NOV 24

Greetings from Oz. Arrived 8am Monday spent the day in Sydney sorting out my ticket looking at clothes (having used the washing service in India the clothes where knacked) and then went home to my mate's house after he had finished work, got to bed after approx 42hrs but Tuesday back on song, but took it easy, so today am in Sydney looking at cars trying to decide whether to buy or rent have been round different dealers for prices (they are all in Kings Cross) for those that don't know KC here has the same reputation as KC in London but I'm keeping everything crossed, going to make a decision today and then be on the road in a couple of days, for those who are interested I will be following the coast down to Melbourne and on to Adelaide then right up the middle past Alice Springs and Ayres Rock and into Darwin and then following the coast down past Cairns through Brisbane and back to Sydney should take about 10 weeks and 8000kms so watch this space.

DEC 6

Greetings, not exactly in the outback (yet) but am in the largest city in Oz inland!! it's called Ballarat, but back a bit first ,decided to rent a car and the plan is drive down to Melbourne all on the coast road then on to Adelaide (probably spend xmas and new year there) then up the middle past Coober Pedy (opal mines) then on to Ayres rock Alice Springs and up to Darwin, then across the top to Cairns and work my way down the coast past Brisbane and back to Sydney all in about 11 weeks and about 10000 kms, currently I'm about 100kms past Melbourne and just about to rejoin the Great Coastal Highway, went to visit Hanging Rock yesterday (no I didn't disappear) coincidence has it that as I arrived in Ballarat it was the 150th anniversary of the glorious British Army killing a few troublesome miners (well about 30 in fact) and for some reason we still get the blame?, but plenty of things going on TV cameras everywhere I've developed this technique of standing on street corners looking interesting but the cameras still ignore me, I needed the peaceful atmosphere of here after 4 days in Melbourne with a mate, total haze probable in need of a new liver, but I will survive, after this email am back on my travels heading back to the coast, and more magnificent sites to behold, small point been in Oz for 2 weeks and haven't fallen out with anyone as of yet, which of us is going soft? From Your Friend in the Sun and Warmth Peter

Question. How do you get 4 Roos and me in a car ? Answers before Christmas please

DEC 18

Greetings from a very hot Adelaide it's only 9.45am and it's mid 30's outside (for those of you up in the cold northern hemisphere TOUGH ) having left Ballarat I spent the next week meandering my way along the coast towards Adelaide, I keep getting confused as I drive through the countryside so much of it reminds me of England or at worst the French countryside and then you come across natural things of such beauty that every morning when I wake up I ask myself which country am I in (yes I know sad isn't it). One of the strange things that’s happened since I've been here is the weather for the first 2weeks it was poor (I'm being polite) Adelaide and nearby Murry Bridge got 6 months water in just 4 hours !!! I was still about 350kms away at the time but since I arrived here the weather has sort of picked up from the middle 20's at the beginning of the week to the very high 30's today and tomorrow which for you poor souls up there is bloody hot. Am staying in a place called Glenelg about 10kms out of the city centre the book says it's the place to be, when I arrived the tourist centre gave me some options Re accommodation which I thought where a bit expensive so on the way back to the car called into a place where the price was to my liking, the only thing is that it's also a gambling den, fruit machines, horse betting, TV screens everywhere showing horse races dog races, any bloody races, at 9.00am there are people trying to get in (very sad) but I've got into the habit of calling in for a drink early evening and just sitting among them, it's what I would call the coal face of human endeavour but it can be very funny as well. There is one tram line left in Adelaide it's from Glenelg to the city and guess what the terminal is 20mts from the hotel entrance so have parked the car and now spend my time going into Adelaide by tram, they are celebrating 75yrs this year and the other day as I was getting off the tram in the city centre I was confronted by a TV camara so putting on my cool look and holding my breath in was a bit put out when they walked right past me to interview an elderly lady?. As christmas is almost upon us I'm going to make this the last email of the year, I'm sure you all have lots of things to do, as I plan to leave Adelaide on the 2nd of Jan and start heading up the middle of this little Island I'm not sure when I'll get to a terminal but feel free to send any yourselves. Have a Great Christmas and a Wonderful New Year From A Very Hot Peter.
PS have managed 2 Roos and 2 Emus in the car but still working on 4.

