Show Us your Craic! -'Australia'!

Goodbye NSW

jca — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:17:00 GMT

So on the way out of Byron we made an effort to explore in teh direction of the lighthouse and various walks up at the point. Anyway this was pretty short lived as Deirdra was hungry or something and it was all i could manage to walk down to the beach from the main carpark and scale the constructed woden look-out. From here I look a few more of the 'Where's Sanchez?' photos as the surfers and dive boats passed by beneath. Meanwhile Deirdra, in her general apathy to the whole situation to got into as many japaneese holiday maker's photos as she could, leading us to conclude it was time to go.

A few thousand roadworks later and we were passing through Brunswick Heads. -Essentially a retirement village with an very wide but quite low estury passing through it's centre.

I pulled up at a beachside carpark, minding not the knock over the Harley copy parked next to us.

As I walked to the beach to my left was a lifeguard tower that resembled a cross between an abandoned airport watchtower and a washing machine. (Sponsored by the local womans institute.) The beach was long and deserted -great if the weather was better but this day it wasn't.

-Keys in. Door Shut.

The Pacific Highway snaked its way ahead of us and as we followed -racking up another few hundred K's we crossed the boarder from New South Wales and into the promised -Queensland.

Very Bad bloggers we are- 4 weeks later & catch up time...anyone?

jca — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:51:00 GMT

Hey everyone, we know its been an absoulte disgrace how bad we've been with the blogging but we're working on it- slowly but surely- john's working away at a video of sorts and i've been sifting through memory lane trying to write up all we've done since Byron Bay about 4 weeks ago! Now in Cairns (way up North) the van is with us no more but as I said we're still going to document the last weeks of the trip...so keep watchin and we'l have all the joys of Brisbane...Airlie Beach....Whistsunday Islands.... Engella Mountains... Austrailia Zoo and all the dodgy aussie towns in between (namely Bundaberg, Mackay and Rockhampton- hicksville at its best!) Cairns is currently sucking the life out of us with its continuous party atmosphere- one too many hangovers makes for lazy travelling!- but we did say at the start of this blog "show us your craic austrialia" so we can't complain as Cairns gets the craic going every night of the week...more of that later. im away to write about all our mroe cultural persuits of the previous weeks. See ya soon!

Gallery: Sandboarding- Port Stephens

jca — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 12:28:00 GMT

Largest Moving Sand dunes on the Souther Hempishere- and we 'board them- yea

Byron Bay- Sunnshine at Last!!

jca — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 12:21:00 GMT

We wake up in Byron Bay on (insert day here…I’ve lost track..being a hobo and all that) to the first day of proper sunshine! Now this is what I came to Australia for…sack the Snowy Mountains and the Great Ocean road…give me a bit of sun and a sandy beach any day! If theres one thing im good at, its lazin’ around and snoozing, so we grabbed towels and headed for the beach right beside our camp site.

While I soaked up the UV rays, John braved the water in his painfully embarrassing blow up mobile phone. Sweet lord he’s got no shame…a beach full of slick surfers dudes “ridin the waves”, bikini-clad girls playing volleyball like pro’s and all the while John wrestles with his inflatable mobile phone in the sea like a 5 year old. Naturally I came back 4 hours later with a nice healthy sun burn (Im still peeling as we speak L ) and John quite heartbroken as his inflatable “floatation device” suffered one too many punctures and has now seen its last days at sea. All in all a successful first day at the beach.

Byron Bay in general has lots to offer…we only stayed two days but its on my list of “I might come back and work here” places (which as John tells me I’ve been saying about everywhere). Basically I’ve been kinda checking out what towns/cities I’d like to spend the rest of the year working in to pay off the mammoth loan I’ve taken out getting here. So Byron seems to be high on the list- great weather even in Winter, not too big to be expensive or hectic and not too small to be dull or quite. Plus there is a wealth of great bars and restaurants were I could earn a few dollars (and I’m sure spend a few aswell) I like it.

Nimbin- the land that time Forgot

jca — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 12:19:00 GMT

Next we headed for Byron Bay.

Well, that was the plan …then John remembered about a little place called Nimbin…a place that time has forgot or else just got too stoned to remember…i.e the place is stuck in 1960’s hippie central mode.

A quick look at the map revealed his recollection of the place couldn’t have been timelier. It was 72k’s to both Byron and Nimbin. –We decided to take the high road and headed for Nimbin.

We arrived late but this didn’t seem to be a problem, and the camping was the cheapest we’ve had so far: $19 for a powered site. A quick walk into town revealed a weird mix of a rundown small town and an abandoned festival. The few locals still awake were exchanging small talk over the bar of the local pub and the pool table appeared to be locked down so we called it a night.

The next day we ventured in around lunch time and just as the guidebook had predicted were immediately approached by purveyors of herbal remedies. They were everywhere…like ants…in the shops, on the streets….in the museum! (well if you can call it that) all slithering around, lookin’ dodgy and whispering to passers by “yo, you smokin’? Yo…you fancy some cookies?”. Quite surreal really..

