Race for Life . . . link here

Hey everyone,

Myself and a few friends are taking part in the Race for Life, which helps raise money for Cancer Research.

We'll do all the hard work and race around the track, and all you have to do is donate a few spare quid to a good cause that effects thousands of people.

Click on this link and hit sponsor me now :

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/give-me-money

We have a set target to reach so all donations are more than welcome.

Kings Canyon & Uluru, Ayers Rock

Scooter, our guide warned us that part of the rim walk around Kings Canyon was pretty hard going, especially at the beginning, climbing a load of rocky steps to get up there. They've fondly nicknamed this part of the climb as 'heart attack hill' and after a few 100m's I could se why. We also had the pleasure of doing this walk at midday just to contens with the baking heat too.

The views from around are amazing though, and Scooter tried to explain some of the Aboriginal facts but no one is actually allowed to know much as everyting is very sacred to them.

We had been to an Aboriginal evening the night before (and took part in the Emu dance, fun fun!!) and were told how you can end up with a spear in your thigh as a severe punishment, and how they use boomerangs to knock animals legs from under them and wait for them to die, not as an alternative to a frisbee after all!!!

He also pointed out a few plants that were used for medication and hallucinagenics!!!!

We got to an area where he started to tell us to look out for pygmy koala's. We all thought these would be so cute so we were looking around and Scooter managed to spot 2 in a tree. We all looked up and a few people spotted them and started to take pictures. I couldn't see them for a while but when I did finally spot one lower down I noticed it had a wooly jumper on. They'd only gone and stuck toys in the trees to amuse themselves and to laugh at dumb tourists!!!

In the evening we headed out to watch the sun set over Uluru and the Olga moutains.

We camped out in swags under the stars, paranoid about dingo's coming to get us, and got up at 4:30am to go to Uluru and do a base walk as the sun was rising. I was knackered!!! I walked round looking at all the sacred sights and watching the rock change colour and become an amazing burnt red. It was stunning.

Quick fact : Uluru isn't actually a red rock, its white but the red comes from rust.

I got some wicked pictures of a point that looks like a whales mouth too.

The story goes that 2 brothers built the rock from sand. One brother scratched one side as he climbed own and it is rough with lines down it. The other brother slid down on his bum so that side is smooth.

I didn't climb the rock as the Aboriginals consider it sacred and ask you not too (plus it was 6am, pitch black and steep as anything!)
I also got a picture from above the rock as we flew over to Perth and it's a completely different shape to what you'd imagine.

Alice Springs Reptile Centre

We only had limited time at Alice Springs so we headed to the Royal Flying Doctors Service for a quick nosey, not much going on though, and then to the reptile centre and managed to time that just as they were playing with the animals.

We held a dragon lizard, pinecone/sleepy/about 10 other names lizard, a blue tongue lizard and a 10kg olive python.

It was pretty crazy but there were only about 5 of us there so it was a really relaxed atmosphere and not scary at all. The animals all felt really cold too which is a bit wierd.

This is the one and only place we managed to see a green frog too and typically it was all squished up the side of a tank and not looking pretty.

The thorny lizards were really cute and tiny but we couldn't touch them.

Whitewater Rafting on the Tully

I've heard so much about this that there was no way I could miss out.

The guide on the bus was so funny, telling us to make sure we don't get nose oysters while on camera, keep your legs closed while floating down stream incase of hidden rocks, if you fall out and get slapped in the face by a rope don't get annoyed and throw it back as they're there to rescue you, etc etc.

They took our photo's at various sections along the way, usually at points where they thought we'd fall out but my group managed to hold on tight unlike some others.

One of the girls in my boat was actually a non swimmer, which is crazy, and as we were all trying to soak each other in oher boats, one of the guys thought it would be funny to grab this poor girl from behind and dunk her in! She didn't look too happy!!! heehee!

After lunch we switched up so I managed to get a go at the front where it was much bumpier and fun. The poor kid beside me fell on to me at one point and almost knocked us both out!

We went over a water fall all linked together in a circle, seated at the back of the raft , and as we went over the guide let go of us so we all went flying backwards out of the raft.

It was heaps of fun and nowhere near as scary as I initially thought once you were comfortable with what you were doing.

Go Go Gonzo!!! . . . . .photo link here .....