Peter's chopper - Who stole the doors?

JAN 7

G'day Sports, A Happy New Year to you all, I hope you are all suitably ashamed with all the Kgs you have put on and all those headaches you kept getting, as for me Christmas Day was spent improving the tan before going to a posh hotel in the evening for my xmas dinner with a nice bottle of Oz's finest new years eve, they erected a stage right on the pier, with 4 groups fireworks at 12 (as good as Sydney without the bridge) and according to the police over 50,000 people and no trouble, finally staggered to bed at 2.00 great week of festivities. On Sunday jumped into the batmobile and headed north to Coober Pedy 900Kms arrived just after 6.00 so spent the evening reading up on what to do, and discovered that in the recent past the police station had been bombed twice the courthouse once and recently two police cars had been burnt out !!! the words town and frontier came to mind, the area itself looks like the surface of the moon, and when they drill pilot holes the dust is deposited on the ground in a cone shape with thousands of these cone shapes it looks surreal, but paid for a trip around the place 4hrs in a bus with the temp in the sun in the 40's when I say one of the most interesting places was the graveyard it was that kind of place, but I now know how they mine Opals, which is what the place is famous for the next day on the road again heading towards Ayers Rock, about 550kms now having read the book first it said that accommodation was expensive so when I stopped for petrol at a place 80kms short I asked about beds when told $45/night said yes then drove on towards the rock called into the info place to be told the cheapest place was $160/night so even though I had to travel an extra 80kms each way a saving of $230 was worth it, while at the info place booked another helicopter flight for the next day then went to explore Kata Tjuta known as The Olgas a series of big stones sticking out of the ground! they have walks so having been in the car for so long decided to go, 3 walks 2 classed as difficult 1 just 1 km but they said about an hour I did it in 55mins but was completely knacked what they didn't tell you was how high and low you walked, but can now say been there done that, next day drove back in and as the flight wasn't until early evening decided to walk around the base, for those who want to know about climbing up to the top 1, the locals don't like you doing that 2, the angle is at least 60degrees &3 although it was only 10.00am the temp was 32c so no thanks (the way they climb up at 60 degrees is by chain rope) the base walk is 10kms and did that in 1 3/4 hrs it was flat and as you in places pass very close I gave it a hug for you lot. Now the flight was at sunset supposedly the best time a 4 seater flight time 30mins we ended up having 45mins and I must say it was spectacular at 2000ft with the sun going down it is beyond my powers of description, but time moves on and the next day back on the road this time to Alice Springs, from where I'm sending this email, spent yesterday looking around the town and then today went driving towards the McDonnal range of mountains decided to go to the end of the road and then call into the most interesting places on the way back the scenery is stunning and as I called in for petrol there was sat another helicopter, well becoming an expert now decided to have a go to see gorges and rock formations, what I hadn't noticed was what type of chopper it was, 3 seats in the front and no doors, so muggins gets put on the outside with a bloody big hole next to me, I have to say my bottle started to go for about 5mins but after he had banked it so I was looking at the ground a couple of times it was cool (honest) on the way back called into another gorge parked the car and had to walk 1.5k got there and the sign said lookout which was 250mts high (that is high in such a short walk I was virtually rock climbing at times got to the top again totally spent I'm to old for this managed to stagger back to the car and on auto pilot ended up here, leaving tomorrow I was going to go upto Darwin and then Cains but to get to Cains I have to turn right at a place called Tennents Creek which is 1000kms short of Darwin so it would mean there and back and when I found out all the places to visit I have decided to give it a miss for now and come back at another time, so I'm now going to head for Cains should take me 2 days but who cares, then it's wall to wall decadence as I head down first the sunshine coast then the goldcoast back towards Sydney.

