OK. It's not been a good day or two really. We left Perth after changing campervans once in one that had done over 420,000 km's. Upon arriving at Cervantes at around 5.15pm we decided to make the trip out to the Pinnacles so we could get on up the coast first thing the next day. We were going fine until a huge 'roo (the biggest we've ever seen) jumped out in front of us. I slammed the brakes on and we skidded into the side of the road before the car decided to roll over (and land upright) tearing the roof off in the process. Although really shaken up neither of us are/were hurt and we walked away. Some very kind people stopped by and helped us salvage everything. The roll wasn't at very high speed as nearly everything was intact (apart from the van)...even the wine, beer bottles etc... survived !

The bad news is that cost. It's going to cost us $7,000 due to the excess, towing charges, and 'single-vehicle' accident clause. This means that we're some 3k down and as we were living to budget at the mo we are not sure how we're going to pay for South America. We're trying to sort something out but it looks likely thanks to one bloody 'roo we may have to cut our trip short. As the cop we reported it to today said 'at least you're alive' and for once I'd agree with that. Apparently the biggest part of his job is dealing with car crashes - many fatal.

We're heading back to Perth tomorrow first thing and picking up a replacement van as we decided this morning in typical British stiff upper lip type way that 'the show must go on' and we're going to try to stick to our original plan. The alternative was to lose the money we'd paid for the van and hang around in Perth for 3 weeks. We would have gone back to Perth and got jobs but we can't work here as we don't have work, only tourist, permits.

We are both OK - a little bruised and sore, but no cuts or anything more serious.