BootsnAll Travel Blogs

South East Asia!
After a few chats and some info grabbing from Stu Meikle, I booked flights to Bangkok via Dubai and set off in mid January….in snow
The flights were pretty uneventful and I arrived safe and sound and met at the airport by Stu who had left a month or so previously and was leaving for home that same day! …we got the train into town and I booked into the NASA Vegas hotel, then we set off into Bangkok centre, using the canal boats for transport – which was fun!
We had a good walk around so I could get my bearings, then we had something to eat, a thai massage and a couple of beers in one of the red light areas (where I also had my nipple tweaked by a ladyboy!) quite an introduction to Thailand! Lol
Then it was back to the hotel for Stu to shower and ten head off to the airport and back to the UK and an early night for me.
The next 4 days consisted of me being VERY happy traipsing around Bangkok, using canal boats, river boats, buses, taxi’s, tuk-tuks and moped “taxi’s” and of course lots of walking.
I think I must have seen almost all the sights there were in Bangkok: including (of course) the national museum, grand palace, Wat Arun, Jim Robinson’s house, Marble Temple, Kings’ house, Lucky Buddha – and every other buddha statue I think! …
Ive kinda glossed over the temples and things – but believe me: the grand palace and the VAST array of temples and temple complexes on almost every street corner are AMAZING! …in size, decoration, grandeur and …tranquility too – despite being mobbed by a gazillion tourists. The Grand palace is akin to a Disney spectacle: the gold and jewel encrusted buildings with their guarding statues and immaculate gardens are absolutely unbelievable! I spent many a happy hour sitting at the back of temples watching the monks and priests going about their business, or watching the great unwashed come in to give offerings and receive blessings/prayers. Met too! …I was blessed (I think) by a ‘priest’ who then tied a string bracelet around my wrist
I Took a long meandering trip to find the Ton Buri train station which was not where I thought it was and it didn’t help that the ferry boats no longer stop at one landing so I ended up getting off at the wrong one! Hey ho…. once I got there I found that I didn’t have to book a ticket anyhoo!
so, back to town again (moped ride) and more pineapple pieces to eat. This time I walked around all manner of places that didnt eem to be on the tourist map and werent populated by tourists at all ..which was nice ….it meant the coffee shops were all empty 😉
As I couldnt get a place booked on the Chaing Mai sleeper train, I decided to wing it a bit and left Bangkok for Kanchanaburri – the home of the ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ the train ride was fun …chatting to an american guy and a couple of english girls, then they all left at kanchanaburri station, but the guard fella told me to stay on to the next stop for my lodgings. When I arrived at the next station I was amazed to find that this was actually the Bridge on the River Kwai!! ..and again the guard stopped me from getting off at the platform and instead, waited till the train pulled away and stopped it actually on the bridge – in amongst tourists – to let me get off actually there on the bridge!!! what a fabulous welcome to the place!!!!
The bridge is almost completely rebuilt, but there are still two spans which are original.
Eventually I took a moped ‘backer’ to my place of residence: a raft house on the river!!! …bluddy amazing!!! …incredibly basic room made of bamboo and floating 5m from the river bank – thethered and with a rickety bridge to get me ashore …but MAN! …how KEWL!!!!!
that night I went into town to try and find the yankee and english girls but failed 🙁 …I did however find lots of food in the market… nom nom and then a dutch girl who I had a nice chat and a good few beers with 🙂
Next day I travelled by bus to the Erewan waterfalls …an hours bus trip and then a great walk thru trees and up a hillside covered in the bluest pools and most amazing waterfalls. Seriously a fabulous place! (apart from the russian tourists who are a complete nightmare!) 5 hours of heaven is a fitting description of that place!
Next day I was leaving and after packing before sun-up, I asked the oldest guy in the world, who spoke very little english but did seem to run the raft house hostel how to get back to the station etc. He was the nicest most helpful guy in the world and even came after me as I walked off to give me a backer on his scooter to the station!
At the station I had a while to wait, so befriended an old fella there, bought him a coffee and he introduced me to one of his friends who ran a stall at the station …they sat with me and laughed and carried on till the train arrived (despite them not speaking english and me not exactly fluent in Thai!) Back in Bangkok, I checked -just before getting on my daytime train – that the sleeper was full (as I’d been told a few days before) …nope, there were LOTS of spaces!!! so I sold my daytime ticket back and got a sleeper bed 🙂
quite a nice trip on the train – chatting to a swiss girl and eating supplied soup and sarnie, then the guard/attendant fella comes along and makes the bed for you 🙂 I had a great sleep ….deffo the best way to get to Chiang Mai!!
I booked into my hostel at Chaing Mai and then explored the old walled town for the rest of the day (finding the CHEAPEST and best place to eat at a roadside cafe …deeeeeeelish!
The next day I booked a 2 day trek into the mountains (very touristy) and joined Nadine, Emma, Rishi and his cousin Amir and Stas (russian) and met our guide ‘JJ Jungle’. First stop was an ellie camp where we paired up to ride an ellie for around a mile or so …very touristy, but I enjoyed it 🙂 then I fed the ellies some nana’s I had for snacks. Then we had a good walk into ‘jungle’ with JJ showing us some of the local flora and tricks (including making and throwing a spear) That night we stayed in a hut on the edge of a village and JJ made us a curry thingee and we had a couple of beers.
Next day we had another long walk to a great waterfall where we played for a while (great natural rock slide into the pool at the bottom 🙂 ) then me, Nadine and Rishi left to get a raft trip back to civilisation. Nadine and I decided to head to Pai the next day on a scooter, so we hired one that night. I googled the trip to Pai and got varying distances but all less than 50km…. we headed out at sun-up but only in T shirts …BIG mistake! ..it was freezing! ..pertickly as we had to cross some mountains!! and it was truly bitter on the tops!… we eventually found a cafe and stopped for a very cold coffee. After that it wasn’t so bad to Pai. Sadly Pai wasn’t as interesting as we thought it would be – its kid of a hippy town apparently …just seemed like most other towns to us!.. got a nice curry meal tho 😉 and some passport photos. Then it was back on the scoot for a very quick ride back across the mountains to Chaing Mai.
We (me and Nadine) had decided to travel together for a while, so back at CM we booked an overnight bus to the Laos border. We quickly packed our stuff and joined the bus (meeting a very funny and confused french canadian girl on the bus too 🙂 ) the bus trip was a bit boring, but eventually we ended up at Chiang Kong ..and the worst hotel Ive been to since Malawi!!! hey ho … brekkie in the morning and eventually we paid for a boat trip along the Mekong river to Luang Prabang (meeting Lea and Matt – a french couple – during the confusion)
Much confusion at the Laos side of the border (across the river), but eventually we got on a boat and the trip started. The boats are really quite nice with coach style seating and beers and food available. The scenery was fabulous as we meandered along the river – taking too many photos as usual. That evening we stopped at Pak Beng and stayed in a canny little hostel/ hotel thing. Had a VERY average meal that night – actually I didnt even GET a meal!! service was so poor! But was a canny night with some of the peeps off the boat .
Brekkie the next morning and we were off again in the next leg…to Luang Prabang. Same MO …lots of photos, fabulous scenery and good craic on the boat (and snacks we’d bought ashore -including the tiniest but nicest nana’s in the world! )
