Well hello there... so it's now the 11th Jan, just killing time before catching the bus to Surfer's Paradise at 1! Feeling very jaded after a messy few days here! So what a week it's been, left Dale's house in Gosford on the 3rd, all packed up, surf boards camping gear and 5 of us in his car, the roadtrip was underway! So we had to make our way to Byron Bay by the 8th where we had a cabin booked! Dale had a rough plan of where we were going to stop of and stay!

Day 1

First stop 'the big tree... the boys took us to Myall Lakes National Park to see what was named the "Grandis" basically a huge tree, with having slept in the car after an early start we were lacking in enthusiasm a little! After another lil snooze we headed to Seal Rocks beach, full of tourists and lots of little surfer dudes! Time was getting on so we checked out the map and decided to spend out 1st night in Port Macquarie, and yes after checking out a few motels the lads won and we ended up in a campsite! Very amusing but Claire and I manage to erect our tent into some shape or form but it was standing! Headed for the pub as was starving and for a well earned beer! The pubs are very strange over here in the small coastal towns, sort of like working mens clubs, with a bookies and a bistro attached but suprisngly very good food! Obviously didn't have enough wine as had a rubbish nights sleep on our airbeds!

Day 2

Early morning swim in the pool (no im not kidding u) whilst the men packed up the wet tents! As was very overcast decided to give the beach a miss and pursuaded the guys to wait till later to surf! Headed straight up the coast stopped at lighthouse beach for the 'view' but it rained all day! Rubbish! Stopped at a internet cafe to book some accomadation in Coffs harbour as decided to just keep driving with the bad weather, so a 6 hours drive, finally arrived with numb bums all round, rang accomadatiopn to find it, turned out Russ had booked it in a small town called Woolgoolga, and yes it was as lame as his name, but a motel room next to a pub what more do u need! Ian met us there and the 6 of us piled into a triple room!

Day 3

Headed to Coffs Harbour, boys were eager to surf after having not yet, so we hit the shops as the weather was still naf as didnt fancy learning in the rain! Chilled in the bar,had a few drinks until a miss trunchball style lookalike security woman told us off for playing matchbox game, said we would be thrown out, they are so strict out here in small towns, u can only order 4 drinks per person and only order single drinks! So with out fun spoiled decided to go ten pin bowling!

Day 4

With weather warnings everywhere and the news that 2 cyclones were travelling down the coast, we were the happiest, roadtrip plans had to change couldnt reach the places Dale had planned to take us so basciallt just had to drive until we could find somewhere to stay where we weren't going to get trapped with the floods! Made it to Dale's mates pub in another coastal town called Woodburn but were told the river was going to burst and we'd be trapped so kept going! Made it to Evanshead, found a minging pub with a few rooms, Claire Ian and I played cards while the other slept to keep us out of the bar! Grabbed some food and a few drinks and prayed for sun!!!!

Day 5

Dale's birthday and yes SUN at last!! Smile's all round, headed to Lennox head beach (apparantly a good surf spot!) Subathed whilst watching lads surf, only problem was all the rivers bursating and floods meant water was filfthy and it was really rocky, really didnt appeal to me to get in so I wussed out and worked on my tan, whilst Steph started on her sunburn, think she's dont quiet well to gothis long without one, he legs and bum were likea lobster! Claire had a go at surfing after being carrying passed the waves and rocks, she managed to get on her knees but not quiet her feet yet, we need to work on out press up apparantly, meaning we need to be able 2 do 1!! :-) Made an executive decision to head up to Byron and see if we could get in out cabin a day early as we were fed up of moving on! Result arrived and upgraded to a deluxe cabin! Dragged Ian to supermarket stocked up for out 4 nights there! Us girls cooked a meal for the guys, then we totally chilled on our verander until early ours, paradise had arrived!! :-)

Day 6

Early start, Claire and I headed to the beach with the boys for our surf lesson,but heavens opened! :( determined not to let it spoil us and we were all in party mood, beer oclock came early about 1pm (oops), Ian shared his stories of his travels as he's been travelling for past 3 or so years, definately got the travel bug now! Had an immense game of bums, then headed to town about 10, claire want feeling to good so decided to save herself for tomorrow!! Awesome acoustic guy in a bar, then payed $10 to get in the smallest club in the worls but muchos fun, danced the night away till early hours!

Day 7

A little bit of a headache, boys went for a surf to fight there hangovers, we went to town to plan the rest of our trip! About 3 hours later it was sorted all the way to cairns, accomadation and tours...so excited!!! Hare of the dog to celebrate, had a bbq, ready for big night out in cheeky monkeys, bar with tables designed to dance on!! They serve sambuca on ice through a straw, as if its not nasty enough! Sang and danced the night away, much fun!!!

Day 8

Very hungover, painfully came back to travel agents to pay for trip and finalise bus passes etc, took ages! A few more erans, including Steph getting a tatoo done (see pics!) then all needing a quite night, headed back to cabin, Steph stupidly opened a beer, and here we go again!! Everything was hilarious for some reason, Sensibly sent Claire for more beer as she hadnt had a drink yet, random police breathalising and yes she got stopped, trmbling speaking to a nice police man she was fine obviously! Night of games, somehow fridge was empty again so got a taxi to offlicense and u can put the rest together yourselves I think!

Day 9

Desperatly needing to dettox and a painfully 8am alarm to clean the cabin and pack...urgh!! A team effort, we made it, the guys dropped us in town and we said our emotional fairwells as we parted!

There we go, apolagies if babbled but brains not kicked into gear yet ....think u get the jist though! Ready for part 2 to the Gold Coast now, 2 nights in Surfers Paradise then to Brisbane for 3 nights! Lets hope the sun comes our way!! Bye for now!! x x