Anyway, so doddling round the town, it was surprising how much stuff there was to doddle over (Well for a girl anyway). Reams and reams of trinkity shops, filled with scarfs, earrings, wind chimes and “hemp” everything, stereotypical hippies in their best dreadlocks chillin on the street and wise old men sitting staring into the sky.

I took the opportunity to get my palm read by one of the “wise” old men-$10 for one hand…sweet! It turned out to be complete bullshit really…he must have been watching too much Dawson’s Creek and just preceded to go through every stereotypical pop-psychology cliché he could think of…one clinker was when he seen John hovering around..(clear that we were together and travelling)…mystically stared at me as if having a mad epiphany and said “you and your boyfriend...mmm…yes I see strife…I see arguments and its usually about were to go?…what road you need to take? Am I right?” What? Oh so from my palm you can deduce that a couple travelling together are going to fight over directions? Mmmm this guy is so in tune with the mystical elements! I started to get hungry so I hurried him up and scarpered off to a café for some lunch with John. (And a fight over where to go.)

Oh one more thing before we leave Nimbin! When we were leaving we seen this bloody mental ensemble of “car, dog and woman”- (let me explain).

So we seen the car first…a convertible of some sort…white with loads of pink splashed round it and the inside totally decked out in pink and white leopard print..(bad enough) then on closer inspection a huge dog was sittin in the front seat (the big one from the Dulux adverts - people at home will know) And anyway the dog not only had a pigtail on top of his head but his hair had been dyed pink and white to perfectly match the car! Mental..aww I pissed myself… but the fun didn’t stop there..two seconds later, the owner came! Sweet lord above that women needs counsellin’ – she was decked out in head to toe white and pink leopard print aswell…matching not only her car but her huge dog aswell! Aww it was soo funny… (and slightly scary) Anyway, sorry maybe you had to be there..thats Nimbin anyway. Off to Byron Bay we go!

Why are Ozzy towns all called "Wooliewollegoolywoowoo"?!

jca — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 12:18:00 GMT

Woolgoolga

Reminding ourselves that we were past the half-way point in our Ambassador adventure, clocking up K’s now became our number one priority. We whizzed through Coffs Harbour, stopping only on my insistence and childish urge to take a photo of myself with the Big Banana! (A few months ago I’d snapped one with the Western Australia’s ‘Big Prawn’ and was going for the set.) After a quick ring around, we got a caravan park that was open past 6pm and our destination was set- Woolgoolga…or “wooliewolie wat?” to Deirdra. (See video) Lonely Planet Guidebook Experience: Solitary Marine Reserve at Woolgoolga point. The next day we headed for the local beach and the headland and were literally blown away by the views and the wind. In front of us waves thumped down and exploded on black weather beaten rocks, above us seagulls hovered motionless like puppets against the force of the wind and salt water spray slowly misted the lens of my camera. We sat there for about an hour, watching the massive waves. The sight was amazing. After we drove down to the small town and as all the locals seemed to be doing the same, we made a Barbie on the beach and took in the pleasant weather with a sausage and a beer. Next we headed for Byron Bay.

Ridin' the Sand Dunes- Melaleuca Style!

jca — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 12:16:00 GMT

So over the next few days we got the full run down on the cabins, dorms, camping and everything there was to do in the area: Whale & Dolphin watching, Wine tasting, Shark feeding, Quad Biking, Paragliding, Parasailing, 4x4 tours etc, etc …i.e. a lot.

2 minutes from the hostel was the attractively named One Mile Beach, however the following day we were to sample the awe inspiring Stockton Sand dunes- vast stretches of sprawling sand dunes stretching all the 35kms back to Newcastle.

Pete was proud to point out “These are the largest ‘moving’ sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere” as his rag top Land Rover bounced from pot hole to sandy hump, causing us to ‘ahhh’ and ‘whoop’ with anticipation …and fear. After a few seconds we lost sight of the coast and the civilised world, now somewhere over the sandy horizon, and we were surrounded by these immense dunes rolling like hills into the distance.

The Landy made it’s ascent in the tracks of another tour company’s vehicle. As we parked a large group of excited Asian tourists were disembarking and readying their cameras for their Sand-Boarding experience.

We stood at the top of a large dune. Before us sloped away a 70 foot drop and next to us Pete was furiously waxing “the fastest boards in Port Stephens”. We went for it, flying down these dunes on the wooden boards and furiously scrambling back up the hill to go down again.

Since the National Park authority took over the management of the dunes things had become a little stricter for the tour guides. In response Melaleuca had a new tour vehicle in the ‘shop, getting ready for the influx of summer Backpackers.”

Soon the rain that had woke us during the night returned, so we leaped off the dunes, and parked on the beach, waiting for it to pass. (Apparently New Years Eve is a great time to visit, when everyone comes to the beach and parties through the night with the dunes in the background.)