In Luag Prabang we (me, Nadine, Matt and Lea) all travelled to the same hostel and got booked in easy enuff …nice enuff place. Then we (me and Nad) headed out for a great meal (cheap, again 😉 ) then a walk to the night market which is fabulous! : so many stalls selling trinkets and hangings and embroidery and stuff! ..I bought a bracelet….
Next day we had a good walk around including the temple on the hill (seeing the ‘buddha’ footprint) the national museum and photo gallery. Then we took a van ride to some waterfalls (yes, more waterfalls) had my first coconut, swam in the pools and had a great day generally 🙂 Back at LP we ate in the night food market getting a great buffet for 10,000Kip (nothing 😉 )
Next day was more walking around and then a meal with Matt & Lea and then we went to Utopia bar …the kewlest bar in the country 🙂 sitting on hippy roll mats drinking beer and listening to all manner of nationalities chatting away with some great music in the background – great night B|
Heading north next: to Nongh Hoiw where despite the rain we had a great time (ignoring the bus ride) visiting the caves where the Laos hid during the US air strikes (during the Vietnam war) …with Nad suffering a war wound in the process …damned barbed wire 😉 and drinking the weird Laos coffee – tasted almost like hot chocolate and VERY sweet
Next day was another bus trip on a packed and uncomfortable little bus to Luang Nam Tha. We were looking forward to this place as its quite far north and supposed to be less touristy but very scenic. We shared a tuk tuk with a Swiss fella who now lives in Laos, so he gave us some info on places to go. WE stayed in a nice hotel and had a canny meal that night. Next day it was back onto a scooter for a trip around to see the temples and the local waterfall. All good until we stopped for lunch/tea and sat in a nice place while the heavens opened outside! …torrential rain and thunderstorm! … we gave up on any ideas about going trekking 🙁 so went to the bus station to book a ticket to Vang Vieng ..running out of fuel in the scoot about 30m short of the petrol station lol.
16 hours on a bus to Vang Vieng!!! ..at least it was a proper coach style bus ….and the roads werent too bad after the first couple of hours….. though the music on the bus WAS! …shocking and loud right up to 01:30 am!!! Eventually arived in the dark with drunks everywhere and it raining 🙁 a tuk tuk driver tried to rip us off, but I gave him a hard time and didnt pay him at all in the end 😉
We eventually got sorted in the Banana Bungalows …great little wooden shack beside the river and with great views of the surrounding mountains. Next day we rose to a couple of hot air balloons sailing right over us, almost within touching distance! I did a deal with the owner and got a better ensuite room for the same price 🙂 Lots of great eateries here …so we found one we liked and ate a lot of curries and sticky pancakes there 🙂 ..and some beers and milkshakes, sitting on short benches with amazing view. I did a walk up the local viewpoint which was quite a stiff walk …and a lot of fun …with great views.
We bumped into Matt and Lea again! ..so had more beers with them. We hired a scoot again and did a trip to the blue lagoon …fabulous proper blue water and the BIG cave …lovely big cave …we managed to get lost in! Lol After that I ordered a visa for Vietnam (giving away my passport to some random in the prodcess! and booked a bus to the 4 thousand Islands. I couldnt sleep that night so went for a midnight walk along the Mekong …was lush sitting in the dark, watching the stars and listening to the bars close and people go home.
Last brekkie with Matt & Lea and we were off to VV 🙂 we had one bus to Vientaine, then swapped to a Disney bus (?) to Pakse. Was a canny laugh on the bus …it was a sleeper again – and with a free meal too 🙂 unfortunately, in the morning we hit a buffalo and her calf and the bus suffered a puncture. As we waited for the repair, we realised that both the buff had died of injuries 🙁 We had to swap buses to finish the journey.
At Pakse, we had missed our transfer bus, so jumped on another bus to take us to the Mekong (again) at the river, we got on a slow boat to take us to Don Khon – our destination.
We walked along the river a little till we found somewhere that looked cheap enough 😉 …it was – $5 for the night, but it was a tiny little basic room with a cold water shower out the back. The good news was that we had hammocks out the front on the verandah overhanging the river. Very scenic with bamboo trees, kids playing in the canoe boats etc. we had brekkie in another nice little restaurant with the low seats on platforms (great way to eat!) then went for a walkaround finding a ruined school building, an old bridge and a great beach area. The next day we hired cycles and toured around the area, finding more scenic areas and an old choo choo train which used to run over the old bridge we’d previously found. We also had a great coffee at the bamboo bar and a walk along the waterfalls across the Mekong – there’s a fault line here more or less at the border to Cambodia so there are stunning cataracts as the level of the riverbed changed by 20m or so.
We also had a sunset riverboat cruise out into te delta area, passing the busier resort where the ‘young folk’ go….. among the great sights has to be the peeps playing in the river on a sandy beach …..and the water buffalo lying in the water between them!
Last day of me and Nad together and she was off to catch a bus and continue with her trip (heading eventually to Oz) I had a walk along the river (meeting the french candaian chick and some guys from Leeds we met on the ‘crash bus’)
CAMBODIA!
Then it was my turn to leave – heading back to the mainland and on a bus to the Cambodian border …. where I handed over my passport and $30 to another random! Chatted to frenchie canadian again and waited for an age in some border shops while our visas arrived. – and watched a charlie chaplin movie on an old TV!
Then we were off again thru the border and heading to Kompong Cham. At KC, it was dark when I arrived and I just wanted somewhere to sleep so paid $3 for the crappiest room ever woith the worst bathroom ever! Next morning I checked the location of a nice hotel and walked over the new – impressive- bridge and off to where I thought it might be …. it wasnt. I eventually asked for directions, but no-one spoke english or knew the name of the hotel I was looking for. As I walked off from asking, the fella caught me up on his scooter and beckoned for me to get on ….he then took me and my bliidy big rucksack back over the bridge and into the centre of town, straight to my hotel! …what a nice guy! … the hotel was FAB! …VERY impressive room and hotel WITH WiFi!! for $10 (hey, I’m worth it) I then hired a scoot and tripped off to the market for some crazy street food and then back over that bridge again and tried to climb the old lighthouse …except I bottled it…metal staircase as far too shakey – as was I! Lol
I really enjoyed KC had a nice feel to it: there’s a bamboo bridge that I think is rebuilt each year …very scenic! ….had a nice ride over it, drank more coconut, visited lots of temples and ate loads of street food. Its also Cambodian new year so there were hordes of scoots with 5 and 6 peeps on them all around the streets! ..great night for sightseeing!
Enough of that its time to go to Siem Reap. I arrived on the bus and got settled into my guest house/hostel then hired a cycle and trotted off to the temples.
AMAZING! …the temple complex aaround Siem Reap are incredible! ..amazing architecture, so different to anything else ..and so intricate in detail carvings on EVERY surface! …truly an incredible place Even the gate entrances to the area are immense and imposing. Next day was same again but touring more of the temples almost littered around …including the Lara Croft temple of doom with its trees erupting thru ancient walls.
Coincidence: I sat at brekkie at the hostel thingy chatting to a frenchy type fella who tells me he works in Whitehorse, Yukon,Canada …we eventually realised that we worked for the same person: Jackie of the Hart to Hart farm! …what a small world!
More temples and more ‘Jack Fruit milkshakes’ (my new fave) and I found ‘pub street’ where all the young folk (and some oldies) go to get hammered and eat actually really good Cambodian food (a tuk tuk ride, 3 x beers, fa chicken caesar salad and a Temple Bar t shirt for £9.50! – I also bumped into some elderly yank folk that I met at the Laos border (feels like a lifetime ago)
Enough of temples…lets go to Phohm Penn