Not only did I fly over it but walked round as well (and gave it a hug for all you poor souls)

JAN 15

Greetings from Cairns, just to get the gloating out of the way having read about your weather it's 31c and no rain (this is the rainy season) having left Alice Springs I then drove 900kms and stopped at a place called Berkley Homestead this is in the middle of the outback, I had thought a bit of a lonely night when I tell you it has 20 cabins 30 motel rooms places for 60 caravans and space for 200 tents most of them where empty, but do they have fun, anyway next day back on the road this time over 800kms to a place called Normanton, stopped 2 nights 1 full day just to chill out, 2 things of interest the first was when still about 40kms from the place I ran into a tropical storm, now some of the roads are just single strips of tarmac with soft edges on either side and where roads dip they are subject to flooding, so there I was in the rain (50mm in 1 hour) couldn't see more than 10mts in front didn't want to stop for 2 reasons a.if a car came the other way who moved over? b.if the road flooded what would I do? so just kept going, the first stop was the local hotel for a long beer, the second thing of interest was in 1928 a 5ft tall Dutch Woman shot and killed the largest saltwater Croc ever over 28ft long and they have made a fibre glass replica of the thing I could sit in it's mouth it is that big, but time presses on so in the car the next day another 900kms and ended up in Cairns found a nice Backpackers place and the next day checked out the town and surrounds, and booked a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef, so the next day was picked up at 7am on the boat for 2hrs the bit we went to is 40kms off shore and then lots of snorkeling, I was surprised at how close the reef is to the surface in places only about 5ft but spent the morning having a wonderfully time, there is a fish called Wally who is always hanging around he is about 4ft long and looks like Mick Jagger, in the afternoon decided I had to do it so strapped an iron lung on my back and went diving, you first blow your ears then you blow your mind for those that have done it you will understand, for everybody else have a go, I got 45mins and they had to drag me up I got back to the place at 7pm feeling a bit sunburnt a bit knacked but walking about 6ins of the floor, anyway while on the boat made friends with a German brother and sister in their early 20's both a bit tasty (oop's) and as they were staying at the same place as me we went out for a meal and a drink with too much of one of them (you guess) this was all in the interests of cementing anglo/german relations of course, got to bed about 1am which would of been fine except that I was on the road for another trip at 7am the next day, but you just do it, right how many people knew that Cairns is surrounded by mountains ? well it is and my trip was to go by train 35kms and up 900mts to the top the views are brilliant waterfalls 300mt drop deep gorges etc then went for what I thought would be just a nice 6km walk, I found out that the top of mountains are not flat so staggered back to the train station only to remember that I was going back by cable car, now this is a 40min journey over the tree line which is rain forest back to the bottom again too breadth taking to describe, then round an Aboriginal Village where they have demos on throwing the boomerang and the spear, yes I had a go now with that bent stick I was that good I had to jump out of the way when it returned, big round of applause from everybody, the spear throwing wasn't that good but my excuse was that the Roo kept on moving, I had planned to move today but was feeling wasted so have stayed another day, hence the email but will be on the road again tomorrow, will be in touch.