The next couple of days we hung around and checked out Nelson Bay and the surrounding area. We definitely discovered that this place has more to offer that you’d think and should be one of the key pit-stops for anyone travelling up the coast. Melaleuca Backpackers and its chilled out grounds are the perfect place to base if travelling or working- a great big kitchen, cosy tv/living area with squishy sofas and DVD collection to work through and in case of emergencies, Pete is sure to have a few spare crates of beer lying around! (The 4 owners are all friends who spent years travelling together when they were a bit younger- so if anyone knows how to make a good backpacker place, it’s these guys)

Having stocked up on internet time, cake and beer (in that order) it would have been great to hang around a little longer but unfortunately a couple of days of persistent showers signalled our need to move on (- we were running out of time!).

www.melaleucabackpackers.com.au

Port Stephens- East Coast Pit Stop

jca — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 12:14:00 GMT

Scouring round the guide books for somewhere to stay after leaving Newcastle late in the evening, Deidra pulled Melaleuca Backpackers out of the Lonely Planet, a camping ground and hostel in one and described fairly positively in the guide books. Not expecting anything out of the ordinary, we were blown away by the little haven we discovered when rumbling up to the little wood enclosure- and were so taken with its charm we ended up staying much longer than planned! You only have to read their little “comments” book lying in their lounge area to see that many other travellers have found this little place a perfect pit-stop aswell, many saying “now this was the Austrailia I was looking for” and “I came to escape the city for a few days and that’s exactly what I got…a pure escape”

Now it’s not particularly easy to find, you have to head (if coming from South) just past Anna Bay and follow signs for One Mile Beach, but when you do, be sure you’ll be rewarded.

Walking up a wood chip path from the parking area we saw a grassy knoll surrounded by stilt raised wooden cabins, decked walkways and tropical plants.

Following the instructions on a hand written welcome sign we approached the blue house, which doubled as the office.

Before we could even reach the door we were greeted with a warm and hearty “G’day” by Pete, one of the joint owners of Melaleuca, as he walked down his front porch to meet us.

Within seconds we were being taken on a spontaneous Koala hunt as Pete quickly familiarised us with the prominence of natural wonders in the immediate area.

After a tour of the facilities Pete spied our van and lucky for us he’d seen it before! Not as other Ambassador’s passed through, but at a Backpacker Expo, where it seems all the local tour operators and interested parties had gathered a year or so back with a surprising sense of community between them, as they concerted to do everything they could to make the area attractive to the likes of Deeds and me (i.e. budget stricken travellers). And that they did as we spent a few days finding out.....

And up the coast we go!

jca — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:12:00 GMT

So its Thursday morning and we wake up feeling quite unrefreshed and unrested after a chilly night in the van and aching bones from our rare bout of exercise on the mountains- but hey - we’re “real” campers now…yea. We’re the real deal- we’re tough as old boots now- camping out in the wilderness with no “facilities”- beat that Crocodile Dundee- I don’t see you risking your life for World Nomads now do I?

Anyway, enough bullshit, we’re on the road again and next stop on the map seems to be Newcastle- a little city which the lonely planet gave rave reviews for- i.e “Newcastle is easily worth a couple of days or more” or “what’s not to love” and “whatever you do don’t just pass through” yea whatever lonely planet! We did pass through… we didn’t stay a couple of days, never mind more and to be honest, there’s a lot not to love. Rumbling into the city in the van, it didn’t seem to bad and we headed straight for the main vantage point to get some views and see what the city was like from the 180 steps of “Queen’s Warf Tower”- the locals have nicknamed it the Giant Penis and for good reason- its shaped like one and it smells like one- the look out point at the top seemed pretty much like the drinking hangout for local kids- graffiti and cigarette butts and the plastic screen made for some great views over the industrial construction sites alond the coast. All in all I’d say Newcastle in England probably has more charm. (Eeeek I feel bad now!- Sorry Newcastle!)

Ok so we didn’t really give it a chance, maybe it was just that it was Winter, maybe it was just that it was late evening and nothing was happening, but whatever it was, I still nagged John to get us moving again up the coast- and I’m so glad I did. As what always seems to happen when you least expect it, you come upon the most charming little nuggets of gold, tucked away in a remote little area- Port Stephens was were we landed next and to the Melaluca Backpackers for some camping. Read on for more on this little gem of New South Wales….

Mountain Treking and Wilderness Camping....

jca — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:10:00 GMT

Anyway, the blue Mountains experience continued the next day with more walks and a trip on some cool mountain-rides in “Scenic world”- its this place that take you down into the valley in this mental train ride developed from the old mining days- it was basically a vertical drop and needless to say I probably wouldn’t have went on it had I actually read the damn information leaflet before- I’m such a scardy cat even on slow moving horizontal train rides never mind old rickety vertical drops! Anyway, as the hiking went on, more views continued to impress us and the valleys and mountains seemed to stretch even farther than we’d seen the day before- I wouldn’t be one for just gazing at things all day, but it really was mesmerizing. Getting quite brave at one point I decided to jump the fence at the edge of this cliff for a sneaky photo opportunity- my heart was pounding as I sat on that cliff edge hanging out over the valleys- safe enough if sober- but I was getting woozey just sitting there and hopped back over pretty quickly- just enough time for john to get a shot- see if you can spot it on the photies there.