Pnohm Penn is a proper city with asian markets and old ruined and rough buildings and a very wide section of the Mekong river – but I REALLY like it! … had a great walk around and coffee/brekkie in some riverfront restaurants. I hired a scooter which gave me the craziest ride of my life: no-one takes ANY notice of any roadsigns, or ettiquette …it is complete mayhem and madness on the city roads …COMPLETE madness!!! …but fun 😉 Eventually that night I sat in the night food market and ate all manner of foods the cook cooked to roder in front of me on a market satll … then I sat on a rush mat amid loads of locals and tourists alike! …. great way to eat. Then off to the restaurant bars to have a beer.
I got chatting to a french girl/lady – Nadia fro mPAris …who eventually told me she had fallen for the ‘niece going to your country would you talk to her” scam ….ending in her playing cards for BIG money – she lost $2000!! ..and they were going to pick her up in the morning for more! I told her I would pick her up in the morning and make sure nowt bad happened. As it happened they saw me talking to her and drove off without stopping that morning. I rode my scoot to Cheung Ek …the infamous ‘killing fields” genocidal centre. What a place …you can still see bone shards and clothing gradually coming out of the ground as the rains wash the soil away – incredibly sad place 🙁 Then I went to the Khmer Rouge prison in the centre of town. Again, a very sad place – how people can do these things to each other is beyond me!
The rest of my time in PP was a blur of temples, palaces, coffee and salads ..and a nice night with Nadia and her friends.
I then booked a bus trip to Vietnam, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)…taking a great cambodian massage before I left.
I met a dutch guy (Martijn) on the bus to Saigon …who told me about a great holiday island I could go to ..more of that later.
At PP I got a taxi to my hotel which was pretty cheap and also quite nice. Spent the next day having a great time walking the city streets and drinking strong coffee in a variety of coffee shops including one in a park with a group of ladies practising some kind of martial art/dance/keep fit thing with swords! I also visited the American War museum – my first lesson: only us westerners call it the Vietnam war…..the museum has some great war machinery in the grounds outside and a whole lot of propaganda inside …but hey! – I do believe we are the masters of both ‘in your face’ and subliminal propaganda so, who’s to say who’s worse?
A great night market meal of bbq kidneys, rice and beer and I was tucked up in bed ready for the fun and guns of the Cu Chi tunnels!
I took a bus from the city centre and hoped the driver understood what I wanted …eventually another passenger who spoke a little english told me it was time to get off and another Viet guy beckoned for me to follow him 🙂 we walked a ways with virtually no conversation tho it was kinda nice in a strange way ..eventually we got in to the main entrance, padi our dues and then he was led away while I had to sit and watch the ultimate I crap propaganda – an ancient b&w video of the struggle against the american invaders! ..”kill the americans” was displayed or shouted at every opportunity! … finally it finished and a uniformed fella took me on a guided trip thru the bush to show me the tunnels, traps and trenches dug by ‘charlie’ it was quite enlightening seeing how they did it and how small the tunnels are (the normal tourist area has been opened up to allow the “fat americans” thru, apparently)
had a nice chat with the guide over yet another pineapple (my staple diet nowadays, it seems) talking about the war quite openly and guiding and UK life – he told me a lot about it lol
once Id finished, I bought a couple of AK47 memento rounds for Tucker back home and then headed to the range 🙂 … where I paid to shoot the crap out of some targets with an AK47 and then an M60 machine gun on ‘auto’ LUSH!!! that thing makes one hell of a noise!
I finished the day off back in Saigon at Crazy Buffalo bar having a couple of beers and watching the flashing lights 🙂
Final day in Saigon was spent walking about and visiting the saddest zoo in the world: everything looked crazy: asian ellies dancing to and fro, leopards pacing back and forwards, a completely bald and sored lion lying in a fitful sleep, the only good part was watching as the staff opened a divider to allow a male and female tiger together …she wasnt happy lol Finally I took a trip up the highest building in SE Asia and bought a pair of rip-off BEATS headphones 🙂 …and bought a flight to Con Dao island (thanks Martijn!!!)
Con Dao island was historically a prison island: first by the french, then the americans, and finally by the Viet. Its a sleepy place thats trying to grow up and join in the money game …thankfully its not winning at the moment. That means theres not a lot going on! 🙂 not many restaurants, one coffee shop and a couple of bars …but long empty beaches, jungley walks over mountains and lots of empty hotels.
I got sorted in one and after unpacking went for a walk along the town beach …lovely beach with lots of small ‘junk’ fishing boats parked up ..and a gazillion of the worst biting sand flies ve ever known! ..MAN they HURT!!! the day ended with a meal by myself and then a good sleep. Next day and the heavens had opened ….strong strong winds and torrential rain 🙁 …I stayed in most of the day. After hiring a scooter, I visited one of the islands prison buildings (with infamous ‘tiger cages’ where the guards walk along the grilled open top cells and poured anything they wanted on the unfortunates below A ride around the island showed there were prison buildings of one sort or another all over the place :/
The island did have some beautiful sights tho … the fishing boats are incredibly photogenic and a visit to the fishing port and eating Banh Mi (spicy brekkie sandwich) turned me into a bit of a spectacle I think – lots of people walking behind me and wanting their photos taken ..lot of fishermen posing on their boats … lorra fun to be had! 🙂
Back in ton I changed to a cheaper hotel (actually part of the taxi driver’s house!) really nice tho 🙂 then I found I couldnt get OFF the island! ..the weatehr was too bad for the ferry (which apparently isnt for tourists anyhoo and the plane is booked for weeks!!! seems the island IS a prison again!