As part of our tour to Cape Trib we decided to add an activity and the only one we hadn't done was horse trekking.

I've never been on a horse before, and have the opinion that if they can paralyze Superman they're pretty damn powerful and should be treated with caution!
We'd heard about a horse called Gonzo who was for beginners, really slow, always at the back of the line, but a real character . . . some how I just knew this was going to be my horse.

I watched the girls bringing the horses out and saw one of them literally being dragged out, and out came a little brown horse with short legs and a big attitude. The legend that is Gonzo.

The guide told us not to let the horse eat grass, show them whose in charge from the beginning and hopefully you won't have any troubles. So, I jumped on the milk crate (coz I'm short as well) and sat on Gonzo, who immediately put his head down and chewed on the grass, typical. Next thing a huge horse behind me does something to Gonzo which made him jump and shoot off. Luckily there was a fence right infront of us so he couldn't go anywhere, but oh my god!!!! 10 seconds of being on a horse and that happens! My heart was in my mouth!!!!

Gonzo's best mate in the whle world is Popeye, and wherever he goes Gonzo goes, and if Popeye goes out without him Gonzo cries and sulks until he returns. Today was Gonzo's lucky day, another beginner was out so we could follow Popeye all morning.

We set off for a little walk, me and Gonzo at the back of course and I though 'ahh, this is so easy, actually nice and relaxing too just strolling through the fields. We were a little slow but nevermind I could deal with it. As we headed into the rainforest Gonzo decided to do a quick right and took me right into the trees. the guides were screaming at him and I just sat helpless just laughing and trying to make him turn back. Little ratbag!

As we got deeper into the rainforest there were branches and stones along the muddy pathway and for some reason every tiny little thing Gonzo tripped over so I had to pretty much steer him around every little bump! It was pretty damn scary as we crossed a stream, tripping over all the stones. At one point I wanted to get off and give him a piggy back across so he wouldn't fall and kill the both of us!!!

Finally we hit the beach which was georgeous and I saw a few stingray along the shore line. George told me to give Gonzo a big kick in the ribs as he was starting to dawdle so i did a few times, and we just about caught up. We stopped for a few snaps and headed back along the beach. I started to get a little too confident with the old kick in the ribs at this point, and I'm not really sure wha happened, maybe I booted him a little too hard but the next thing he decided to gallop after the other horses. I absolutley crapped myself!!!! I grabed his reigns and almost yanked his head off screaming Woah woah! Well thats what I've seen em do on TV! didn't really want to kick him again after that, especially as there were a few low branchs that I might have ended up dangling off!!!

The girls then showed us positions to get ourselves into to trot and canter, which to me now means run and run faster! So while they gave the demo Gonzo decided to turn his back and go for a pee! I could hardly see the demo so wasn't that conident on what I was meant to be doing, but how hard can it be to ride a horse . . . . . .

Anyways, she handed me a 'go go Gonzo' stick to smack him with and make him run faster. We got in position???!! . . and when she called we would give the horses a uge kick! :-/ and we would all trot which means a nice gentle jog that looks easy!

So . . 1, 2, 3 off we went . . .OH MY GOD!!!! I've never held on to anything as tight in all my life! Gonzo from somewhere had this incredibe spurt and we ended up by Helen and Yogi. We just looked at each other, jaws dropped in fear and is belief. Then of course came the fits of laughter. I had gripped my stick so tightly too that it had snapped so i had to get another.

'This time we're going to canter. Give the horse a big kick like you mean it, egg them on, giddy up, yah yah and all that'

They told me that so long as I had my heels down and legs straight I wouldn't fall of so . . . of course you have to lean slightly forward to kick backwards and bend your knees to kick . . and the horse knows whats coming anyways as they do this every day . . so, 1, 2, went to kick . . . but Gonzo is off already. I hung on for dear life (again) trying to lean back and point my heels down and Gonzo was flying, trying to overtake and all that again. Sod the Gonzo stick I just let it go so I could grab hold tighter as I boinged away in the seat! I have to admit its one of the scariest things I've done ever!!!

We had a few more go's which were just as scary and came to a creek for a swim, minus the horse!

I jumped off Gonzo and my legs were like jelly. It was so funny. We jumped in the creek to cool off.

