We stumbled across the annual Sydney food and drink festival in Hyde Park which is basically an excuse for a Mardi Gras. (Sydney has the second largest gay population in the world behind San Fransisco).

As two shaven headed guys we felt really at home there! We found a really nice pub where we did a halloween quiz where we were aided by a couple from Darwin.We finished a respectable fifth and the fancy dress competition was won by Bin Laden who obviously followed us from Karoonda Park.

We went to Bondi Beach (sorry about the email guys) and Manly where Steve Waugh was signing copies of of his latest Ashes Tour diary. Needless to say I didn't buy a copy! On our Blue Mountains trip (they're not really blue) we met a couple on a six month honeymoon from Nottingham who we entertained for the evening with our travelling tales, which are now becoming quite repetitive - avoid us like the plague when we return!

Sydney was rounded off by a visit to the Oaks pub in Neutral Bay to meet me old Aussie mucker Andy Lundgren, wife Margo and some of their friends. Andy told us where to find the plaque to mark the passing of his virginity and encouraged us to join a hippy colony! Fair Dinkum.

Sydney to Byron Bay Highlights....

First night was spent at the Dag Inn Sheepfarm at Nundle for some serious shearing and farmyard discoing! It was then on to Tamworth, the Country music capital of Australia!

At Bingarra we reluctantly declined the second best horse riding track in Australia for the sake of our ageing crumbling bodies and opted for the outdoor pool option instead!

I'm bored now so that's enough of that. To the beach....

Richard.
Tourist not backpacker.