I left the UK straight after the Silverstone MotoGP in June and after a nice flight (including Dubai to Joburg on a lush A380) I stayed overnight in the Dove’s Nest motel – as usual.
Next day I got the Gautrain down to Park station and after a bit of a headache, managed to get on the bus up to Polokwane., where I was picked up by Annelien and Ruby and transported up to Pont Drift border post. A short drive later and I was back ‘home’
First jobs were a tractor carb rebuild and repair the electric fence around Annalien’s lawn – destroyed by Springhares 🙁 )
The first highlight of this trip for me – apart from seeing my Tuli family – was a 3m rock python we found on our way to party at Mohave camp. It was very chilled at the side of the road and stayed for photos and tea (prolly) though it did get a bit excited when I picked up its tail to see if it was male or female! lol
It seemed a bit strange being back in the bush and meeting Josh and his girlfriend Tash, who were now the student coordinator(s) ..Josh grew up in Tuli (Craig – his dad- sold the business to Stuart!) but I soon got acclimatised -after having our semi-resident 5 lions in camp twice in a week! A week later we had the first of our annual school groups: Cowan House from KZN
We had a great week and the kids really seemed to enjoy themselves (as did Pam their organiser and nurse) – we’d seen the lions during a ‘call-up’, a great daytime sighting of a female cheetah and had a sleepout at Bedrock.
As is becoming the norm nowadays, I had my birthday in Tuli – we had a good old evening around the campfire with lashings of Hunters cider and LMP (lemon meringue pie) The next morning I ended up driving to our leopard cage to check if we’d caught anything: I was SO ill with hangov…..bad tummy from a bad pie, or summat. I couldnt even SPEAK to the students. As we arrived at the cage we found a female leopard in the cage! ..We were after a male, so had to release this one (no mean feat, with a very angry leopard and a very hungover Chuggy!!!
After that I had a couple of weeks with both students AND guests (one of the students being a complete pain and only wanting to take photographs, whilst the french family were absolutely lovely! We had some great sightings, which sadly included a young ellie which we saw on a consecutive days – separated from its mother and herd ..it died from dehydration in front of us 🙂 We also had our lions making an Eland calf kill and returning to the carcass the next night, where we also found a leopard skulking around the bush …the leopard tried to leave without being seen by Mabella (dining on the eland) but it ran straight into Sebatana behind us, and had a quick but VERY loud fight, before disappearing off into the bush!
Once the Clifton school group arrived, I shared the Trails camp with ‘Uncle Mikey’ and we had a great time showing the kids around and teaching them a bit about the animals and the bush. We also had Gabby at our camp, which meant the food organised/supplied by Annelien and granny was always well cooked and served ….and the camp was run perfectly (including warm water in our handwashes outside the tents every morning!!!)
As soon as the schools left, Tucker arrived for a 10 day holiday! …great to see him out there and to see wot I get up to
We spent some time in Mohave camp with the students, some time in small tents out in the bush (Bedrock area) on our own and a night or 2 in semi-luxury at Serolo camp
sadly we didnt get to see the lions – despite trailing their fresh tracks over Eagle Rock and having a mad dash to catch up with the students who HAD seen all 5 lions 🙁
still, there were plenty of ellies around and we got to see Lobatse (cheetah) and her cub nice and close. Sadly we also got to see one of our female leopards very close-up: she had been killed by a male leopard 🙁 She was buried after taking the usual carcass measurements)
We had a nightmare of a sleepout too – we pitched up at Leopard koppie and set fire, ate some nice food and just bedded down, when a gale force sandstorm blew up …..it was terrible, with the fire being almost blown out, gale force winds, sand everywhere in our sleeping bags etc.
We managed to get thru the night – but only just!
One of the highlights of Tuckers trip was deffo the Pels Fishing Owl we saw in trees at Pels Pools (strangely enough 😉 )
More great students came and went …we had a lot of fun (pertickly with the TUSK group: Erin, Zoe, Petra & Roman) and Josh and Tash had to leave(Tash cos she’s heavily pregnant now and Josh cos he upset the govt. peeps by working without permit!) Jordan (Josh’ mate) replaced him – we had a lorra laffs going out on drives and walks together – nice guy (for a South African 😉
For a period of time we also had a clan of spotties (hyaena) move into a rocky home near Elephant neck. We regularly walked in there and got within a metre! there were 4 pups – 2 of approx 3 weeks and 2 of approx 7 weeks. Fabulous to get so close to them and see cubbens so small 🙂

HOLIDAY!!!
As planned Stuart, Annelien and kids together with me and the legend that is Johannes, drove up to Nata to meet Chris and Jackie with their daughter Christelle and 2 other vehicles with families (Petrius and co. and Albi & co.) We stayed in Nata for one night, then drove across to Planet Baobab, Nxai pans to Baines Baobabs, then on to Audi camp in Maun for out next night.
The Okavango delta was next – entering the South Gate and making our way past 1st and 2nd Bridges to stay at 3rd bridge for a night – where a spotty joined us for our braai! (literally appearing in the ring of faces, mush to the surprise of those either side of it!! lol
Following day it was North to Savuti and into Linyanti camp – though we were quite late due to Chris’ car having fuelling problems. We also had a fabulous view of Wild Dogs whilst Albi got his car stuck in sand 🙂
Linyanti is a great area – plenty of ellies, hippo, buffs, etc. and lots of water!
Next up is Chobe and into Kasane, staying at the Toro camp. Nice place to stay right beside the river. We also had a river (booze) cruise (my first proper drinking session on Southern Comfort!)
Next we split up with the other 3 cars staying whilst they stayed and Tigerfished in the Zambezi, the Tuli family crossed into Zimbabwe to check out the delights of Vic Falls. 2 minor altercations with the wonderful zim police force later (fined for various road offences and Stuart lucky not to get arrested for aggression against them!) we set up home in a nice and cheap lodge. We shopped, drank coffee (repeatedly) had lunch at the Vic Falls hotel and watched peeps jump off the bridge in a variety of ways (usually tethered to the bridge by some means)
Back to Kasane for the night then an early rise and set off to Elephant Sands – Ive stayed here before and its fabulous for ellie watching 🙂 – we set up camp and immediately were passed by a troop of ellies (all male) 🙂 We had a few beers that night and then the next morning JUST missed the Wild dog pack coming to drink at the waterhole 🙁 …a few beers during the day and a saunter around in the Beast (VX Landcruiser) and then back to base to watch a constant stream of ellies at the hole, and then a wild dog pack! ..I got fairly close to them as they approached which was pretty special B| The rest of our stay was full of ellies and Wild dogs and leopard tracks in the morning! I love this place 🙂
After our 3rd night here, we left and headed back thru Francistown back home

Back at the ranch, we had plenty sightings of cheetah, lion and ellies…..and a fabulous almost hour long viewing of an Aardwolf!
I had a day in South Africa at Mapungubwe for the Children in the Wilderness camp. and then lots of student walks and drives (and parties) lots of car maintenance and a prolonged stay at the House whilst Stuart was away.
Another fabulous, wonderful amazing Tuli break.