JAN 26

Greetings on Australia day, I'll bet you didn't know that, the information I keep giving you it's mind blowing !!!. anyway having left Cairns drove down to a place called Townsville about the only thing I can say is "been there done that" which just about sums the place up, moved on from there to Airlie Beach with a group of Islands just off shore called The Whitsundays, real young persons place (yes I know) went on a boat trip out to the GBR and did some more snorkeling, the only thing is because of what are known as Box Jelly Fish, 3mtr tendrils and a sting that is V.V. Painful you wear a stinger suit when in the water, when in the water with so many people it looks like a herd/shoal ? of seals ( I refused to have my picture taken) but the snorkeling was great, from there moved on to Rockhampton again like T'ville not a lot except I went round another Indigenous (as they are referred to here) village and had another go at throwing that bent stick up to pro standard now, from there I went to Hervey Beach met a couple of Irish people (is it me or has the whole of Ireland moved out and are touring?) went on a day trip over to Fraser Island, you are supposed to go for 3days 2nights you know the thing under canvas, singing around the camp fire, not my scene, so went out with my latest new friends (welcome to the news letter guys/gals) then time to move on, decided to drive straight to Brisbane but took the Sunshine coastal road on the way, there looked to be some great places on the way, but more a beach type holiday atmosphere arrived in Brisbane about 5.00pm and found a Backpackers place right in the centre of town it by far the LARGEST B'packers place I have seen 5 stories with about 30 rooms on each floor with a mix of single rooms and dorms 4/6 each and just as I arrived the weather finally caught up with me a storm had been chasing me down from Cairns so yesterday it hit town and bucketed down, but undeterred went on the boat bus? yes they do have one 2hrs and you see lots of things, now they have a bar/restaurant in the basement and on the first night I had just a couple of drinks and a meal, but on the second night (last night) the place decided to hold a eve of Oz day party and I was told that there would be "games" big mistake got involved with a gang of Kiwis again in the cause of cementing anglo/kiwi relations only to find that they had entered the boat race (for those who have led a sheltered life) this is a drinking competition with a few twists 1. they are in groups of 4, 2. they have to hang from climbing bars which are spaced around the bar while drinking, 3.it starts with downing a half pint and putting the empty glass upside down on your head, now these guys (my new best friends) had drunk about 6pints each as a warm up after several halves they then moved on to pints, to which my team won high 5's all round, but it continued as the winning group they then had to pick a partner from the bar female naturally, by this time there must of been over 200 people in the place it was as they say cosy, anyway on a particular command from the MC they had to attain a sexual position and so it went on (I'm going to have to read the book again)but everybody seemed to know what was going on, from then we moved on, at this point I will say that the rate of beer being downed was impressive, now we have all heard of the wet T shirt competition well the Ozzie slant on this is the wet underpants (warm water) competition it was at this point that I felt I should go back to my room and continue with my knitting as I was thinking this could get out of hand with my new best friends being at the forefront but was persuaded to stay and as it was just about to get silly the bouncers moved in it was at this point that I made my excuses and staggered out, hence the reason I'm typing this now don't feel at my best today, but life goes on and back on the road tomorrow heading for the Gold Coast which is where all the sex,drugs &rock+roll is supposed to happen god help me, as long as I'm in time to catch my plane to NZ on the 2nd who cares.

The Latest Colonial Fashions?

JAN 31

Greetings with the last news letter from Oz when I left you last time it was Aussie day and I was just a tad delicate so deciding that I should take it easy had a nice day walking round Brisbane, just as a pick you up I called into the bar in the basement and met a young girl from Southport (just outside Liverpool) with her local boyfriend and in the interests of cementing Anglo/Aussie relations ended up spending the whole night going from bars to fleshpots? and back to bars bad idea, so the next morning fearing for my liver got out of town as they say, and headed for that well known retirement area called "The Gold Coast" as I meandered down I called in on such places as Surfers Paradise, full of hotels that many I think you could probably fit the population of Oz in them on to Coffs Harbour had lunch there and then Byron Bay where I decided to stay, just my luck the place was booming and after trying several places with no luck rang a B'packers place to be told I could have a tent (with fridge?) for $95/night so jumped into the car and drove 40k down the road and stayed at a nice motel for just over half that price, the reason I mention this is if you are in your early 20's like beaches, water sports and pulling birds it's a great place but I didn't think 1 out of 4 wasn't good enough! Carried on to the next stop which was Port Macquarie I've seen more action at an old peoples home but one pleasant thing happened a youngish girl from the B'packers place took me out for dinner in return for info as she was just starting out (honest) so after that the next day drove to Sydney I will say I thought the Sunshine Coast (north of Brisbane) was better that the Gold Coast (south of Brisbane) but it could be that it's because I won't see 25 again mind you if I did I would be dead by 26. Had decided to stay in the district of Coogee full of B'packer places but again full up so moved next door to Randwick and it's only 15mins walk to Coogee were yesterday they held the World Ironman/woman championships about 20,000 people turned up and with $50,000 for both as the first prize and live TV the place was buzzing, I kept on strolling past the cameras but they only wanted to show bimbos with very little clothing on (I can't understand that) today took the car back unfortunately with a cracked windscreen $300 robbing buggers, but I have to say good decision to hire a car it made the trip, of all the things that happened two stand out, new years eve at Glenelg, Adelaide and Aussie day eve Brisbane, I know what about the 12 apostles, ayres rock, the great barrier reef, but the reason these stand out is because they were created by people and the thing I enjoyed the most was the people, but time moves on, doing lunch with my mate tomorrow and then on Wednesday off to NZ to meet up with another mate from the old country plus try and contact some Kiwis I met in Oz in 2003 now the only problem is that they can all drink for NZ so with the need to cement Anglo/Kiwi relations I could be in trouble.

