16.10.2004

It's finally here.....i now officially feel like i am on holiday and life really doesn't get much better than this.

So, eight weeks i survived at my palace in the bush and despite endless jokes about it being character building i think it actually was. I know for certain that i have never worked that hard in my life....or more importantly shared my bed with so many unwanted creatures (?!!). Ended up staying a bit longer than anticipated due to lack of staff and offer of more money - am so shallow but money really does talk when you are a backpacker! Work had become ridiculously busy due to school holidays and the number of poos i had to wrestle down the toilet with my handy bog brush seemed to multiply day by day. Some of my little friendly truckies seemed to time their bowel movements so that not only would i have to wrestle with their last few days grub but also have to put a peg on my nose aswell - boys - you are all such charmers!!

Despite the coming and goings of new staff members (who couldn't handle the pace!), the billions of bugs, the stink of the Kangaroo and goat poo, the angry customers, the red dust now imbedded on every item i own and the lack of civilization i was actually very sad to leave the Overlander. Made some great mates who i plan to meet up with through the rest of my travels, got lots of hugs and kisses from my little truckie 'dudes' and had a nice big cake when i left - Life at the Overlander will definitely be implanted in my brain till the day i die!!

So i left on Wednesday and hopped back on the bus ready for my next adventure...headed to Hamelin Pool to see the Stromatolites, then the look at point at Eagle Buff and on to Denham.....where...i went to a pub - woohoo!! Had one pint and felt pissed and knackered so went to bed but still was very exciting!! Thursday morning we headed to monkey Mia where you stand in the sea and all the dolphins swim around your feet - very cute. Then on to Ocean Park, to see lots of sharks and turtles which was cool. Then had a little relax on stunning shell beach before heading through Carnarvon and up to Coral Bay, which is where i am now.

Coral Bay is stunning and was glad to be staying here a few nights. Is very small with only a couple of little souvenir shops but the beach is stunning, so spent yesterday chilling out in the sun reading my book, sleeping and generally taking life easy. Despite slapping on the factor 30 like it was going out of fashion, being the little English rose that i am i decided to stay out of the sun today as am feeling a tad pink!! The tan you will be pleased to hear is not happening at all, although the sunbathing under a sieve effect is in full force and i think i now have enough freckles to generously cover about 20 people.

Am leaving here tomorrow (sunday) morning and heading up to Exmouth for a few days. Met some really nice people on the bus who are doing the same schedule as me so am sure we will be continuing to have lots of fun. Will arrive in Darwin in two weeks to meet dad and Sal which am really excited about, phoned dad yesterday and was very bizarre to think he's in the same country as me!! So from next week shall be back in full contact on emails and my phone ....ahh very exciting.....although think i may get cramp when i try to send a text message!

Am now off to sit by the pool and read my book and think about going to the pub tonight...damm life is hard. Hope you are all really really well, oodles and oodles of love Ceej xxxx