Last night on the Blue Mountains- With funds running extremely low, that night we decided to re-think our camping arrangements- up until now we’ve either been spoiling ourselves with hostels or shelling out for campsites with electricity and hot water- sack that we thought and we pulled up at a roadside picnic spot outside the main Blue Mountains town of Katoomba- no toilets, pitch dark and not another soul in sight- eeeek! I have to admit I was slightly petrified- mostly due to the fact that I’d been reading a book about vicious murders happening to the most unaware people in strange situations. Johns making me stop that now. Good idea methinks. I knew he was scared too though- he does this thing like a guard dog- if he hears anything at all outside the van he cocks his head to one side and goes silent, looking around and peeping out the curtains- you can almost see his hears prick up like a dog- “wassat? Did you hear that? What is that? Eh eh?” Chicken.

Lonely Planet Guidebook Experience- Blue Mountains- Outside Sydney

jca — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:06:00 GMT

So it’s Tuesday Morning, and having spent about two full days recovering from John’s Birthday weekend, we eventually summoned the energy to pack up and leave Sydney after a great 10 days or so. It’s a city with so much to do and see and so many areas to be explored that you could well spend longer there- if deciding where to base yourself for a few months, the choice is huge between Bondi, Manly or the more inner city suburbs like Newtown- but wherever your based, you’ll never be far from chilled out beaches, or a hectic city lifestyle-whatever takes your fancy! Anyway, that’s my respects paid to good old Sydney, and so we’re off in wee campervan again, I love this bit! Getting into a civilised city is wicked when you’ve been in the wilderness for a while, but what’s even better is heading off into rural Australia again when you’ve had enough of the urban comforts. So our next port of call was the elusive Blue Mountains- an area I hadn’t heard much about until all the posters in Sydney Hostels raved about this “backpacker experience”. Not to be a cynic but I often think that all these heavily advertised “tours” will end up just being another tourist trap so we headed off thinking “sure we’ll have a wee peep yon hills then race up the coast some more before dark”- little did I know that the Blue Mountains would be some of the most magnificent sights I’ve seen so far and that we’d end up staying for two days. After punching in some random mountainous area into the GPS, we landed at an area called the Jamison Valley and after all the heavy drinking and eating out in Sydney we we’re all for a bit of a health kick- and so we donned our sexy hiking boots and headed for a “bushwalk” among the mountains! (Sounds more risky than it is- there were paths and whatnot-although we were heavily warned that “it is rugged country” and even the most experienced hikers have got lost or even died in their pursuit of the magnificent views) Anyway, dandering among the bushes and trees we were a bit sceptical for about 15 mins and John was doing his usual “it’s a bit shit innit?” routine, then all of a sudden an arrow pointing to a lookout area directed us to this mental, awe-inspiring view of vast mountains, stretching for miles into the distance with huge valleys sweeping down into the lush rainforests- in other words it was mental- like one of those scenes from lord of the rings when they do a big sweeping shot of the countryside etc. The walk only got better, crawling down into the valley, the paths got narrower and dare I say treacherous (that’s a bit exaggerated- but it was treacherous by my standards- i.e climbing up the hill at the back of my granny’s house in Donegal) Gradually waterfalls and towering sandstone cliffs appeared around us and I couldn’t help but sing the Indiana Jones theme tune the whole way down- I’m a twat I know, but It was so cool and breathtaking considering the day before I was lying in a dirty hostel in Bondi Beach listening to pigeons having a punch up against my window)

Dirty protest

jca — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:59:00 GMT

Sunday was a write off, a DVD day if ever there was one. By the time Monday came around I was starting to notice something about our $50 a night double room (the cheapest- not only in Bondi, but anywhere we’d seen). There was some kind of mark on the wall next to where you lay your head on the bed.
Was it a stain?
I’d already asked them to move us to another room the previous day because there were plasters and a pair of pink knickers down the side of the bed in our last room.
“-It can’t be a stain, it looks like dirt.”
…Oh my god. (Pigeons were constantly at our window ledge and the clip to allow the opening of this window, I’d noticed, had been broken off.)
The penny dropped.
It was bird sh*t. …Bird Sh*t! -BIRD SH*T … ON THE FRIGGIN WALL!
Not only that, there were other patches like this on the other walls.
I started to freak –the OCD kicked in and the tissues came out.
“..T -Th -This is a f***in bird nest cell; F***ing birds are sh*ting on my bed –What is this? – What’s going on? Am I in a pigeon version of the Maze…?”
Having rubbed away the one by Deirdra’s pillow I was told to calm the f*** down and relax. “What did I expect? –It’s a hostel.”
Not my view, but I was willing to accept Deirdra’s point.