FEB 8

Greetings from the land of the long white cloud, on a demand from my mate here I brought summer with me (really I did) arrived in Auckland late afternoon wed, picked up the car at the airport but only drove a couple of hundred k's still recovering, stayed at a place called Hamilton didn't see much, but then didn't look much, in the car first thing next day feeling nearly normal and drove to Wellington about 500k to meet my mate, in trying to impress me he had foolishly offered to let me stay "as long as you like" obviously 30yrs in Kiwi land has affected his brain but he has a very nice wife so it can't be all affected, anyway late afternoon off we go to his local called "The Crows Nest" for non Crosby people that's the name of my local in Liverpool, where he introduced me to a lot of his mates, it seemed to be full of scousers (for non english people that's slang for Liverpool people) including the guy he moved to NZ with who I hadn't seen for 29yrs still the same only older, fatter and with less hair, but then aren't we all? great evening catching up with all the tales, the alcohol flowed yet again. The next day mate’s wife had managed to get tickets for the NZ International 7's tournament a 2 day affair we had tickets for the Friday, arrived 12.30 left 10.30 one of the best days rugby I have been to, it's also been turned into a carnival where everybody dresses up or down as the mood takes you ( that's code for alcohol) and there was plenty of that but peter was a good boy (well nearly good) but a great day, the next morning wife had organised us to go kayaking in Wellington harbour this was another first for me, we arrive and mate and wife get a double and me a single, off we go with them in front after a couple of strokes I decided to try paddling under water, well perhaps decide wasn't the right word but the effect was the same, I'm still sat in the Kayak upside down as I surfaced baseball cap and sunglasses were still in position but pride was floating around in the harbour, to make matters worse the round the world yacht race was in harbour, this is 12 identical 20 mtr yachts who circumnavigate the globe (to non yachting folk that's going round the world the wrong way) now the crews are made up of 50% professional and 50% paying crew so as I surface I'm right alongside 6 of the boats with half the crew on deck I have to doggy paddle back to the ramp but couldn't get up the bloody thing because of slime etc so had to hold my arm out so the guy could pull me up like beaching a whale, I won't dwell on the childish comments made by the retards on the boats, but with square jaw and steely look in my eye made my second attempt to paddle past which was successful (just) all the time this was going on mate and wife ignored me using the excuse when I enquired as to what happened that they hadn't seen me? we then spent a pleasant time paddling around the harbour and many inlets until it was time to come back which meant running the gauntlet of these 6 heaps of junk and yes they were on deck with friends cheering and waving so I waved back the only difference was I waved back with one finger, so having changed (I now know why I was told to take a change of clothing) off we went to enjoy a very pleasant lunch and a trip around Wellington seeing all the sites, arriving back home in time to see the finals of the 7's on the telly to be followed by a BBQ again with copious amounts of crushed grape, to be told later that a friend of mates with a 12mtr yacht had invited us out the next day for a spot of sailing, this is how Kiwis spend there weekends all the time!!! so the next day off we go around Wellington bay which is quite big, having a ball, remember those 12 gin palaces I told you about well they were due to restart their race late afternoon and as we arrived back they were all out testing things and racing around on occasions coming quite close so keeping my cap pulled down and shades firmly in place we waved as they went by, then back to the pub for debriefings and things and then home for dinner with more crushed grape (I'm on the list for a transplant) the next day went to pick up some maps and then caught the ferry to the south island 3hrs to a place called Picton stayed in a B'packers and this morning drove down to Kaikoura to see if I could see any whales, but only managed seals, so ended up sending this will be trying to see as much of the south as poss so the next one might start Dear Auks. Be Cool, From Shaky Hand Pete.

