18/10/01

Thankfully, the rice managed to soak up most of the alcoholic excesses of last night, and after a few teetering steps, I could nearly walk straight again. Speech, as it turned out would not be restored to even a semi coherent level until much, much later.

As we are in bushranger country however, the ability to converse in anything other than grunts, belches and the odd fart, is not really required, so it's not a big problem. Once we had established our bearings, we headed off to the Adelaide Oval to check out an interstate game. After a brief conversation with one of the stewards, Rich got us in for free (they felt sorry for us being English, and wanted to show us how cricket is meant to be played). South Australia were playing Victoria, and to our delight, even though there was only a crowd of around 150 people, there were quite a few test players on display. Greg Blewett and Paul Reiffel (both have played for Notts), Jason Gillespie and best of all, that big fat cunt Shane Warne.

Even though, as I have just stated, we were still in recovery from last night, it would be rude not to have the odd beer at the cricket, wouldn't it? So to recap, we have spent today sitting in hot sunshine, drinking a few cold ones, and watching the cocky shit get knocked all over the place ! For an Englishman, it doesn't get much better than that. Let them have thebloody Ashes, we don't care, for today truly is a beautiful day.

Nick

Interesting Aussie fact. - The former aussie prime minister Harold Holt drowned himself by accident whilst swimming in the sea off the coast here in the late sixties. Bill Bryson amusingly refers to the incident in his book ' Down under ' as when he went for, 'the swim that needs no towel!' Anyway, the Aussies have to date only built one memorial to him and do you know what it is ? The Harold Holt Memorial swimming baths in Melbourne!

Rich

Byron Bay, Australia 06.11.01

Sorry if I've not replied to anyone's emails but I've been quite busy. Got into Byron Bay last night and after celebrating our arrival on the top of a cliff overlooking the bay, drinking champagne with the rest of our Oz bus travellers. For the benefit of those of you who spent the weekend stood in front of a bonfire trying to warm yourself up by waving sparklers and eating hot dogs you'll be pleased to hear it's about 27 degrees here and not a cloud in sight! (Don't worry, you'll be the ones laughing when I'm fighting off the flies in the 40 degree December outback - I got sunstroke in Ingoldmells don't forget!)

Melbourne to Sydney Highlights....

We went to the Penguin Parade at Philip Island which is where about 700 of the little buggers appear from the sea and waddle ashore just after dark under floodlights for the tourists. This was likened by Nick to the scene in Close Encounters where the aliens come out of the spaceship.

We drove through the Tarra Bulga National Park, went wine tasting, stayed at the Karoonda Park YHA where fun was had on the indoor climbing wall. One of us shinned up it like spiderman and the other one, well, had slippy fingers, and no grip on his shoes, isn't tall enough for climbing, the list goes on..

This was followed by a night hike where we found some kangaroos, lots of cows and Osama Bin Laden camping in a tent in the middle of nowhere. Please inform the CIA for us. We also passed through the capital, Canberra which was a bit dull but the hostel had a jacuzzi so I enjoyed it!

Sydney Highlights....

We stayed at the Jolly Swagman Backpackers in Kings Cross, described in the Lonely Planet as 'A cocktail of strip joints, prostitution, crime and drugs shaken and stirred with a handful of classy restaurants, designer cafes, upmarket hotels and backpacker hostels. It attracts an odd mix of low life, sailors, travellers, trendies and tourists.'

We felt right at home! We did all the obvious touristy stuff - Did I mention that we are tourists, not backpackers? There are too many tossers backpacking for us to be labelled in that way. The harbour is fantastic and I must have about thirty photos of the Opera house and Harbour Bridge. We went to Tarronga Zoo which is very good and gave us the chance to get close to Koala's Roo's and crocodiles, which Nick insisted weren't real until one of them flashed his teeth at us - I reckon there's trouble ahead ...

Rich