Wow, what a day - Left the hostel at Hobart at 10am yesterday walked to the bus terminal a few hundred yards on the same street and got rid of the rucksack in the luggage store.  Wondered what to do with myself for 5 hours as Hobart was shut (just for a change) - walked back towards the town centre, and as luck would have it, past the cinema.  I had been there on Wednesday night as saw Hot Fuzz (very good recommend it) the film that was just about to start at 10.30 was Becoming Jane which I wanted to see but was only able to see previously on what they call a gold card ticket, which would have cost twice as much as all the others because you can sit in armchairs and also pay an awful lot to drink a glass of wine whilst you watch.  So due to the schedule change I went and saw the film at the normal price and passed 2+ hours and all worked out quite well.  Eventually got the bus to the ferry (4 hour bus ride) and boarded the ferry for the 9pm sailing.

I treated myself to a business class seat (sounds posh but it was about 20 pounds more than an uncomfortable cruise seat and much less than a cabin) and surprisingly had a decent nights sleep during the crossing.

Arrived at Melbourne at 7am ..............  Then on to Sydney

I arrived in Sydney 14 hours ahead of schedule because having just missed a bus at Melbourne (the timetable is crap) I saw that a different company was about to leave so jumped on that one. It cost me an extra $69 (AUD) but saved me sitting around in Melbourne for 14 hours. The 12 hour travelling time went surprisingly quickly and we arrive in Sydney Central at 7.15pm. Once again not having a clue where I was, I went into the bus office and asked them which direction I should be walking in. She was very helpful, and casually said just go upstairs and get the train to Kings Cross from platform 24. She obviously didn't sense my inter terror at the thought of finding my way no only upstairs but onto a train AS WELL. Got there, found platform 24 and managed to catch the right train (easy when you know how) At the second stop two Aussies (Brian and Dennis) got on (who were of advancing years like myself) who were extremely funny, they had been to the races and they had had a couple or four to drink but were sensible. They got talking to me re the rucksack and where I had been and was going etc. They were going to a pub in Kings Cross so decided that they were going to show me where the hostel was (although they wern't quite sure themselves!) We got off at Kings Cross and off to Brougham St - it's a very long road. Had I turned right out of the station and walked a couple of hundred yards around the corner I would have been there! We walked round in a big circle till we got to the hostel via lots of steps down and a steep hill up! to find the hostel was literally next door to the pub they were going to. They went in the pub and I checked in and then went of to buy them a beer for their trouble. Dennis had disappeared by the time I got there but I had a couple of beers and stayed for a while. Watched some rugby (I think I was told it was Union or was it league? it was different to the other one that I have been forced to watch (Les)) - Ummm it seemed a bit more lively, with no throwing in from the side???? After than there was a singer who was good - mostly country, Johnny Cash, John Denver etc. Then I went to get something to eat - so far so good here in Sydney, back in the land of the very much living, and Brian and Dennis were a good laugh bit like a double act and similar to the blokes on the balcony in the muppetts....