Tucker and I left home on the bikes – in rain – and headed down Oxford way, to meet up with Big (sic) Al. From there it was an uneventful (but now dry) onward journey to Portsmouth and a bar meal before heading on the overnighter to Le Havre.
Being one of the first on board, we managed to get great reclining seats and sleeping space, so all tucked into sleeping bags (and Al in his very ghey blindfold) to sleep.

Next Morning, we set off on the wrong side of the road thru some lovely picturesque villages and towns until we reached Pegasus Bridge where we stopped at the very famous cafe for breakfast of coffee and croissants 🙂
After a little sightseeing, we headed onwards until we reaached our new base of Bayeux – which turned into a lovely old town with fab cathedral and narrow streets.
The campsite (municipal) was also great – nice sites with good ablutions and an Aldi and MacD across the street.

After pitching camp, we headed to the seaside and Arromanche where we found a lovely little town with enormous concrete relics of the Mulberry Harbour, littering the beach and which had such a pivotal role in the D-Day invasion

The next few days were spent visiting so many of the D-Dy beaches, memorials and cemeteries – very atmospheric, interesting AND fun!
Our last full day together was spent at the fabulous island of Mont St. Michel, with its amazing cathedral, shops and winding streets – and of course coffee shops 😉
On the way there we had stopped at William the Conqueror’s home town – and discovered that until he changed his name, he was known as William the Bastard!!
That night we had a great meal in yet another great little restaurant in Bayeux (we ate sooo well for the whole trip -including snails and Creme Brulee …tho not at the same time)
Next day we headed to Utah beach and memorial before saying farewell to Al who had to return home for the W word. Tucker and I returned to Bayeux via some more fortifications that had only recently been rediscovered (I also let Tuck ride my bike as I knew he would be bored on the Panzer by now)
Next day and I had done some research and found a real Panzer to go and visit (all we had seen so far were US or GB tanks) so we headed south by 100km or so and eventually found it 🙂 got a nice photo of Tuck on his Panzer in front of a very similar (in terms of looks and performance) 1940’s version. We then headed back to Bayeux and visited the Tapestry museum and the British War Cemetery (not as grand as the US Omaha site, but also very atmospheric)
We packed and took our leave from Bayeux next day and headed south on some very non-touristy route roads down to Le Mans
MOTOGP!!! we arrived at Le Mans Bleu camping on Thursday afternoon – thinking we were going to be early …apparently not! …the campsite was already a scene from Armageddon with bikes banging ff the rev limiter, wheelies everywhere and general mayhem and carnage ensuing! We got in and made camp in a patch of grass, completely shocked by the noise and goings on ….some nice new bikes arrived next to us and Tuck spoke the immortal line ” well, they’ll not be revving the bikes” ….just after dark that night, they too stood chatting amogst themselves while holding the bikes on the rev limiter and flicking the kill switch to get flames out of the zorst!!….absolutely crazy!
speaking of which there was a group of bikers on site wh were VERY professional in their set up: one guy (at least) would sit burning up a tyre till it popped at which point someone would give him another bike while the previous one had a new tyre fitted to start all over again! ….and these bikes had home made exhaust cans of various designs, but mainly megaphone type with the open end being a foot wide, no silencer, but with a little funnel attched to the top of the ‘phone …. this was to allow oil to be dripped in, while the engine sits on teh rev limiter, producing 10ft long flames out the back!!
sheer unadulterated carnage!!!!! and with bikes wheelying around and accidents requiring a constant stream of ambulances into the place!


We had a great time walking around and taking in the atmosphere – tho Tuck was a little worried about his bike disappearing. I got up on the first morning at about 6 and walked off to find a coffee stall …there was no queue there, but the BEER stall next door had a HUGE queue – one guy actually tipped over and fell unconscious in it!
We had a night in Le Mans, taking the Metro there and back (and getting in some trouble for not using the tickets properly 😉 ) nice cathedral and streets andd a beer in the town square
By now the rain had appeared so the racing was a bit of a damp affair, though we had found a good viewing point, so sat there for race day along with some french guys we had met up with in the campsite. All the races were great, but the best part was Rossi overtaking Stoner on the bend in front of us to the delight of the fans too 🙂

We left straight after the race and headed north on the peage – which were free to bikers for the day!!! and eventually arrived at Boulogne where we fell exhausted into a cheap hotel /tuck new and then had a burger and beer before hitting the sack
Unfortunately the next morning – the ONLY morning we had to be up early as we had the Chunnel booked – we slept in! … A dash along the coast got us there in time for the next one, with no penalties, so that was ok. Safely on board, Tuck changed his number plate back to a proper sized version, then we disembarked, stopped for brekkie at a services then headed north and home.
A very fabulous trip 🙂

April -as always- is punctuated by the ride to Scotland to take part in a memorial ride for a fallen rider (Greg)
this year, Tucker and I rode to MiT and waited fro the other 16 riders from south of the border (and had coffee and bacon sarnies while we waited, of course)

