USA

Well here I am in USA and going home tomorrow! (Hopefully!) Chris informed me that I really should blog one last time before I go so here it is...

Last time I wrote I was in Cairns. Went snorkeling again and it was SPECTACULAR! I kept getting water in my mouth cos I'd say things like "this is soooo beautiful!" out loud to myself with my head under water. Silly. But yes, fabulous. I highly recommend everyone goes.

That night I met with Sam who had been in the Pink Room with me in Mission Beach and we went for dinner. I was planning to go to bed early and pack etc but instead ended up drinking rather a lot of wine and watching some jelly wrestling with a bunch of boys from Bucks. (Wondered if we had any mutual friends until I discovered they were 18! 18!!!) Random, but excellent fun, and I still managed to get up in time to pack and make it to my plane on time.

Flights from Oz - NZ and NZ - USA were relatively uneventful. As ever, Air NZ was true to its roots and provided copious quantities of lamb, kumara (sweet potato), manuka honey and NZ ice cream. Num num num. Had an empty seat next to me on the NZ - USA flight which was good as I got lots of sleep.

Arrived in San Fran and lovely Caitlin was there to meet me. Bit of excitement going through customs as realised I shouldn't have brought some meat products over but somehow managed to charm the customs man and was the only person around who didn't get their bag x-rayed. He was very concerned that I'd brought over a kinder surprise which is apparently a choking hazard, so once I had assured him I had not he didn't seem so concerned re illicit animal produce.

Clakes and I wandered around San Fran a bit and went to cheesecake factory where I had delicious meatloaf (although Shepherd's Pie was also on the menu, please note mummy Mc) but then I got super tired so we went home.

The next day Caitlin and I went to Great America theme park - no Disney but very fun nonetheless.

The next day (no idea which day of the week, I have lost all track - probably Saturday?!) Alex, Shaun and Robert arrived and we picked up the minivan (people carrier) for the trip. Then off we went!

I have no hope of remembering everywhere we went, but here are some highlights...

AMAZING crater lake in Oregon, which was surrounded by 15 foot of snow and super impressive.

Excellent fun night out in Portland, Oregon with all the gang and also Nii who flew over to join us for a couple of days.

Yellowstone park which was also very, very spectacular. Lots of volcanic stuff and a big geyser which we had to wait a crazy amount of time for but was very cool.

Getting a stamp in my passport and a HUGE toffee apple in Canada, other than that I thought Vancouver was super ugly. But we also had delicious greek food mmmm lamb shank.

Shopping rather too much in Seattle, and a posh dinner there.

Ridiculous numbers of games of travel scrabble in the minivan.

All in all, good good times. Alex, Robert and Shaun are off today so Clakes and I are going to see some of the San Fran sights, then home tomorrow (hopefully - unless there are any more volcanic eruptions...)! Been fabulous but am ready to get back to fabulous Blighty.

Will probably blog for one last time when I get home, but until then... xxx

I am in Cairns on the final leg of my Ozzie trip! Can't believe it!

So I spent a whole week in Townsville in the end, the hostel was just so chilled and lovely. Met lots of nice people there including a lovely German girl Alex who I went to the beach with several days (and discovered Cold Rock icecream - awesome flavours and then mushed up bits of any kind of topping you can think of mixed in mmmmm) and some more South Londoners (they really get around!) who I went on a monster walk with. Up this massive massive hill and they were rather a lot fitter than me and a tropical rainstorm started halfway up... so that was interesting!

Then headed from Townsville to Mission Beach, proper rainforest. Was chucking it down like I've never seen when I arrived. Got into a bit of a grump so decided to upgrade my room, ended up in a 4 bed girls dorm with all pink sheets and towels and stuff called the Princess room. Obviously I was loving it. Met a nice girl in there so we went out for a few drinks, the bar / club by the hostel was hilariously awful but was nice to get out anyways. She's coming to Cairns while I'm still here so we'll probably go out here too. Good times. While in Mission Beach I managed to use the little bit when it wasn't raining to go on a rainforest walk, was rather exciting. Lots of geckos and spiders and butterflies and birds, and even a squashed snake on the side of the road on the way back. Also saw some wallabies and black parrots while I was there, but still no bloody kangaroos or koalas! Boo Australia lying (lieing?! I never remember that one!) about its wildlife...

Now in Cairns, just been wandering around the town, it's very busy at night and has a cool night market. Can't believe I'm only got 3 nights left! Probably going to go snorkeling on Tuesday although depends on the weather, it'll be okay if it's just a bit wet but if it's as torrential as it was today I'm not sure how fun it will be. We shall see. Then off to USA on Wednesday! Will write more then. xxx