Hey up, I'm back in sunny Cairns now. Our road trip was loads of fun. We had a really posh caravan, play station, flat screen TV, toilet shower etc. Nothing like backpacking hey!!! It was s good 5 days, saw loads of the country. Stopped at a thermal spa which was like jumping into a big bath. Stayed at some smashing little places and drank lots of beer. We did have a bit of bother tho on day 5, when we broke 2 windows and got stuck on a picnic shelter. (See photos) Us 5 girls had to lift the van, it was all very negative. We stopped at a cool little outback pub called Daly waters; it's a place where everyone leaves something, bras knickers whatever. I just left a mug shot of myself and placed it next to a boro badge which I discovered. Us boro get everywhere, I keep meeting people from Teesside im surprised there's anyone left at home. We also went to a Billabong sanctuary in Townsville. Well some of you may find it difficult to believe so I took pictures as evidence. I held a koala, crocodile, snake and fed a kangaroo. I tell you im am getting quite the animal type aint I?, may start dog walking or something when I get home. So when we got to Cairns we started planning the next leg of the trip and got out on the barrier reef as soon as we could. We did two days on the reef and stayed one night aboard the kangaroo explorer. The journey out was a bit rough but the tablets did the trick. Vanessa got to do 6 dives and I snorkeled. I did try to do an introductory dive but I couldn't equalize so I could do it...didn't want my ear to burst or anything. The snorkeling was great to though. I even got to see a turtle and a shark. The visibility was good so I saw loads of fisheys. A smashing few days. When we returned to Cairns we met up with Cousin Sue and the girls. We went for a lovely Italian as it Michelle and Sarah's 14th birthday. Got a few days left in Cairns before we head down to Airlie beach to meet Vanessa's mates and sail around the Whit Sundays. Should be good! xxxx