On their arrival, we immediately set off with Tucker leading to Alston on my favourite road B6277.
a quick stop for fuel there and then continue to Hexham and the Falstone cafe for lunch (at which point I realised we had lost 2 riders due to a puncture prior to MiT) From there it was was north to Hawick with my lead.
After Hawick I managed to lose everyone else and waited for them further north (they had gone to the Hizzy memorial without telling me) Nevertheless we all managed to arrive safely at Edinburgh for a drinkee night out with Grumpy, Chyrel, et al
NExt morning was te ride proper with Davy (Grumpy) leading us thru to Stirling services. Where we met more riders. Then on to the Green Welly and Further on to Oban for fash and chaps.
As usual, we hit it lucky with the weather and had glorious blue skies the whole day!
After Oban we headed thru GlenCoe to the Scotsbrugring, where Tucker, Emma, Martin, Al, Fordy and myself bade farewell and headed north on the amazing A87 to Applecross. A fab ride got us there past incredible scenery …and a majestic highland stag crossing teh road right in front of me! -only to find great little elf barns for us to sleep in that night. After decided on the sleeping arrangements, we headed down the the water (ocean) edge and we ALL HAD A DIP !!!…was bluddy cold but very proud of everyone for doing it! 🙂 OFf to the Applecross inn for a great meal and a couple of drinks we went to celebrate.
(after lush hot showers, that is)
Next day and we set off across to Isle of Sky (for coffee) on the rest of the fantabulous A87 and then back to the Green Welly and then on to Glasgow to stay at Angels in Uddingston. it started to rain a little that afternoon but not enough to dampen out enthusiasm!…. We thankfully left the bikes in Alzo’s garage (cheers dude) had a few beers and a meal for the others (I abstained) and then a good nights kip, ready for a very rainy start to the ride back into Engerland
Al and Fordy went their seperate ways from Glasgow and I left the rest at the A68 junction to head back home
a FABULOUS trip….. as always…with great company

was great staying with Shaun and Maria – tho in actual fact, Shaun wasnt there a lot of the time as he got a job in the gold mines nr. Laverton (where Id driven thru) so was working fly-in fly-out shifts.
I/we did a few beach trips, and found the beach with the memorial to the engineer who designed the water pipeway for the goldmines before committing suicide at the beach; I went to a drag strip for the first time

and many shopping trips with Maria or by meself. Was nice to meet Shauns family again – as they regrouped for Davids wedding, on the day I left Oz.
so, good luck with your marriage DAvid, many thanks to Shauns mam and dad for their hospitality and many MANY more thanks to Shaun and Maria for their hospitality, help and friendship!!! 🙂

The trip out of the national park and into the Gibson, Simpson and Great Victoria deserts, isnt half as bad as I thought it would be …though of course in my case all went well – I had no mechanical breakdowns, so in reality, maybe I was just lucky!
the roads are fairly hard packed so keeping speed up to 100kmh isnt so hard – and theres almost no traffic, so dust isnt too great a problem nor are potholes etc.
I passed Dingo’s, camels, goats and wild horses, but they were all pretty few and far between.

My first stop was the Wilkuna ROadhouse, where – after posing for photo with a frozen kangaroos tail

– I booked into their backpackers hostel (tin shacks, with electricity, air-con 🙂 and spiders. I ate some chips and drank a coke (bluddy hot day today) then I drove more or less around the corner to the Giles weather station, where I had a mini tour around and then watched them set the 2pm (in whatever timezone we were in) weather balloon off. Back at the hostel, I photoshopped ome photos, checked the car and revelled in the air-con …until the power cut :'( It lasted a couple of hours and then miraculously came back on again…just in time for sleep 🙂
Next morning, I set off early and headed west…. the Great Central Road still the same as before – hardpacked sand/gravel. I enjoyed the drive so much I videod the car at one point …just for the hell of it.
TOnight I’m staying at the Tjukiyarla Roadhouse….after eating a toastie and coffee. I was the only person camping overnight so had the run of the place …with its Billabong room with Layzee Boy armchairs and TV !! …very nice it was ….I enjoyed the break 🙂
Early start again and this time driving on to Laverton …where there wasnt anything, so I carried on to Leinster …again nothing…so I carroed on to Sandstone: one of the original gold mining outposts. I stayed in a campsite here and popped into the National Hotel for a couple of Ted’s (Teweys Extra Dry lager) I met an austrian guy here who was panning for gold in the area – he showed me some of his finds ….not a lot and mostly samd grain sized …but wth gold prices the way they are, its worth a canny bit of dosh!
I decided to stay here for a couple of nights, so did a bit of touring around – London Bridge and the old brewery amongst other things …I also collected a lot of rocks…..to see if there was gold in them thar hills!
……there wasnt. Was nice chattin to Pete (the Austrian) and aI had a couple of beers with him and another old timer in the hotel that night ….then a travelling dutch couple arrived, so I had a few beers with them too 🙂
Next morning I packed and headed West to the WA coast at Drummond Cove, via Mount Magnet (with its HUGE population of wedge tailed eagles) and Yalgo where I managed to get fuel (after a struggle with my Visa card!)
I was nice to see the ocean again ….and its a great view from the campsite. I had a bit of a swim in the site pool to cool down after another long day n the saddle.
I had a brief sorte into Geraldton …but it was as crap as I remembered and after gettign ripped off for a burger and then at MacD for coffee, I got outta there!…pronto!!
After a great nights sleep I headed South down the Indian Ocean Highway to Jurien Bay where I did a deal for a nights camping. Lovely place …really liked ot here – plenty of facilities, great beach and swimming. I got a few beers and drank them to accompany my salad tea. Lovely evening with a great sunset too.
FInally I headed southi in the morning, to the Pinnacles again and various litle beachy towns, until I eventually landed back at Shaun and Maria’s new pad in Perth

he next 3 weeks were spend dining, sleeping, exercising and cleaning cars.
I managed to sellthe Surf to a guy on my 2nd day of advertising it – well, sitting at some traffic lights with a baner on the car. I got more for the car than I bought it for …and that was after completing 12000 miles in 12 weeks of driving (not including the NZ portion of the trip)

I was fairly knackered and a little dehydrated when I got there, so I filled up with burger and chips, an electrolyte drink and lots of water. Curious place – its a tiny little town …very remote and looks a little sorry for itself…and then there’s the PINK roadhouse…painted baby pink.

I got out of the roadhouse pretty quick…mainly due to the fact that there was a Huntsman spider in one of the display cabinets that got driven out by one of the staff …it put up a pretty good fight with the broom first though!
The campsite behind the roadhouse is a bit rough …all battered, bruised and rusty and with a plague f flies and ants too. I was on my own at first, then a german couple in a Cruiser camper came in, so we had a chat and a beer together
I left early next morning, watching the sun rise as I left and headed further West. The road is still an easy drive with fairly well compacted gravel, so I kept an average of about 100kmh. It didnt seem long before I arrived at Marla, which is the Sturt Highway junction.
I stopped to congratulate myself on completing the Oodnadatta track and to have coffee, an apple and some crackers. After pumping up the tyres again, I was off North heading towards Alice Springs ….I didnt expect to get there, but the camping en-route looked rough, so I continued on and arrived at Alice (passing a bush fire on the way) at about 4pm!! (cant get a grip on these time zones!!!) I booked into the YHA and settled down for the rest of the day.

