Definately an adventure,? Fraser Island self-drive and camping safari? is the most adventurous thing so far. Mainly because our driver had gone from not driving a manual car for over 9 years to driving a 11 seater 4.2 litre engined, very manual 4WD with a dodgy 3rd gear.

It began with the hire car people having to drive us onto the ferry because we stalled and stalled and stalled. So, when we got to the island, we 'bunny hopped' and bumped up the ramp so much that chika and manika (team Japan, neither spoke any English) began roling and screeching around the miniscule floor at the back- causing tears of laughter from everyone in the back (poor Joe missed out in the front, however he was present for the worst stall, that I will tell you about later!).

The first day involved teaching Nick- our driver- to drive (he wasn't a fast learner!), going to a beautiful lake called lake basin and finding the place to camp. Poor Nick had 7 backstreet drivers who would usually all be shouting at the same time (change gear!? slow down! keep going! But most of all, Clutch! Clutch! Clutch!- which hence became his nickname).

The main bit of driving occured on the beach; complete with interchanging soft sand to hard and many, many, creeks! Really quite scary, especially when your driver insists on going 8okm the whole way!!

However, we made it to the campsite entrance in one piece and then spent an hour and a half getting stuck in the sand (at this point four people attempted to drive the car- don''t tell the hire company!). I (D) was head shoveller- v.important!

The next day after nick nearly over turned the car crossing a creek and sharp turning at the same time as accelerating vicously, we managed to calm down paddling down Eli Creek and going to see the Maheno Shipwreck (it was sooo big!). We then went up to Indian head - a high headland that looks over the shallow waters of the coast and the dunes. It was beautiful and very sunny, we saw a couple of turtles, manta rays (even though it was just looking at shadows in the water :-( ) and a shark. (we weren't allowed in the sea as it was a hot spot for shark breeding and box jelly fish- that can kill you in 3 minutes!).

That night our camping ground was crowded with a mobile fishing village, of men, in trucks! All very funny Australian blokes, one called patch/smurf joined in with our drinking games and was a lot better than us, he gave all of the guys nicknames; of which Joe's was 'Springhead'. Poor old Joe had slightly too much to drink....as we found out at 4 in the morning! However, we managed to get up at 7 (greatly helped by a crow outside our tent screeching). We then had a gruelling, bouncy, back breaking drive to Lake Mackensize, though it was worth it! It was really clear- I didn't go in though, apparently there were water snakes in it!

We saw loads of Dingoes over there too, however we were told not to approach them as they attack a lot; (yors- our dutch friend opened his tent in the night to see one standing right in front of him and rapidly shut the tent!). We also saw a kookaburra bird!

Anyhow, we had all relaxed as nick was getting better, remembering to put his clutch down, foot of the accelerator. etc. This all changed at the Mainland after the ferry though (a case of nerves I think). It began with stalling and while trying to get a gear nearly driving into the bushes (kerb! kerb! Kerb! BSD's) . However , we recovered until going up a big hill, trying to change down a gear adn ending up nearly rolling back into the our other groups car behind! Laura, luckily in the front grabbed the handbrake and did the gears for him! we then shot off at such a speed that not only the Japanese girls, but everyone, fell backwards and we had our first casualty (a bloody elbow). After this most of us either were so tense that we were shouting orders out more than usual, or hiding behind towels- it was that scary!

It wouldn't have been as fun without 'Clutch's' driving but we were all thanking God as we left the car for the last time. Cor, not again!

Anyhow, we are not in Noosa and wondering what to do down here. Something a bit more laid back.

I hope everyone is having fun at home, that matt is revising, and reveryone else with exams and that you are all well. Miss you all.

P.s. Joe's camara ran out f battery so our fraser Island pics will be on facebook from a friend. And, yors promises that the film footage of the big hill stall will be on the internet soon! x x

All was well and relaxed with Nicks driving until we reached