The Final Countdown

As the trip comes towards the end, I guess it’s time to look back over the past month and identify the highs and lows. It really has been an excellent trip. A good bunch of people, a great tour leader who has a genuine interest in what he is showing us, and great places to see and visit. It seems like so long ago that we started out in Sydney on that Sunday morning (28 days ago to be precise). Pretty much from day one the group gelled well and half way up the road to Coffs harbour we were all chatting along like we had known each other for weeks.

The difference between the 2 parts of the trip are vast. The First part, along the east coast was certainly beautiful and action packed. Lots of activities, lots of beautiful beaches and scenery. Scenery that we are used to I guess in the northern hemisphere, though obviously the weather is better down here. Highlights of that part of the tour for me were Byron Bay – I want to live there, and the Whitsunday Islands, stunningly beautiful. Activity wise, the sky dive was obviously huge, as was the hangliding. Some of the smaller stuff was equally good though. I really enjoyed just going for a swim, or for a rainforest walk and stuff like that. The second part of the tour was certainly a challenge in terms of the distances and the territory covered. But despite not feeling the outback at first, I can now hand on heart say it’s been one of the best experiences of my life. I have challenged myself to do stuff and put myself in situations that I would never have normally done before. I have tested my resolve and proved to myself that I’m strong. I wouldn’t have changed it for anything. . Highlights for me from the second part are the devils marbles, New Years Eve in Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. And as I type this we still have 2 days left, king’s canyon and Uluru so no doubt there will be more highlights from those. Some of the drive days were long, but none to the point of complete desperation. We always managed to amuse ourselves on the bus. Abba day. Elton John day, rocking in the bus. Funky glasses, Blow Up Microphone, good times. The song of this trip for me, and I guess most of us, will always be the Kings of Leon, Sex on Fire. It’s our anthem. It was the first song of the New Year for us in Darwin also. Speaking of music, I must mention the saving grace that is my iPod. If ever I’m feeling down or just need to recharge my brain, some artists have really brought me back around. Alexandra Burke, your Hallelujah has been played so many times, and each time the hair stands up on the back of my neck. Leona, never fails to deliver for me either. Beyonce, Dolly, Goo Goo Dolls, Jack Johnson, Leon Jackson, Michael Buble, Stereophonics, Snow Patrol – have all played around in my head from time to time and always bring me back!!! I guess when I return I will always have music that will bring me right back here!!!

I will certainly miss the group when we go our separate ways on Tuesday. 3 of us are headed for Melbourne, 3 for Adelaide, 2 for Sydney (and onto London, then Edinburgh), one to Perth and two stay on in Alice Springs for a few more days. Luke has to drive the van back to Sydney, will take about 3 more days apparently. The 3 of us heading for Melbourne will probably meet up there, and Francis will be on my New Zealand trip with me so that’s good. Ironically, Francis and I didn’t always see eye to eye at the beginning, but I have warmed to the guy allot since the group got a bit smaller. He is one funny laid back dude. So laid back he could be described as comatose sometimes, hence why I used to get annoyed with him at the beginning, but it’s all good now.

The rest of the group, who I haven’t really described in any great detail are as follows.

Antoinette, from the Netherlands. Our resident drunk on one glass of wine Dutch Bird!!! Your a star, if a little loud at times, but we love you for it!!!!

Kathrin and George, our honeymooners from Germany. I would marry Kathrin for her cooking, the girl makes a mean curry. George, the quite gent with a wicked sense of humour. Our resident David Bailey with more photography kit than luggage!!!

Gill and Lynsey, my Scottish bitches. We hit it off more or less from day one. Laughing, giggling, character assassination, song ruining – we did it all this trip. Good times. I shouldn’t group them together really so I shall give each a description of her own.

Gill, The IT bird (of the information technology and not the Tara Palmer Tomlinson IT kind). Fun loving and always up for a laugh. We had some good old chats along the way, allot of drinks and allot of fun throughout. Nearly had Gill getting a tattoo as well as me, but it didn’t happen in the end. Her Sky dive is her highlight of the trip and it shows in the pictures of that day. She was blown away by it all.