The YHA is pretty nice with a nice pool (very nice after the Oodnadatta) and a big air-conned tv room. Alice is a strange place …..its bigger than I’d been led to believe and has everything you could want (pubs, restaurants, shops, garages and fuel etc.) but theres a strange feel to it: could be that theres a lot of aboriginals around, which would be fine EXCEPT they mostly appear to be drunk or drugged and shouting at, or hitting each other! I had a walk up the ANZAC memorial hill
and then drove to the aboriginal land authority building …but it was closed: I need a permit to drive the Menindee track towards Uluru. The next couple of days were chillin days while I waited for the permits (I also need a transit permit to drive the Great Central Road towards Perth) Was nice to chill and play in the pool, update Facebook and photoshop my pics in peace and cool.
Theres a couple of really nice places to visit around Alice too – gaps in the mountain range make some canny photos
The morning that I left Alice I found out that I can actually get the permits online!!!! so I didnt need to hang about!! ..never mind.
Fuelled up, groceried and with a couple of jobs on the car done (couple of bits – including the sump bash plate had rattled loose on the gravel roads) I set off heading Westish. First stop was a very narrow gorge which only gets sunlight at the bottom at midday, then on to a fabulous place called Ellery Creek – The Big Hole …its another gap in the hills, but with vertical rocks and deep water pool and sand. Lovely place so I went for a swim and a chill …and watched some young guys jump in from probably 15-20m high! …braver men than me, Gunga.
After a coffee, it was off to Glen Helen resort, which is at another gap in the rocks …again, this was alovely place …selling ice-cream, beer AND coffee …what more could a man want??
I sat for a little while at the gap in the rocks as it was so peaceful and looked fab ..watching ducks and an eagle flying about.
Back to the car to discover Ive got a puncture!!!! my first in 18000km 🙁 its only slow, and after asking at the resort the guy there who fixes punctures wasnt sure what to do as he was worried he may make it worse :$ I changed to the spare and after a good nights sleep in my tent, headed West again. I stopped at Gosse’s bluff which is an ancient meteor crater forming a good circle of rock in an otherwise flat landscape. I drove into it, but you cant explore as its sacred aboriginal land. Then off again until I got to Kings Canyon. I booked into the campsite there and also got one of their staff to fix my puncture…nice fella tried to improve the spare wheel winder too …tho failed really 🙂
I enjoyed the campsite – few ants, not many flies and pretty good facilities …including dingoes roaming around fairly unconcerned that people are walking around too (some of the other campers were feeding them …crazy people!!!) However I was a bit disappointed with Kings Canyon itself: the walk into it is OK …just a quick walk along a steep sided valley, but you cant walk to the end and can only get to a viewing platform which doesnt give much of a view! …there is a walk along the top of the canyon which is supposed to be much better …but I didn’t feel like walking it, for some reason. I had a chat with an elderly Irish couple and then headed on to yet another gorge/canyon (which I thought was a bit better and much more remote feeling. The road so far had been gravel, but turned into tarmac again JUST as I met a group of 3 camels in the road! ..I stopped and took some photos and generally got in their way for 5 minutes 😉 then headed on again.
I stopped for coffee at a layby with great views of mount Connor – which I thought was Uluru at first (as many do, apparently) then continued on till I got to the Ayers Rock resort, where I had a salmon bagel and a coffee before booking into the campsite.
Canny campsite with railway sleeper furniture in the BIG kitchen (mouses live in the sleepers! And a lizard lives just outside and tries to catch the mices) and a nice patch of grass without ants, but with an army of wabbits which come out at night and surround the tent!
I pitched tent then drove the 20km or so to Uluru (Ayers Rock) …..its a bluddy big lump of red rock! …very much like the rocks of the Spitzkop area of the Namib desert in Namibia.
I wandered around a bit and drove around the rock, then waited until the obligatory sunset to take the obligatory sunset photos …which was very nice (had a chat to the Irish couple again!)
Next morning, I was up at 5 to get to Uluru to take the obligatory sunrise photos ….not as successful this time as the ‘official’ sunrise photo point was packed and I couldn’t get a good view of the rock without trees or people in the way 🙁
Then I had a bit of a rush of blood…..I ran about half the way around the rock! …then walked the rest of the way, taking photos and listening in to the guide’s spiel to other groups of people.
From there I drove the 40 or 50km to Kata Tjuta (many heads) which are similar rocks in a group. Nice walks thru the valleys and gorges ….until my sandal fell to pieces. Hey ho.
I headed back to the resort and after tea, walked over to the local bar for a beer. Funny seeing so many tourists around ….all wearing posh frocks and ironed clothes! …I didnt feel likeI fitted in, so after 2 beers, I left.
The following morning was another early start to make my way along the Great Central Road. It starts from KataTjuta and heads 2500km West into WA and down to the goldfields at Laverton.
As I hit the gravel, I stopped to deflate the tyres a bit, check the car and apss the time of day with another guy in a ute heading the same way. Then it was off on what promised to be the most arduous bit of the roadtrip for my car.

The next few days were a mix of sunshine and rain so I didnt get too much use out of the hostels rooftop loungers.
I spent a lot of time walking around the city – which I quite liked – despite not expecting too (after talking to other travellers who didnt really like the place), but time is of the essence, so I packed my gear and moved on again (not getting a chance to drive over the SHB as it was closed for resurfacing 🙁 )
Next stop was Manly: its a nice beach and town just north of Sydney. I got there in a smidgeon of rain and with strong winds…all made up for by the fact that it was heaving with totty competing in a Surfboat competition! Pretty crazy event launching the boats into the surf as it crashed onto the beach.
I had to leave though, as it was all full of the beautiful people and I dont fit in.

Heading north I stopped at Putty beach, but couldn’t get in the campsite as it was fully booked. Sat on the beach for a while, then headed along the coast trying to find somewhere else. Eventually I gave up and headed into Terrigal, where I booked into the YHA hostel (using a girl called Kim’s phone…thanks!) nice bunch of people here – irish guy and some english. Had a great time playing in the surf that afternoon: big stuff and a crazy ‘reflection’ wave from the shore, so just as you prepare for the wave in fron, you get smacked on the back of the head by the one from behind!! We all headed to the local bar/hotel that night : it was packed with lots of girls in full slap and guys in vests (singlets) had a canny night, then left them there and went for a walk and sit on the beach by myself. Eventually when I got back to the hostel I watched the tennis with Kim.
Next morning, I said my goodbyes, packed and headed into Gosford to pick up my coat and beanie which were being sent from Foster YHA (I’d left them there a week or two ago) $22 later and were reunited 🙂

Heading further north I drove the Gateshead, into Newcastle, where I eventually got parked and headed into the tourist information place…only to bump into my new found stalker: Kim! Lol …she had picked up her kids and was spending the day in the ‘toon’
There’s not a lot in Newcastle and few links to ‘OUR toon’ so I left, bypassed Wallsend, passed Gosforth and Warkworth and then stopped in Hexham for fuel! …weird!