FEB 20

Greetings Auks, having left Kaikoura I then made my way to Christchurch only to find no room at the Inn, there was a Rod Stewart concert on 2 days later and the place was full of people wanting to see the Poison Dwarf so ended up 45kms away in a motel but as it only cost $40 a night was happy, spent the next 5 days doing C'Church was very good I could bore you with the things I did but won't, my plan was to stop at Dunedin for a night but because I spent 5days in CC just drove through heading for a place called Te Anou it's the gateway to Milford Sound, now what I didn't realise was it's 750k and the first 700 was in heavy rain so feeling decidedly brassed off with 50k to go and the rain stopped and it was about 6.00pm by now speeded up just a tad to see a police car come the other way and all off a sudden his lights start flashing and as I watched in my mirror he does a wheelie like a scene from Miami Vice and comes after me, being a law abiding citizen I pulled over and he mumbled at me about buying a ticket for the policeman’s ball and it would only cost me $170 peter was not happy (have you noticed that all traffic bobbys look the same UGLY) went on my way slowly only to find that Te Anou was full as well but a kind soul offered me a caravan for $30 which picked me up no end, so next day went on the boat trip down Milford Sound brilliant the scenery is stunning so before I left I rang Queenstown (my next stop) and booked a Funyack trip this entails going up river in a jet boat and coming down in a canoe 9hr trip, so arrive in Q'town only to find that bloody place was full as well, by this time peter is totally brassed off I ended up going to a place called Arrowtown 20k away and paying mega bucks for a motel the alternative was to just keep going but as I was 12,000 miles away it seemed churlish so I did stay (good decision) next day girding my loins went to the place it was bucketing down and they said it might be off? peter starting to become manic but all was ok jet boating was great you travel at approx 60/80kph at times on only 4ins of water with plenty of 360 degree turns this is to make it more exciting? but you get drenched with the spray (am wearing wet suit etc) then after we arrive at place we have to pump up the canoes, by this time we are a bit cold so no shortage of people to do the pumping 7 canoes each for 2 people as I was on my own I got the instructor so I'm in the front and he tells me to get in now I swear he pushed me but at least it got the wet suit wet, cap and glasses still in position, then off we went I was like a cool dude paddle in hand looking the part one of my better days (if you forget the swim) then next day off to the Glaciers stopped at Fox Glacier, was only going to stay 1 night which I did but decided to take a helicopter ride (another one) up to the Glacier plus to Mt Cook over 12,000ft on the way back he parked on the Glacier for a photo opportunity as they say (you will be getting one) then off on the road again stopping at Westport again I was only going to stay 1 night but a guy was booking a white water rafting jolly so after a nanosecond of thought joined in so today went up a river and with 2 boats came down the rapids for those smart arses it was a category 4 didn't fall out this time the rapids were too fast and spent 4hrs coming down am sat here typing this with arms falling off but all in all the south Island was cool but full, off back on the boat tomorrow back north for more adventures so watch this space (while I watch for the boys in blue). From a tired Adrenalin freak

