The day Whitsun gave up the ghost (for a while)

Our new battery. The old one looked awful with a lot of corrosion around the terminals. This one now has a 3year warranty and some colour indicator to tell you when the battery needs to be charged and when it is dead.


The 'blinking' alternator which decided it no longer wanted to work!! We stopped off at Miriam Vale to get a cold drink and then couldn't start the van. BOTH BATTERIES WERE DEAD!!! Luckily there was a garage a 100m down the road (but they couldn't get the part until the morning) so we slept at Miriam Vale and Whitsun was fixed the following day.

$375 new alternator
$175 handbrake & foot break adjustment
$172 new battery
$25 call out fee

$747.00 TOTAL....ouch (halve total to convert roughly to pound sterling) I don't want to know!

Mulambin Beach and Causeway Lake, Yeppoon

While fishing we both caught a few leaves! It was like the fish were eating the bait and then attaching a leaf to the hook to rub salt into the wounds.


The 20cm bream I caught. The take away size is 23cm in Queensland. However as it was the last fish of the day I think I would of put him back even if he was big enough because it wasn't going to feed both of us :)

I'm wearing a glove because like most animals in Australia they want to hurt you. While fishing in Airlie I got stung by a fish on my thumb which subsequently swelled up in the evening. As I have a poor knowledge of fish, and an even worse one of which ones not to be stung by i err on the side of caution.


Hannah's first attempt of taking a photo of the fish :)


The sunset was unbelievably hazy because there had been a massive dust storm across central Queensland. Most of the dust was picked up from the Simpson Desert and deposited all the way along the east coast from Mackay to Brisbane. worst in 50years I heard a few 'grey nomads' say.




A crab I noticed having a snack on the head of one of our shrimps. This was the best photo of many.


Fishing at Causeway Lake - we wanted to catch a Trevally or something large but all that bit were Bream.



Mulambin Beach


Hannah really getting into her fishing!! We bought a 8ft rod and reel to accompany my 12ft rod which came with the van. Just before this photo Hannah was actually upto her waist but scrambled onto a rock before I could take the photo. Han also caught a cod here but it was only about 18cm long, and very ugly.

The bend in the rod (picture above) isn't a fish. Hannah had caught a rock again.

Clairview (again)

A dash of colour, away from the brown and green.


This fella was watching us pack up the van. I think he wanted some food (as does all the animals in Australia). If it is not your blood it is your sandwiches!


Defying gravity.




Supposedly there is really good fishing here but I couldn't be bothered to chase the sea!

Professional Bull Riders Championship, Proserpine

Hannah trying to take a photo of the action but it all moved so quickly we had to go to video.


The line up of the 37 bullriders.


All the bullriders sitting above the holding pen while they wait for their name to be called out.


Hannah, Elaine and Steve on the Grand Stand. It was really warm but as the sun went down a damp cold air appeared from nowhere and it became quite cold.


Hannah wanted to take a photo of the Bulls back ends?!


The grand stands starting to fill up.


Some Cowboys! We all said that we could of quite easily been in America during the event. All the cowboys looked prim and proper with their check shirts and clean jeans.

To get an idea what we saw and understand the rules visit this web site: http://www.pbraustralia.com/

Saw a KO, broken ankle, broken wrist and a few knocks and bruises!! It was totally mad, but very entertaining!!!

Fishing off Abel Point, Airlie Beach

Elaine's final fish of the day. I think her running total was eight, however if I am wrong I'm sure she will comment on the blog. I think this is a type of angel fish however my fish knowledge isn't great.


Steve with a big, but crafty, fish on the hook. After this photo it swam into the rocks of the marina wall quicker than Steve could reel so fish, hook and weight got caught on the rocks. The end of the rod came loose and followed the line into the water. Steve and Elaine came down the next morning at 5:30 (low tide) to try and retrieve the rod but the line snapped.


Me again looking like a plonker (I don't know how hannah does it). I hadn't caught a single fish by this stage so was getting a bit annoyed as the light started to fail.


Steve gutting MY FISH!!! Finally caught one!! I blame the rod and line :)


Me Bream - we Bar-Be-Qued it later on that night. Quite tasty.



Elaine with her second fish of the day. Couldn't get to the camera quick enough to catch the first.


Steve and Elaine looking like professionals :)


Me praying for a fish to take some interest in the shrimp I was using as bait.


The area of water we were all casting out into.

Running Total:
Elaine: eight (all released)
Hannah: Four (3 released, 1 died)
Adam: one (eaten)
Steve: one (released)

An Irish couple next to us gave us a fish as they caught two big ones... Thank you (eaten). I think it was a Permit!?

Hannah's 24th Birthday

The cake looked sooooooo yummy, instead of vampire teeth protruding, these things did?


and the same happened to Hannah.....weird?!


Hannah (acting) really suprised at the amazing birthday cake I made here in the microwave/oven thing which came with the cabin.


Thumbs up to the mess I made! Hundreds and Thousands get everywhere. Doesn't matter how many times to sweep up they still get stuck to your feet.


My creation!! no room for a candle (sorry Hannah)

For Hannah's Birthday I decided in not getting presents as we have to carry them around with us for the remainder of our journey, so instead I booked us in to a cabin (with aircon) for a couple of nights. It was so nice to sleep in a bed finally.

We invited Steve and Elaine around for a meal, where we chatted and had a few drinks. Somehow locked ourselves out of the toilet and then I got my penknife stuck trying to open it. Luckily I didn't have to explain myself to the management because the panic of knowing someone was coming around made me give it one has pull and twist and it came out.

Home Hill and Bowen

We are currently staying at a campsite at Queens Beach - Bowen



A Possum which wouldn't leave us alone at Home Hill. It was eying me up a lot of the time, thought it was going to jump on me :)

Im sorry this is a short and boring post but not a lot has happened in the last week. I am trying to look educated by reading Jane Eyre and Hannah is currently reading Wuthering Heights. No suneburn, some bites and not a lot else. Oh yeah we are trying to sort out our CV's so we can gain some employment once in Brisbane.

Jourama Falls and Alligator Creek

Here is one for you Nathan. Hannah noticed it as we parked up in Townsville. I was right next to Pratt St. (I'm saying nothing)


One of the many Kangaroos which hopped around our van one morning at Alligator Creek.


She might be sleeping again?! Well this is Han and Whitsun (with go faster stripes) at Alligator Creek. Really good facilities! Toilets, hot showers, BBQ's and gas hobs for $10 a night (approx £2.50 per person)


Whitsun and I doing some Australian Off Roading!!! lol this photo is for Gareth just to show that not only Landrovers can go through puddles.


A very hot and bothered Hannah at the lookout at Jourama Falls. Again it was really hot and humid. Hannah has realised she doesn't do heat well..... fun for me :)


The only other colour we noticed besides green and brown/grey.


Jourama Falls - consists of 8 water falls. It is odd to look out because the water just appears out of nowhere.


So random granite boulders just lying on the hillside heading up to Jourama Falls. Some of them were massive, as if they were picked up by a giant and placed there