Still raining as I headed West (gonna start heading inland towards Alice Springs) so I stopped in Denham – a little town with little interest…. I stayed in a caravan that night as my tent was still wet and it was raining. ,..and I got a special deal.
Up early and continue West on the Barrier Highway I drover as far as I could, wthout falling asleep. I was going to stop in one roadside rest area, but the mud and amount of ants was bewildering…so I continued on to Meadow Glen ….which didnt have the mud, but did have the ants 🙁
…I slept in the car.
Up very early and onwards thru Broken Hill (stopping for groceries and to book a flight from Heathrow to NCL on my return) and to Yunta, where I parked in the town (not that there was much of one) and chatted to a couple of couples who had also stopped for the night. Nice guys (grey nomads) so we shared a beer and watched the trains passing thru. and took photos of a great sunset.
After tha it was to Port Augusta, via Peterboough and some lovely scenery(chatted to a couple at a monument pass while making coffee) bought a rear wheel cylinder for the car as I think the one is leaking slightly and I dont want to be caught when I get into the outback (It’s ‘Australia Day’ today) then North up towards Coober Pedy though I still havent decided which way to go
I stopped at Woomera (the Aussie range and nuclear testing facility) in a barely used campsite. chatting to a couple of aussies and a dutch guy that evening – one of the aussie girls gave me a map for the Oodnadatta track, so after ringing the guy at the Pink Roadhouse there, I decided to head that way tomorrow (its featured in one of my 4×4 mags and looks interesting)
Another early start (is there another kind?) and I headed to Roxby downs, let my tyres down a bit and started on the Oodnadatta track …turs out its a big wide gravel motorway, so not technical at all.
Was nice to pass Lake Eyre and some great scenery, but at last I arrived at the Pink ROadhouse.

I arrived on a cold night and fell straight asleep in my dorm room at the YHA Central (Melbourne)
woke up in the morning to a sunny start (that was about to change) so I headed out to find my car.
I hadnt taken a GPS of where Id left it 6 weeks ago, so chanced it and set off walking. ….straight to it! I said hello and reconnected the battery, checked the water and oil (both good) and the tyres. A few turns of the key later and it started! …I love this car.
I parked around the corner and had poached eggs on toast and a flat white to celebrate.
Back at the hostel, I parked out front and then went in to pack my bag and check out. As I left the building I found a parkie about to give me a ticket and have the car towed for parking on a clearway!!!! luckily, he was a nice fella and let me go
I drove South and West, heading down towards Wilsons Promentary …however the camp sites were all booked and it was raining by now too, so I carried on to Foster and checked in to the YHA there.
I toddled off for a pie and a coffee and on returning to the hostel found it to be full of chicks! …germans x 2, swiss x 2 and ozzie x 2. We all had a few vinos that night an a good laff.
Next day I left (and left my jacket there too 🙁 ) and headed north east on the road to 90 mile beach. I camped at Paradise beach, which wasnt really a paradise as the flies and mozzies were quite bad: so bad that at one point I ran along the beach to escape them and pulled my calf muscle again!!!!

Up early the next day and on to Sale where I had a Mac’d coffee and stole their internet wile it absolutely lashed down outside. I rang me ma’s cousin Dorothy and arranged to pop in after doing some shopping for a lens cap for my wide angle lens.
I arrived at Paynesville to meet Dorothy and her hubby Ty. Spent 4 hours there chatting about all manner of things… nice couple. Had a nice time there …while it thundered and hailed outside.
Off north via the Great Alpine Road, I got to Omeo by evening so pitched up at the campsite and ate a nice pork steak…. or 2. jus before the rain hit.
It snowed that night.
Freezing cold I headed north on a nice gravel road (the Alpine Way) and eventually reached the ski resort of Thredbo. Another YHA here to stop in.
After a bit of a wander that night I set off the next morning to the top of Mount Cozkiouski.
Its a steep climb – mainly steps, but after 1 hour and 5 minutes, I got to the top (its supposed to take 2-3 hours) then I wandered along thetop a bit and took some photos before heading back to the chair lift cafe for a flat white.
Back at the hostel, I checked out and headed East. Did quite a few k’s before getting tired and stopping at Mystery Bay …..turned out to be a primitive campsite in a GREAT location in gum trees RIGHT on a great beach, surrounded by other great beaches and some great rock formations too. I spent 2 nights here, eating a drinking coffee on the beach.
After Mystery Bay I headed north to Narooma YHA. Nice hostel with a nice beach – however the pearl here was the beach just along from the main beach: Cemetery Beach and Glashouse Rocks. Bluddy amazing beach and rock formations…spent a lot of time here over the next couple of days.
I moved out of the hostel after one night and set up camp in a free site at Lake Brou (an old guy called Richy had pointed it out to me) nice beach and people here, so I stayed for a couple of nights and did a lot of chillin and a couple of nice walks along the beach.

After Brou, I headed north again to Batemans Bay…again staying at a YHA, however this time I camped at the YA which is within a camp site. Met a dutch guy called Thomas who is cycling his way around some of Oz …nice guy: good at finding Iphones……
Lot of walking at Batemans, not much else to do, so after one night I moved on, heading north. Sadly there a complete lack of free camping now and at Kiama, I was quoted $50 to camp for the night …so I continued on to Wollongong, where I stayed at the YHA (yet again) nice old fella here who is in the middle of a court thing to get custody of his kiddy back from his mother in law.
I bought a hat here too …an oilskin cowboy hat.
Up early and I managed to post my credit card under the office door instead of the door card!!!!
30 mins later and staff turned up to open the door and let me recover it and move on
I headed north on the coastal route to Bald hill and a quick trip along the Sea Cliff Bridge and watch the hang gliders
Continuing on to a little bay for coffee and brekkie (am I feelin rich or wot??)
Then into Sydney: thankfully Co-pilot got me tright thru the centre of Sydney without any hassle and right nto the hostel at the ‘Rocks’!!…amazing these satnavs
the hostel has a rooftop terrace with incredible views over Sydney harbour ..and we’re so close to the bridge that I get nice photos of it and the Opera house just from here!

I still had a good walk around to get more tho ….
Quite like Sydney. Found a nice cheap chicken Ceasar an a cheapish bar at night too.
The hostel has en-suite bathroom in the 4 bed dorm too which is nice.
Saturday and an early start to walk over the bridge and then get the ferry back to Circular Quay however its raining so after a quick stop for coffee and bread & butter pudding mmmmmmm I headed back to the hostel ….by the time I got there the rain was torrential and thunder rolled across the city.