Hi. Sorry about the multiple mails last night - finger trouble obviously! Headed for Mt. Gambier this morning where we caught Sunday mass in St. Paul's, a very upbeat church with an amazingly mixed ethnic community - some lovely singing by the choir (recorded!). We then visited the Blue Lake there - you will recognise the pic. Saw some emus by the road today..........had almost reached Port Fairy (used to be called Belfast) when the petrol warning alarm sounded - we have done just over 400 miles since lealving Adelaide. Port Fairy is a lovely seaside town. Weather good, about 22 degrees and sunny and we went for a walk out to and around Griffiths Island which has a shearwater colony on it - didn't see many though. And there was a proper lighthouse here. The ... read more

Friday pm..........went for walk in the town centre.........even went into some shops (aargh!). walked through the university campus and then along the River Torrens, past the Adelaide Oval where they play.........soccer! Interesting variety of bird ( and Rae was with me this time)........saw pelicans, black swans and their cygnets, gulahs (brightly coloured parrots), coots (I think) and other species that I've found out the names of yet. After eating, we went to see the start of the Perth Fringe Festival.......lots of floats with scantily clad women and men on them, advertising their businesses. Today we picked up the hire car and made our way down to Robe...........a bit of a slog.......long quiet, straight roads......not really any views of the "Great Ocean" till we reached Robe but.......we did see our first wild kangaroo hopping over the road ... read more

Not a lot to report today............had breakfast and took the shuttle bus to Alice airport And caught the plane to Adelaide..........where it was tipping it down! Still 21 degrees though. Rae went to the gym (having withdrawal symptoms) and I went for riverside run, to be welcomed by sirens announcing that some of the bridges were in danger of being submerged. Still quite pleasant and I saw quite a bit of bird life. Had a nice Italian meal at Il Parlamento. Promised not to mention the cricket.......but had to take a pic of the Adelaide Oval which we overlook from our balcony. Still, the English had their day on the rugby pitch last weekend! City tour tomorrow morning.... read more

An early one today..........up at 04.30 to get the Uluru Sunrise tour. Spectacular watching the sky and cloud colour changes and the effect on the "RocK". Then we did a trip round the base, stopping at various points. Our driver guide was very knowledgeable, having been brought up in the Aboriginal tradition. The climb wasn't open because rain was forecast. But we weren't going to do it anyway, as the elders frown upon it. And when we saw what it was like, I don't think we'd have done it - looked extremely difficult! Finished up in the Cultural Centre, where you learn more about the history and customs and have the opportunity to buy tribal artefacts. Last couple of pics are cave drawings! Got back to the hotel about 10 and had plenty of time for ... read more

In Alice Springs now, 1.5 hours ahead of Perth - I suppose that I'll get this lost time back, though. 37 degrees....... but rain forecast for Tuesday! Fairly uneventful day........drove to airport.......left my glasses in the hire car, but remembered in time to retrieve them........Boeing 717 flight to Alice Springs..........shuttle bus to the Chifley hotel. Which, fortunately, has a pool! After a bit of relaxation, we wandered into the town - wasn't greatly impressed as Sunday appears to be early closing day........or maybe a non-opening day. Highlight of the day was having deep-fried banana and Mars Bar - the "traditional" Scottish dish that I'd never seen on a menu till I got to Oz!! 06.35 pick-up tomorrow to do Uluru etc. over 3 days, 2 nights. For the first time since we left, I'll probably be ... read more