Needless to say we stayed cos it suited our budget, but if you’re looking to be impressed, don’t be afraid to look for accommodation elsewhere.

Having done another couple of trips to Circular Quay and missed, for the successive time, the free ferry to the Sydney Biennale on Cockatoo Island, we felt we’d made our peace and were ready to leave.

As we threw our stuff back into the van; the sun was out, the surf was once again breaking on Bondi beach and a man in overalls was spraying the Hostel with poison (protection against cockroaches). …I didn’t bother to mention the black pants I found under our bed.

We said goodbye to Mike and Kat and took off for the much promoted -Blue Mountains.

Saturday 16th August

jca — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:58:00 GMT

The next day was my friend Mike’s birthday. We’d met in Perth months ago and it was the lad from Blackpool’s 23rd.
Handily he also was with his missus so the four of us headed for an Indian and night on the tiles. Having drunk our way through what little wine was in stock in the ‘restaurant’ we headed again for the debauchery that is Kings Cross.
Having drunk in former haunts of Heath Ledger, played pool by candle light and dodged a proposition by a very friendly Thai lady, we went clubbing.
This time the last port of call was notable for the murder scene and police cordon at the club next door. Anyway, by slip of fate some aussie mates of Mike that had tagged along, knew the club manager and free entry was granted to all.
Another good night –and after all the Jagerbombs and dancing …hangovers all round.

Friday 15th August 2008, Birthday

jca — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:56:00 GMT

I awoke in the single bed we’d been sharing and within seconds Deirdra had disappeared. A few minutes later she returned with a bottle of bubbly and a small dark, coconut rolled, cream filled, sponge, ‘Lamington’ cake on a plate.
For all you that don’t know, Lamingtons are such a celebrated cake in Australia that, as I was watching the breakfast TV a while back, I discovered they’ve even dedicated a day to the bloody things; National Lamington Day. –And it seems no one knows who, or where these beauties came from!

I got a couple of presents too, wrapped in the coolest wrapping paper (all old school toys on it). The first was the ‘also ran’ present, the one you get to bulk it out a bit; I’ve certainly done it, and so had Deeds. This time it was a pair of boogy-board size flippers –wicked! However –she hadn’t figured on my enormous plates of meat that would have difficulty getting into the Albert Hall, never mind a pair of kiddies flippers. –So great thought –and now Deeds has her own Flippers; ho-ray!

The second –awesome present was a cool black and white Quicksilver hoody I’d been trying on the other day, in one of the numerous surf-brand apparel shops that dot the Manly area. This wasn’t heap for the old girl and I was really surprised and happy. –She got a big kiss.
Anyway …schmaltz over.

After another mammoth drive to get my bag of tech, moving to Bondi Backpackers, and a further excursion to drop off our van to the guys at Travellers Auto Barn (a fridge that freezes beers is good to no-one,) we were set for an evening in town.
A few glasses of Champagne in Hyde Park led to a walk around and a few more beers. After German themed pubs, $3 drinks in Kings Cross, we headed for a place noted in Lonely Planet; the Douro (playing the annoyingly captivating Charlie and the Chocolate factory.) After Charlie had his ticket, and was well in there, we crossed town again and landed at a small red door with a cue outside. It was a club with the smileiest bouncer I’d seen all holiday.
“Alright? Mate!” I said.
“Yeah” says he, pointing to the group of scantily clad ladies he’d just put the club’s secret VIP mark on. “That was Miss Australia!”

Good enough for me …we climbed the stairs.

The place was called The Lounge and $17 bought us two drinks. Inside it was like an edition of Vice magazine. A fashion victim DJ was doing his best to blow the speakers and intermittently fading up and down the music as a group of skinny boys prepared their guitars for an evening of winking at models.
By the time we’d sunk our Rum and Cokes teenage girls were doing their best to lose their bras while maintaining their personal space in a civilized version of a mosh-pit/shockwaves ad.

Reminding ourselves we weren’t at home (i.e. earning money,) and the drinks were so expensive, we made for the bus and headed back to Bondi.

29.999999999999

jca — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:55:00 GMT

The next day we were in the mood for chilling.
It was around 2 before we managed to pull ourselves out of bed and head for the sea front, about 50 meters away, in search of some grease for breakfast.

After waiting for this what seemed like an eternity for this Indian guy to serve the egg and bacon rolls we ordered, we collapsed on the sand, using my (by now uniform,) Victoria Market hoody as a towel.

For the next couple of hours we took it in turns to head back to the van for supplies and moving it as parking restrictions demanded.
The sun was warm this day and the seaside atmosphere was a nice antidote to the hangover and buzzy little Newtown, the place we’d just left behind.
After the pain in my belly had finally abated I left Deirdra to wander the shops and headed for the Greyhound Freight depot on the other side of Sydney.
A few months ago, when I learned I’d won this camper trip, I got my mum to send a bundle of technology over to me, including the laptop I’m writing on now. The package had arrived in Sydney after I had to leave it at my former employer’s in Perth, due to its weight and the flights I needed to take in between.

