Since leaving home I think leaving Melbourne maybe one of the most difficult things we have had to do - in part beacuse we managed to make ourselves a home there but also because we have collected so much stuff that even buying a car with plenty of boot space hasnt solved the 'how to transport it all' problem. At this moment, I should probably point out that Amy thinks it is mostly me that has bought too much stuff (Amy just likes to think she can still fit all of her things in one bag by pretending to have finished packing when it is full regardless of all the other bits and pieces she still has to put somewhere ;) I on the other hand went for a more organised approach with and now have an underwear bag, a 'stuff' bag, a storage bag?! Look out Madtin, we might actually be dragging you behind the car by a piece of string!!
So the big news...we bought a car - did you work that out already? It is a baby blue Toyota Corolla circa 1984 with a built in oil leak and furry front seat. She has been christened Betty Boo (just doin the do) with the help of Miss Dibby and is now the proud owner of some furry die (thank you looky lady!)!! We took her for a test drive on the weekend to Queenscliff and took the ferry over to Sorrento in the hope of seeing some dolphins, but we didn't :( At this time we became aware of a small oil leak somewhere within the car. "Joe...?" (thats the man that sold us the car), back to the garage and she goes in for a little check up and everything is deemed ok.
Our last few days in Melbourne were spent working with a small amount of socialising to wish our new friends farewell (for now!) The most memorable night being Paul's 'pimpin' BBQ where we all went insane. Enough said :)
We finally left on Wednesday - jam packed car and and extra passenger for the first leg of the trip. Amy, Jamie and I visited the Australian Garden in Cranbourne which was a little out of the way but our last must-see attraction in Melbourne (even though it isn't due to be completed until 2010!) Next stop the train station to send Jamie back home and it's time for us to hit the road Jack, and never come back till-la-ter-on-this-aft-er-noon! Turns out the nout-to-worry-about oil leak was actually something to worry about, "Joe...?". After a quick check-up at a garage in Moe the diagnosis is not so good - the rear main seal has gone and unfortunately the only way to get to it is to rip Betty's insides out and go in through the gearbox. Options are...go back to Melbourne and have the car fixed for free or go back to Melbourne and have the car fixed for free. So we go back to Melbourne and have the car fixed for free!
Thursday afternoon we try again...and this time - SUCCESS! ...WINNERS! We made it all the way to Bairnsdale where the streets are lined with bugs and there is no hostel-style accomodation to keep budgeteers happy. To make up for the five star accomodation we had just paid out for we lived off ham sandwiches that evening...mmmm! We managed to spot a bush fire, some big lizards, kangaroos on a golf course and dead kangaroos in the road (we didn't kill it!!)
Friday morning (oil check, water check) we are up and away again via the Canoe Tree which is a tree that the aboriginals used to make things like...errr...canoes! Past a few lookouts and through a town called Eden which held the promise of some whale watching but just like the dolphins, they remained hidden :( After Eden we drove through Merimbula and decided to carry on to Bega where there was a cheap hostel and a cheese factory. We visited the cheese factory in the morning, maybe not the best time to be tasting cheese but still (and Mum - there wasn't any wine to go with it unfortunately!)
The next part of the journey was straight up the coast and into the jaws of Sydney. Driving round the city wasn't so much of an issue - the gridlocked traffic and 37 degrees of heat were though! We eventually arrive at the hostel only to discover that the 'Car parking available' meant 'you can have a car park for $15 A NIGHT, if you want to spend all of your money on parking your car three miles away from the hostel!?'...no thanks sparky. So we went to another hostel which we had heard of and lo and behold their parking is only $5 a night, much more reasonable in the eyes of the backpacker!