FEB 28

Greetings from an Adrenalin drained Pom, having recovered from my W.W. Rafting exploits went back on the road but just had a nice drive up to Picton to catch the boat back to the north Island and stayed at mates again, on the second night mate and wife did a BBQ with friends from way back brilliant night chewing the fat as they say (It was actually chewing the corks out of wine bottles) and mate informed me that for the free accommodation I had to take a ride in a Glider? as it was late at night (code for something else) I agreed so next day we drove up to a place called Paraparaumu only to be told that the weather wasn't right for flying (shame) so we went back to watch footie on the TV as I was about to leave the next day mate rang the flying club to be told that conditions were perfect and as I was going past on the way north he demanded that I honour the agreement so yes I have been up in a glider to a height of 4000ft it was only supposed to be for 40mins but we ended up there for over an hour and It was both different and breathtaking, had photo taken looking like a WW1 pilot then jumped in car and carried on to Hamilton where family of mate had offered me a bed, so based myself in Hamilton for 3 nights, went over to Rotorua for a day, this is the place of hot springs and muds etc wasn't as smelly as I thought it would be but it did remind me of some of the B'Packer places I've been in, the next day went to Waitomo which is famous for it's caves so donning a wet suit (again) got set only to find that the session I had picked included abseiling? so was trussed up like a turkey a dropped down a cliff face 100mts that brought on some bowel movement, now the session is called Black Water Rafting, and what it's not is WWF underground you sit on a rubber inner tube and float down an underground cave looking up to watch Glow Worms on the roof of the cave all very sedate but that only lasts about 20mins the other 4hrs you are caving (proper stuff) again in a wet suit, it's head first, feet first, rear end first, every way plus swimming at times as the floor disappears got back totally knacked but elated, now you understand where all the adrenalin has gone, after that drove up to the Coromandel Peninsular for a rest have now moved further up the coast which seems to be mainly beaches so my last few days in NZ hopefully will be a bit tranquil, off to Fiji next Sunday. Keep Cool, From a Peter Who's Beginning to Feel Better.

MAR 5

A bit soon since the last one I know, but am waiting for my plane to Fiji, have been thrown out of the B'Packers so the only thing left was send a Tome (small). Carried on meandering my way up the coast (east side of North Island) and came to a place called The Bay of Islands, so called because it's a bay with lots of islands clever or what!!! called into a B'Packers place and as usual asked for a single room, no singles but would give me a dorm to myself for $75/night but offered me the dorm for $23/night if I wanted to take a chance and as he wasn't very busy said he would keep mine empty till last (you can see where this is going) as there was a boat trip out into the bay etc I decided to stay 2 nights, first night had the 4 bed dorm to myself, next day off on boat trip very interesting lots to see, got back late afternoon to find yes people in the dorm, well 3 20somethings from Sweden, at this point I must mention that the main reason I go solo is that modern dorms are mixed young people find this normal Peter doesn't of the girls (yes all girls) one would of won the Miss Ugly Competition of All Time the second one was brilliant at playing Plane Jane, but the 3rd was Drop Dead Gorgeous, 2 singles 1 double (mine) and a single over the double, so there I am in a bedroom with 3 Swedes DDG on top of me (so to speak) I had the most uncomfortable night ever I kept on worrying if I was going to be gang raped, but honour was kept safe although getting out of bed the next morning was a bit tricky, after this experience decided to go to Auckland for my last 3 nights in NZ found a B'Packers right in the centre, single room naturally and started to explore, returned to the hostel to see a notice advertising a Super 12 Game for Friday The Auckland Blues v The Queensland Reds for $25 coach there and back and a couple of beers very cheep, I found out when I got there the ticket was a comp hence the cheep price plus I was with the great unwashed, as the game went on it became increasingly boring so the crowd started to become restless, next thing a Mexican Wave started but with a NZ twist, as the wave came past everyone throws their bottles in the air(plastic) beer bottles soft drink bottles etc I'm sat with both arms over my head fending off the deluge and everybody thinks this is fun?, got back in one piece after another first. Overall view of NZ, great place for "activities" which are expensive, weather not as good as I expected, people friendly but not as laid back as the Aussies, great place did more firsts here than ever before, but as they say "Been There Done That Time To Move On" except for a brief flirt with grass skirts off to the land of God as long as immigration in LA haven't been reading my Tomes if they have I could be home earlier than I planned. From a Tank in Need of Refilling, Ciao.