Anyway, I thought traversing Sydney at 4 in the afternoon couldn’t be that hard, I was from London, –plus I had the added power of GPS!
Well, again, how wrong. That polite lady in the black box on my dashboard clearly lacks any local knowledge when it comes to ‘what road will be busy and when’. So after 30ks, one and a half hours, and a toll bridge, I stood there, knackered, at the door of a closed freight depot. It had turned 7 by the time I got back.

The next day I would have to return, and by then my Twenties would be over.

Back Again! -Missed us?

jca — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:51:00 GMT

Yet again I’m writing the blog cos Deirdra is either too lazy or too scared to write it –plus she’s kinda driving right now.

So –where were we …Considering it’s now the 21st of August and 4 weeks since we picked up the van. (I’m hurriedly trying to cobble together blog entries so as not to forgo on our commitment to/or conditions of, travelling in the van.

When we last left you we were chilling in the Billabong Gardens hostel, Newtown. (…not Billabong village, Glebe –as previously stated… just shows how much we know!)
Soon after we made friends with the girls and fella in our dorm …and promptly left. Manly was the area we were headed for (–on the Northern mouth of Sydney harbour) purely on the recommendation of Charlie Brown –my mate from back home.
Apparently when he was making his way through Australia, back in 1904 (i.e. when he was 19) it was a great spot. (I really don’t think I can keep making those ‘Charlie’s older then me’ jokes –seeing as I’m now over the hill of 30!)

Manly Backpackers
-Notable for the fact we managed to get a 4-bed dorm room to ourselves and they give you free toy Koalas on check-in.
We arrived in time to take advantage of bit of exploration and the free Wine (read goon,) and Cheese (read value cheddar,) night every Wednesday.
We’d been introduced to this at the Cooee back in Melbourne, and here it was a much more lowbrow and lively affair, which was good for getting to know our fellow inmates.
So things progressed and the supplied goon was dealt with.
A couple of guys were tempted into being guinea pigs in a bar trick proposed by an exuberant Canadian girl. They promptly had salt poured on their arms and ice cubes firmly pressed into them for what seemed like ages. The resultant dry ‘scar hole’ was impressive, in the kind of way that Sloth from The Goonies is.

After goon back-up had arrived and then been consumed a group of hostel’ites headed for the pub.
“Sweet, …Karaoke!” …Was what my brain was telling me …a result of the goon, and not my usual reaction.
|Within seconds Deeds and myself were on stage taking on Kanye at his own game. “Bo. Bo! Goldigga! –comin att-cha!”

It was a disgrace.
…One thing about doing drunk karaoke to rap is, you realise there’s a hell of a lot more words then you think! And mumbling on stage ain’t pretty!

So after my memory of the evening failed –Deirdra tells me I was too drunk and after someone else suggested similar, we had to leave.

Gallery: August 1- 12th

jca — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:48:00 GMT

Skining to Sydney

Saturday 9th August

jca — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:46:00 GMT

Having checked out Collaroy beach YHA, in an area that seemed dead, we decided to head to Glebe –in the north of the city. It was Saturday night and we wanted to go out.

Last night we arrived in the Billabong Village hostel. It’s actually warm in the rooms, which is class and the staff and location seem good. It looks like a kind of student area so there’s good pickings when It comes to cheap drinks and late night kebabs –both of which we indulged in last night.

After some late night see-saw action at the kids playground next door to the hostel –we rolled into our room. Last in –a pair of right muppets trying to retain some soberness in order to not wake up the other 4 people in our room. I doubt we succeeded.

This is the first place where we’ve booked in for 2 nights in a row- Deirdra is relieved as she can chill and the free Wifi is great for sorting out this thing.

On Friday I’ll be Thirty Years Old –AHHHHHHH. I know, I know, it’s over… it’s all over.

Well until then I’m checking out what’s on in town –so any recommendations –send em in. (yeah, like there’s anyone out there!?!@#*)

That’s us.

(This kitchen is getting cold now... gotta get north soon*)

Sydney; In: Thursday 7th August 2008

jca — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:38:00 GMT

As we drove in it became immediately apparent that this was a big city.

(Thought this could be attributed to the fact the GPS sent us round the houses in an effort to avoid any form of Toll road.)

We ‘rocked-up’ (Deeds hates me saying that,) at a place in Woolamaloo (spelt something like that). On the way the polite English woman from the GPS softly speaking directions at me seemed to get a bout of Alzheimer’s and sent me criss-crossing back streets and alleyways and "No Right Turns: in a f***ing maddening game of Satellite cat and mouse. After that and a few redbulls, I wasn’t in the mood for messing about and the hostel listed among the lonely planets bunch looked a bit skanky –so we moved on.

Much as I feel like a pussy saying it; the city was overwhelming us a little after our country retreats, so we headed for the beach in search of more relaxed surroundings.

