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  Petrie, Australia
Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Hello to all our family friends.
We have finally got back near an internet again so can update our travels to date.
I hope everyone has enjoyed our updates so far, as we have got some great feedback from a lot of you all on it. We will continue to keep it updated as much as possible, however as we are presently located outside Brisbane it will not be as frequently.

So on with the Show....

We arrived in Wylie Park (Petrie) which is about 25km north, off the Bruce Highway from Brisbane on Mon 29th May. It was dark when we got there but we were just happy to be in a caravan park (legally)that was free (Maximum stay allowed - 48hrs).
Within minutes of arriving we met up with a few people who were in camper vans beside us.
Steve, who is from Guildford, England, has been in Australia since March and has been travelling about in a big Nissan Urvan Campervan (plus has been resident at Petrie Caravan park for about 7 weeks).
Shane, who is an australian who lives out of his car, and again has been resident for about 7 weeks in the Caravan park plus a few Austrian Girls and another Aussie called Noel.
After quickly knocking up the remains of the previous days meat on a BBQ, we joined them all for a drink.
Everyone was friendly and really accommodating for us.

The following day (After being able to have a warm Shower in the park) we thought it would be a good idea to hang about here for a few days (That was nearly 2 weeks ago)

Before i go any further, i have to say that myself and Ciara have really adapted to life living in a van. Although we have been in Australia for only 3 weeks, it feels far longer.
We are accustomed now to changing clothes whilst lying on a mattress or hopping up and down in a shower cubicle.
It is fun to set up our portable gas cooker and put together some food (whilst leaves, dirt, and whatever insects are about blowing into it.)
It is enjoyable to have 6 people squeezed into Steves camper, drinking goon (cheap wine) and playing cards or random drinking games until all hours of the morning.
We are enjoying not working for the moment and just really enjoying living a completely different life to what we are used to. (We know it won't be like this forever, but the experience will live with us forever)
Also,no matter where we travel now we now don't forget things as we are travelling in our home.

Which reminds me - our home....
Our van Homer is quite a small van. It is just 2 seats in front and a large raised mattress in the back with all our possessions below it.
We love Homer, and Homer loves us, however we found out on the Tuesday (The day after we arrived in the Caravan park) that Homer was quite sick.
Homer likes to conk out every now and again when in Idle. We were basically told, worse case scenario we would need a new Carburettor. However due to the expense we are tryng all the cheap alternatives firstly - cleaning the carby/filter etc.
Homer still works - and can go 70 kms working fine, but occassionally when we hit traffic lights/roundabouts etc he conks out.
That is the current situation with the van and lets hope we can get it sorted soon - We are still perfectly happy even in spite of this.

Whilst travelling in Malaysia, we met 2 very good friends in Phil and Julie - who are heading north from Melbourne and will be meeting up with us mid month, where we will all be heading up to Cairns. (Great Barrier reef/Airlie Beach/Frazer Island/The Whitsundays).
In Petrie we have now met 2 more really good friends. Steve, is a great lad and absolute gent and will possibly be joining us on our convoy up north and Shane is one of the funniest and genuine people you could ever meet.
In our time in Petrie to date we have all had so much good craic together.
Days are spent taking it easy/going into Brisbane/doing Laundry or helping out each other with various errands.
Nights are spent (usually in Steves Camper van (although he does temporarily has 2 vans - a bedroom and living room)) having dinner(Sharing the cooking or ordering in) and then either watch dvd through Steves lap top/sit round the table and have a laugh or play cards.
We have decided to hang around here until the first phase of the world cup is over (We will be watching it in a different way to most people. Shanes 3g phone has a package that shows all matches live and this can be plugged into Steves laptop - in style or what!!)
The caravan park is free and although max stay is 48hrs, we have had no trouble to date. Plus being so close to Brisbane, we can pop in and out if we please.

On Monday past another 2 people joined us. Conor and Amy from Waterford. They had previously travelled for a while with Steve, but had then done 6 weeks fruit picking to earn some cash. They came bearing gifts of loads of Irish Tea - Ciara is in her element!
The 4 of us went to the Steve Irwin Australia zoo on Wednesday past.
And what an excellent experience it was.
We left about 7.30am in the morning as we wanted to see the Glasshouse Mountains first as they were on the way. We took a turn for the look-out point, as we though this would be the best view. We just didn't realise we had to walk up a further 700metres(at about a 65 degree angle) to get to it.
I am sitting typing this mail 2 days later and my legs and muscles are still burning and in considerable pain.
The 4 of us started the climb, but half way up we lost Conor and Amy as Amy's Asthma was too bad. Myself and Ciara struggled on up - stopping every 50 metres to spit out a few lungs and whatever else came out.
We were determined too make it and with a struggle we did... And what a view it was.

We then moved on to Australia Zoo and were there just after it opened. This zoo is like no other.
In the Crocoseum we saw shows with Snakes, Birds of Prey, Tigers and Crocodiles.
Myself and Ciara also conquered a fear a had a photo taken with a massive Python snake around our neck.
Other great sights were the Koalas (Ciara got to pet one)/Kangaroos(Ciara fed one/Elephants(Myself and Ciara fed them)/Tasmanian devils/Camels and.. a 175 year old tortoise called Harriot, which is the oldest in the world and was captured by Charles Darwin.
Another excellent thing about the day was that it was very informative. We learned so much about all the animals - especially the ones threatened with extinction. I would urge anyone who goes to Australia to try and visit this for the day.

That, i think is everything up to date. We will be in Petrie for next few weeks and then heading north.
Now it is time to enjoy the World Cup. Come on Australia !!!

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Conquering another fear	Feed me Seymour !!!	Paul at Lookout Point	Up close and Personal

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