Lynsey – I was probably closest to Lynsey out of everyone. We had a right laugh. When I was up she might be down and when I was down she might be up. But when we were both down, god help anyone who got in our way. Tennant Creek will always has special memories for me and our conversations about the outback and how much we weren’t feeling it. We would have left that day if it wasn’t for being in the middle of bloody nowhere. But we didn’t and on reflection, I think we both got allot more out of the end of the trip than either of us expected. Mosquito’s love this girl, and I have vivid memories of her sunburn from the rafting, that was so sore!! Love ya to bits doll, you’re a star!!! x

Rosalba. Poor little cold Italian Rosalba in 40 degree Australia. My little vogue bitch as she looks like a bloody model in every photo of her. Bitch!!!! And the thing with her and Joe, so sweet!!!

Els, from Belgium, joined us in Cairns. Loves her music and her tattoos. Probably haven’t gotten to know you that well as yet, but we still have a couple of days left. And we will always have our nights in the bush caravans when rosalba left us because of the 2 runaway geckos.

Rita, again joined us in Cairns. Mad little Rita, loves to dance. Will have lot of stories to tell her students when she returns to Canada.

Christian, also from Germany. Big tall Christian. I took over the food kitty from him on the second part of the trip. Likes his dancing and never got a chance to show us his moves on the dancefloor – yet. We still have the last night to go!!!!

And Francis, as mentioned above is from Switzerland.

Big shout out to those mentioned previously who left us in Cairns – Emma, Neil, Joe, Judge Jay and Janet. I should have been one of them, but decided to stay on as everyone now knows.

And of course that leaves me with Luke. Our infamous tour leader. For me (and I guess for others too) he has made this trip what it has been. He has taken us to the most amazing places, and not just because the itinerary says so. He has lead us as a leader but has also taken a genuine interest in each and every one of us throughout the trip. He has kept us all in line with our jobs and responsibilities, and kept us informed with his nightly after dinner speeches about the upcoming day or days. With all the long driving days, he has never shown us that he is tired or in any way fed up, and speaking as someone who has to sometimes keep smiling when all you want to do is scream, I know that can be hard to do sometimes. Cheers man for showing us Australia and giving us all every opportunity to experience our holiday as we would want to do it. You have made a lasting impression on me dude!!! Maybe catch you for a pint in Sydney before I head to NZ.

And then me. So what have I learnt about myself on this trip. I leaned to like me more I guess. I lost BiIly somewhere along the way over the last few years. It kind of felt like I was almost on autopilot. But now I feel revitalised and ready to take on the world again. I want to live my life and not look back with regrets in the future. The Billy that returns from this trip will be different that’s for sure. I want to be a more positive person going forward. The glass is always going to half full from now on!! And I want to have more people in my life. Not just people who I call friends but who I never really let in, but friends that I actually communicate with and tell them what’s happening etc. To those friends who I already do this with, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you’re getting more!!! (If that makes sense)

Another thing I have learnt is that I can be very camp sometimes, and that there is nothing wrong with it. I guess I have been gay for what seems like an eternity, but in a sense I have never really pushed the boundaries of it, if that makes sense. I found on this trip I kind of used it not so much for attention, but as humour. I think most of the group got it so it’s all good. I guess I hold it back allot with work and that’s the way it has to be, but I need to let loose a little more when I’m not working when I go back. In doing so I will make more friends and meet new people. I know I need to find more of a work life balance and make the effort to get out there and meet new people. I like the Billy I am here, and that’s going to continue!!! When I figure out where I’m going to be when I return I can put it into action. 2009 is going to be the year I get things done. By the end of 2009 I intend to have my eye fixed, have learnt how to drive and aim to be in a proper relationship by next New Years Eve. And if I don’t have at least attempted those, then I invite you all to slap me!!!!