Bondi YHA was our first port, a cool little hostel by the ocean- (Sounds tropical but again it was freezing!)

A few drinks from our classy "box" of wine soon warmed our cockles and we headed out in search of the "mad" bondi nightlife- but it was actually more like Portrush in the dead of winter! So Deeds went hell for leather on the gin and tonics and got pissed enough to entertain the both of us and even skank some free drinks from a the Bondi locals (probably the only other people out that night!)

The next day we moved to Noahs. The cheapest of the hostels around Bondi, and not in the Lonely Planet guide (It seems to me like the hostels in the lonely planet are able to charge more due to the popularity resulting from their listing.)

Deirdra was suffering this day and we didn’t do much. Come the next day: Saturday, the sun was out and all was well again.

We went for a great walk along the beach side pathway and soaked up the atmosphere of the apparently fitness mad area- seriously the place was swarmed with joggers, women running along with their "designer" dogs and dripping wet surfers running back into the ocean with their surfboards under-arm. Deeds started to feel the guilt about all the doughnuts I'd been feeding her and spent the whole time wailing "im sooo fat!!"

Having read the back story of Bondi Icebergs in the LP (so called because people swim in its freezing seaside pool even in winter,) the temptation to take a dip was proving a powerful force.

$4.50 was my entrance fee and $2 to have Deed at my side as support.

“It couldn’t be that bad” I thought –look at those old boys in there (some in wetsuits, some not). “If they can do it –I can.” -I’ll do 2 lengths –that’ll be enough to say I tackled it and put it in the diary. I’ll do it good and quick. Head down –freestyle –good and quick!

I stripped down to my bathers, stood on the edge of lane 1 (-the one where the waves were crashing over the wall and into the pool) –and dived.

“Oh my holly god, mother, jesus, fffffffffiiinn chriisssssss….”

It felt instantly tight around my stomach –I felt the chilblains protruding like aliens in the film, I felt a mad sense of shock –like I’d just woke to find my organs removed, and I was in the proverbial ‘bath of ice’.

“Head down –keep going”

I swam like f***. After my windpipe contracted and my lungs could no longer contain air –I broke into breast stroke.

I don’t know how I did the length back but I needed to keep moving or I’d die!

Sod swimming the channel!

I dried off and headed for sunlight. Job done.

Bondi was preparing for the City to Surf run to take place the next day and accommodation was drying up so we ate some lunch by the van and headed back into the city.

Canberra. In: 6th Out: 7th August 2008

jca — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:32:00 GMT

Well what can I say. I thought- it’s off the tourist trail really –everyone says don’t bother- so there must be something there everyone’s missing- right?

Well the caravan park was paved but pretty sh*te as far as facilities for us were concerned. I woke up feeling a bit hungover and generally tired. Deeds had got an early night and I sat reading and drinking beers and stuff.

After hunting around for somewhere to change Deed’s traveller’s cheques –we walked the mall that made up the city centre.. really..that was it..a mall!

–The Verdict: Driving through a place that looked much like Stevenage wasn’t my idea of a dream, and after little success with the travellers cheeques my resoluteness to seek out the good in this town was as low as our fuel gauge.

In a snap decision- I abandoned all ideas of seeing the Old/New Parliament, Museum of Australia, and National Gallery; in favour of a box of cheap doughnuts, a tank full of gas, a couple of ‘V’ (redbull style) drinks and another 300ks on the GPS.

It was 3pm and we were off to Sydney.

Well –that was the plan…

jca — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:18:00 GMT

–Turns out it was easier to stop midway at Albury and recoup, ‘cos it was getting late and we were knackered.

Boat Haven Caravanpark –Albury. In: 5^th August

What a cool caravan park. We pulled in having called them out of hours –they let us in to this little oasis in the middle of nowhere and we got a great nights sleep.

The next morning we awoke to beautiful warm sun pouring in through the graphics covered windows. This place had everything you could want-tennis court, volleyball, games room, massive kitchen BBQ area, toilets with doors -and heaters! All I can say is if you’re vaning it and you need a place to stay during the summer- check it out!

Lonely Planet Guidebook Experience: Skiing in Mount Buller 3rd, 4th & 5th August 2008

jca — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:15:00 GMT

Blip Blip went the GPS and a total of 292kms was laid out in front of us.

(That ladies voice has been a godsend but later in CBD Sydney our relationship would turn sour.)

Another tank of gas and we were off.

Victoria has been surprisingly green and now we were gonna see another side to this country –it’s Ski resorts.

Everyone we’ve spoken to had said that it’s been a great season for snow –but in the back of my head I REMAINED SCEPTICAL ABOUT HOW IT WOULD COMPARE TO –SOMEWHERE LIKE THE ALPS.

When we arriveds it was dark. Signs warned us of the need to carry snow chains so we parked up at an appartent toll gate and approached on foot. $32 bucks it would cost us to drive up the mountain and indeed we would ned chains. There was no camping on the hill itself so it was a 30k journey back to Mansfield for the most budget of budget accommodation.