'. . . Right, lets do some more cantering and we have a nice long stretch to get home' Great, not quite sure how I felt about that.

So, I jumped on Gonzo, without the crate, which was a lot easier than i thought and off we went for more cantering, YEEHAA!!

The first time was a nightmare, the second was almost a disaster!!!

We walked along and I saw a branch on the ground infront of us and I just knew what was coming. . . . 1, 2, 3, off we shot just as Gonzo tripped over the damn branch. He almost landed in a heap but somehow he managed to find his feet and I've never been so relieved in all my life. I thought I was about to get a broken leg for sure!!!

The final canter started just as Gonzo was grabbing some grass so he almost choked, typical male grabbing all the food he can.

I was so relieved to get off the horse. I'm not sure I'll ever do it again as its not really my thing but certainly was up there with the fear factor!!!

Cape Tribulation . . . .

. . . where the rainforest meets the beach. This place is beautiful. Big lush trees that date back millions of years. Its older than dinosaurs and still blooming.

This is the highest point we travelled to in Austarlia and the further up you got the hotter and more humid it gets. Its kinda like when you're at Kew Gardens or somewhere and you visit the rainforest greenhouse, you normally wander round quickly and get out before you boil to death and your hair frizzes.

We had a really funny coach driver from Bolton (good old northern boy) who took us around and showed us some lovely beaches and dropped us of for a crocodile cruise. It was a bit hot for the crocs at the time though but luckily we managed to spot one lurking through some trees.

In the evening we decided to go for a night walk through the rainforest to spot all the creepy crawlies as ya do! We saw heaps of frogs, spiders (of course, although no touching this time), lizards, a snake, massive crickets, bats, lime ants again (so had another lick on their butts) and a few little birds asleep under leaves, and a MASSIVE centipede.

There was only a small group of us so it was really personal and the uide was really good. He taugt us how to hold te torch so that you can see all the beady little eyes looking out at us.

It was a bit freaky walking around in the middle of the night so I walked with my torch pointing up most of the time watching for the spiders dangling down, bungying from the tree's in front (and probably above) us. I guess Dave didn't cure my fear in Oz after all!!!!

We got eaten alive by midgies too so when it came to going to bed I kept thinking about spiders, and I was itchy so it was the craziest nights sleep I've ever had, twitching and whacking my head to get the bugs of like I have torretts!

Whitsundays Adventure

Time to catch up on lots of tales I guess so I'll start with the Whitsundays . . . . they are beautiful islands just off Airlie Beachand they have heaps of Cumbrian names such as Whitehaven Beach, Brampton Island, Wigton Island. Its like a mini Cumbria but a 1000 times nicer!!!!
We headed off on the British Defender for 3 days of sailing. The majority of our boat were Irish so we were guaranteed a booze cruise too!!!
We helped to put up the sails and found a great place to snorkel in our stinger suits. Tested out the old water proof camera too (as some of you have since found out!)
We spent one afternoon on Whitehaven Beach, where the sand is so soft and cool its like flour. There are heaps of stingray here too, in groups of about 30, swimming along the edge of the beach so everyone was very hesitant to go in . I also spotted a sand shark in the shallow waters too but I wasn't scared . . . . especially as it was only about 50cm long!!!
We also found a different location to snorkel which was amazing. They told us that there was a big fish there named Elvis and when I saw him he was huge!!!! about a metre long with massive fat lips and he followed the boat everywhere it went.
I was in the water when the second boat load of snokellers came out and I heard loads of screaming and thought maybe somone wasn't warned about Elvis, but no, it was other people who had brought bread and throwing it in around the snorkellers so the fish were going crazy in their hundreds! It was hilarious, so I got myself right in there, with all the fish swimming into me. It was great just like being in a fish tank.
Some of the time on the boat it absolutely poured down too, but gotta remember I was in tropical paradise so a few of us decided to just stay out on the top deck in our bikini's and brave it. I'm pleased we did too as we saw 3 huge turtles and some jellyfish. Well worth freezing for an hour for!!!

. . .home time . . .

I can't believe it, but I fly tonight back to sunny England!!!

I've had such a good time and am really looking forward to seeing everyone, and I can add the final stories to my blog!!!!

SEE YOU ALL WITHIN THE WEEK!!!!