MAR 20

Greetings from sunny Florida, but back to the saga arrived in Fiji 8.30pm in a tropical thunderstorm but while sorting out accommodation and things it stopped, stayed the night in a hotel had to be out side by 8.00am to be picked up to go to one of the islands, I woke up and my watch said 7.55 panic just threw my clothes on and dashed to the reception where the guy said what's the rush it's only 6.15 good start to the day, caught a boat to an island called Mano the whole island is a resort with a couple of B'packer places shoved in the corner but as the resort charges $Fiji 800 a night I didn't care and mine included 3 meals a day, the weather was great the beaches were great but, you have to disengage the brain, the evenings were ok as they organised entertainment, you know the things, fire dancing, betting on racing crabs, limbo dancing just the normal run of the mill stuff, I wont mention the 5 English lads straight from school 1 of whom celebrated his 19th birthday with his mates and 2 Swedish and 2 Norwegian girls, I couldn't record it over the I'net, but after 4 days it was time to go, it was strange I left Fiji at 23.00hrs on the 10th March and arrived at LA 11.15 on the same day where the immigration guy asked where I was staying that night, and when I said don't know he said well you ain't coming in, panic, tantrums, foot stamping, tears, and that was just him, but being a cool dude these days smoothed talked my way in, picked up a car and headed towards San Francisco to stay with a 2nd cousin drove up the coastal highway stopping for one night then stayed at his in a place called Mountain View about 50mls outside SF very nice place lots of eateries, coffee shops, map shops etc cus looked after me very well, on Sunday went into SF walked the full length of the waterfront had lunch at pier 39 that’s fishermans wharf then caught a cab over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito from where we caught a ferry back going right past Alcatraz, on my last day Tuesday I went into SF on my own and walked my legs off, taking a tram but also walking up some of the hills, got back to cousins with plenty of time so packed and went on my way, dropped the car off caught a local train right into SF airport to find I was 24hrs late my plane was 00.40 on the 15th and I turned up to catch the 00.40 on the 16th (yes I know you lot are all bloody smart and I'm the dope) the people were great and sorted out a new flight but it didn't go until 08.30 the next day and it was going via Newark NJ so found a hotel and then spent 9hrs in the air the next day arriving at Ft Lauderdale 9.30pm when I should of been there at 11.10am to make matters worse knowing I would be late I rang the hotel I had booked to tell them but when I arrived approx 10.30pm they had given my room away, at this point peter lost it, but the poor girl behind the desk was good, she threw someone out changed the bedding and gave it a clean while I waited, so with honour restored I stayed 2 nights, Ft L is a nice place, walked past one cafe with 3 Ferraris out side, needless to say I didn't go in for a coffee, picked up a car and started driving up the coast, now one of the things I've found out is that last Sept they had 3 Hurricanes all in the space of a couple of weeks which caused a lot of damage, the knock on effect has been shortage of beds, peak season, lots of workmen fixing the damage, which means difficult to find a room and when you do expensive, but it's peak season because of the weather so I can't complain, the only thing is when you go into a diner it's like joining a derby & joan club with all the wrinklies from up north escaping the cold weather. Going on a boat trip around the islands this afternoon and tomorrow am doing Kennedy Space Centre I've been told I must do Universal Studios for all the dare devil rides!!!!!!! I'll think about that spending 3 weeks in Florida then moving up the coast through Georgia, both Carolinas and north, will be in touch. From a Big Striding Stetson.