We scoped out the cost of ski and jacket/pants hire and prepped ourselves for an early night and an early eager start: returning to the hire shop at 7am.

So the next day two dirty plates stained with curry sat in the wash basin and the only thing we were doing was hitting the snooze button –repeatedly.

The air outside our duvet was unwelcomin to say the least and the thought of getting up before daylight wasn’t entertained.

By 10am we were fully stocked with snow chains, boots, hats, glove, pants- you get the drill.

The accent in 3^rd gear was great –The Prodigy boosted our spirits and awoke the adrenaline junky in us. Ski pass in hand we took the chairlift from the day car park straight to the peist!

At this point Deirdra shat herself –she didn’t tell me she was a woose when it came to heights and the massive drop bellow and accent into the clouds proved a little daunting for her. Bless. She was actually cool and we were both buzzing at what we were about to do.

Up there (about 6000 feet up) it was cold. Cloud had covered the peak and visability was about 30m at times. This made the whole thing kinda eerie. –Like being in heaven –with the central heating on the blink.

We started off slow and Deeds revealed a love of nipping in and out of trees and finding random jumps to tackle all over the place. I on the other hand was more about speed and we combined these two to make an interesting morning of messing about and finding our feet.

Come lunchtime we chomped sarnies in the village square (all 10 square feet of it) and then warmed up in a ski-wear shop (see: silly hats in the photo section at the end of the video).

That day we were the last people on the chairlift back down.

The next day we got up earlier. The sun was blazing. The ice was falling from the Cellphone towers and the snow was just as great.

Now we could really appreciate the beauty of the place and –we were blown away.

We went full throttle onto our favourite blue runs and tested all the rest before I jumped on a black mogul slope and left it knackered.

At lunch we sank a couple of beers and took some great photos. –We wanted to get all we could out of the skiing and all in all we definitely did.

We drove down the mountain that night exhilarated and munching on beef, cheese and onion pies. Next stop Canberra, on our way to Sydney!

Recouped at the Cooee

jca — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:07:00 GMT

So we awoke to the sound of trams cluttering by in the morning and made our way over to the ‘Cooee’ for a couple of hung-over days chillin on their sofas and drinking lots of tea. It became our mission to see the new BATMAN film, (the second time for me,) and they were showing it at the Imax –which sounded great. However, somehow we managed to miss the screenings three times in a row- once because we were late getting to the cinema, once because we ‘snoozed’ in the van a little too long and missed the next showing, and then the next day because the bloody thing was full of soding tourists/kids and was totally sold out! Eventually Deeds ‘Dark Knight’ dream came true (in 35mm) and the moping stopped, then we went on to meet Siobhan for a drink in the trendy and expensive Fitzroy area of the city. Sunday came and the plan was to head.

Melbourne Pit Stop

jca — Fri, 8 Aug 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Pushing that little Toyota lump to the its limits we arrived in Melbourne to a relatively mild Thursday evening.

Having attempted to check into The Cooee on St Kilda -a nice relaxed hostel one of my old friends 'Shobian, Perth' (-spelt as it appears in my phone -and not actually her name,) was staying at. However we were scuppered by a computer problem at the front desk, and computer problems of our own; namely having to upload this bloody blog thing- meant we headed off in search of the local Global Gossip (proud sponsor).

By turn of chance this was round the corner in the Melbourne Base backpackers -a mental red silicone box plonked on the side of a St Kilda road and full of potential alcohol poisoning victims.

The draw of the free champagne after 8pm on Thursday's Ladies Night' prooved too much for Deidra and within minutes (and a quick glass of Sauv Blanc,) a plan had been hatched to do our wrting/uploading -while getting tanked on the $4.50 pints and to sleep in the van at the side of the road -having danced our asses off with the chavettes and chavees (me included -'chingford massive, big up'!)!

The catch phrase of the Holiday has been confirmed -after it's quintessential use on this night when deciding where to sleep: "Ah, F*** it, ....It'll Be Alright!"

no photos of this but good night

You're as Cold as Ice - Willing to Sacrifice

jca — Fri, 8 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Ok so last time we left you we were exploring the Great Ocean Road.

As a note- we went on and saw Cape Otway Lighthouse, stayed in tiny Princetown and visited the beautiful Twelve Apostles... a nice little religious touch for the Irish contingent out there. -Great spot for a pic or two.

On the way down we spent our first night in the van, sleeping in a caravan park in Apollo Bay. It became immediately clear that the wafer thin sleeping bags provided with the van were not up to the southern Australian winter. Lads, you'll know what i mean when i say; I could feel myself shrinking! -shiver by shiver (not good).

Little did we know that when it came to spending nights in the van, this was just the tip of a very cold iceberg.

The next day we stopped at Australia's answer to Primark; Target. WE grabbed the biggest thickest duvet we could lay our mits on and some thermals cos it was back to Melbourne for us before we headed for the Mountains!