Australia

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The temperature in the van was unbearable when we woke up just before 8am, so much so that I’d got one of those heat headaches that make you feel like your head is being slowly crushed by the humidity. It quickly vanished once the air con kicked in and within five minutes I was freezing. You can’t win.

Today was all about the drive. Despite it being perfect kite flying weather and our campsite being right next to a wide, empty beach, we had to get started as we’d been warned the drive to Airlie Beach was likely to take about seven hours.

The drive was long and boring but it gave me a chance to work my way through a good chunk of the Thailand guide book.

It was late afternoon by the time we arrived. The campsite was amazing - more like a holiday camp back home. Even the reception was awesome - everything waa marble and plush as though we’d stepped into a five star hotel.

We were pleased to get settled into our shady pitch and have some dinner.

We found out today that it’s not only the weather that changes as we drive north, the wildlife does too. Crocodiles and alligators become more common, and it there are wild birds the size of emus roaming the bush. One particular breed of bird (cassowary) looks like it has an axe embedded in it’s head - kind of like it has a shark fin jutting out - although these are now quite rare. Also the water becomes more dangerous with more jelly fish, some of which can kill you. I made the mistake of telling my mum on the phone and she didn’t sound impressed that we were going swimming in the Whitsundays in stinger infested water even though I assured her we’d be in full body stinger suits.

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Comments

[clare]

ha ha
Ha ha ha, "one of those heat headaches", sorry what are those? or do you mean the ones that sometimes happen to me if I run the hot tap in the shower and forget to add in cold or if I accidently trip and fall against the radiator, head first. Stop whinging, it's fricken freezin' here.