people getting off different buses at the same time, hostel guys were poaching people off the buses……so we found it quite easy to get accommodation and were soon on our way to our first experience as real backpackers……….we stayed @ Byron Bay Backpackers on the beach!! It was literally right on the beach……the hostel was sooo cool (we were later informed by many it was the probably one of the best) after a long wait in the que we were given our bed sheets and pillow cases along with a key and told to come back if we needed a cup and plate….we were like ok…..we opened the door to our room to find we were sharing with three older guys the room consisted of two sets of bunks and a single bed….we were like…..what an experience!! Na it was ok really the guys were like old time travellers & were really nice and very informative!!

We let Sian and Pete know that we'd arrived and arranged to meet on the beach, at this stage we had no idea where we were so we just walked through the hostel garden and guess what………we arrived right on the beach!! literally a 2 minute walk away from the campsite that they were staying at…..how cool???……. as Sian approached us we had no idea it was her, she was in a wet suit with a surf board under her arm & looked like a little brown berry….she looked sooo cool….real surfer chick cool….it was soooo good to catch up & we sat talking on the beach with her and Pete for about an hour until we realised we were burning….. (the sun in Oz is soooo dangerous…….its really intense!) we agreed to go get sun cream and kitted out for our first surfing lesson…..courtesy of "The Surf School of Sian & Pete".….sooo much fun…..we spent the day being taught one to one on how to surf, for our first surf lesson it couldn't have got much better! before long we were riding waves & even standing up….yes! standing up on our first lesson….for this we thank the teachers…. we were totally addicted…..bring on the next wave!! x X x

Towards the end of the day Sian and Lucy kinda had a near death experience……they were taken out via the tide without realising they were really close to the rocks (the sea in Oz is crazy…the current is really strong, that strong it pulls the sand from beneath your feet!) they attempted to swim across and out from the rocks when suddenly they got caught in a rip it was sooo frightening they attempted to swim for about ten minutes with waves crashing high above their heads but they were getting nowhere….then here comes the lifeguard and Pete the brave!! they were rescued on surf boards and all was fine in the end…it was a lesson learned and something we can now giggle about….but at the same time quite frightening!!

We spent the evening with Sian and Pete at they're campsite eating take out Pizza and drinking GOON……our first drunken budget experience (Goon is cheap wine bought in 4lts by backpackers on a budget for around 4 pounds….yeah that's how cheap & nasty it is….its made up of all kinds of stuff….fish eggs!! bein one ingredient…..eewww!! but it does the trick…) we sat out until around 3 in the morning talking…laughing….and having loads a fun with the Goon…. This was until we were told, well kindly escorted very drunkenly off the campsite (the warden was real nice about it…most places have a respectful policy after tenish not to wake other people up….you know what its like when you've had a few!!)

The next day was spent curing our hangovers… Pete and Donna were especially not good…..not like Donzy a…but yeah Goon is seriously naughty stuff, backpackers continue to drink it because of the price tag!! We went to the hippy market which was really funky…..they had…bands…digeredooo's….drums…..crazy food stalls……clothes…..and this special stall that allowed you to make a colourful candle…..Donzy decides she has to have a go…..bearing in mind the stall in full of children…no, no adults in sight!! The adults were waiting on the outside for their children sooo Lucy sat and waited for Donna…….she was in her element and made this candle her little pride and joy!! It was cool mind check the pics…..we spent that evening out having a meal with Sian and Pete they were moving on the next day to go earn some money…fruit picking…. We talked all night again about loads a different things they were sooo good with all their information on what they had done so far….extreme sports here we come!! Whoop whoop…thanks again you guys……so good to see you (In OZ!!) x X x

The next day we planned a trip to Nimbin….a small hippy tourist town that works all year around to promote and legalise cannabis!! We were warned before we go off the bus that people would be selling cannabis in cookies etc…..it was a crazy experience we went to the local museum where they openly sold cannabis….cookies…cakes etc…..Although it is illegal in Australia our really funky hip bus driver explained that in this town the government turn a blind eye because the crime rate increases if they come down hard…..although once the crop is grown just before its about to be cut the police go in and seize it most of it! its used to encourage tourism, control both the people and the harder drugs and mainly make the town of Nimbin a nice place to live!! After this we were all taken to a lake and waterfalls….the bus journey was sooo cool the driver played really chillin music…Tracey Chapman…Chilli Peppers etc the bus was buzzin…sooo many people and everyone was really friendly they were from all over the place Canada, USA, Ireland, Germany, Czech ohh & don't forget us Welshies!! We stopped at a local pub to get some beers and headed for our BBQ in the hills……we all had such a great laugh it was really good to meet so many different people…..after lunch we were taken to a waterfall that was pretty high….we jumped off the top into the white water ….drunk!…..well…..ish! (not many people do…but we couldn't let the welsh down!) (sorry mothers not the most sensible of ideas but sooo much fun!) we were supervised!! Our camera battery had run out by this time and we were soooo upset we couldn't get any photos!! We headed back to the hostel and everyone was told that they could get a free meal and drink at the local nightclub…bargain!! Although it was extremely cheesy and the music dated…we headed home sensibly around midnight!! Good day mate!!

Our last day was spent at the beach chilling out we booked our bus and accommodation for Surfers Paradise where we were heading next we also decided to do some food shopping!! We had spent so much money in the last week…it was pasta, rice and noodles from now on…also all hostels have really good cooking facilities so it was about time we started using them….after all were real backpackers now lol!! We headed to Woolworths (seems about the main food store around like our morrisons) we stocked up on food and of course just a little alcohol……we spent the evening sitting outside in the BBQ area of the hostel playing cards…drinking games and meeting loads of new and really cool people…when it was quite time we were told to move the party to the beach…….what an experience….the party just got going…..the goon was flowing…..there were a bout 30 people around a campfire with a guy playing the Bongo's and another the tin whistle….they played loads of Irish songs…..Molly Malone…etc it was an experience never to be forgotten………..we retired around 2pm and woke early for our next exciting journey on to Surfers Paradise……

To be continued…………

Until the Wanderers return………………..Mwah love to all x X x