Target Practice

Have you ever met a person that just talks to hear his own voice, can't stand the silence and must fill it with noise. Who thinks he knows everything and then proceeds to share with you the vast knowledge he has and then reiterates it just to let you know over and over again how much he knows. If so, then you have met my new coworker Baz. That's short for Bazza and that's short for Barry. Here in Australia if you have an -ar or -arr in the middle of your name it some how gets shortened to Gazza or Gaz for Gary, Kazza or Kaz for Karren, and the list goes on. It's a very interesting process but it works. But anyway that is taking away from the point of my story. Well spud picking is done in a cart pulled by a tractor on site over the mud clots and dirt mounds and rocks in the potato paddocks. It's a bumpy sort of work and fast moving and I quite like it but it has it's moments. The Gypsy Cart as we like to call it is in very close quarters as it's tented in and you only have enough room to stand on either side of a conveyor belt sorting through the spuds. Well our new loud friend Baz on top of all the incessant talking is a smoker and has no problems smoking and sharing his fumes while working in this tight unventilated area. This annoys me, I'm sorry for all the smokers out there that I know and love, but making people inhale your smoke when they are not smokers is just down right rude and especially in this situation there is no escape and the sneezing starts and the headaches start and it just angers me. I send him death rays with my eyes and curse him in my mind and just fester while working. Well on top of this annoyance for a brief but long hour yesterday he stood next to me while sorting, we could have stood shoulder to shoulder but I didn't allow it making my body as small as possible and shoving myself in the corner getting closer and closer to the beginning of the belt. I then was welcomed by his body odor, slept in clothing funk, topped off with stale smoke breath and body grease smothered cologne which is high rancid. Oh it was disgusting and I wanted to bust out of there. He proceeded to smoke and share his body odor with me and his vast knowledge and all I could do was use my mind to curse the man and wish him to return to his post. Finally after eating the thick smell that exuded from this man he shifted spots and I was able to breath in the much welcomed dirt filled air that smelt oh so fresh in comparison. As a practice I don't usually talk publicly about a person in such a bad way but there is a moral to the story and I feel that I should paint an accurate picture for you to get to whole idea.

I am posted at the base of the belt and Danielle is across from me in the middle of the belt and Baz is at the end directly adjacent from me. The goal is to take the rocks, mud clots, cut spuds, green spuds and rotten spuds from the belt thus leaving the fresh spuds for sale. When a heap of clots or rotten spuds come through its gets crazy and hands are flying trying to rid the belt of unwanted debris. Whatever I miss Danielle tries to get and whatever she misses Baz gets. Well when the belt gets overrun with crap and it whisks back to Baz he goes crazy trying to get the stuff off the belt before it goes into the bin. The faster he works the more crazy and octopus like he gets and the rocks and rotten spuds start travelling closer and closer to me and before you know it I'm target practice. I get pelted up and down my left arm, in the stomach, on my left butt cheek up and down my left leg and one even crossed my body and splatted on my right arm! If ever I get hit in the head I know I'll be out for the count. I just cower in the corner and miss my lot because I'm trying to protect myself and the cycle viciously continues until the end of the row and I can finally safely come out in the open. Man!

So the moral of my story is... if you send death rays with your eyes or secretly curse a man with your mind karma will seek you out in the form of a rotten spud!

Splat!

Farm Life

I hope every one's Easter was good. This year we spent it with the Tayler's and enjoyed ourselves. It started off on a sad note. On Good Friday Gaz's father passed away. He was a very sick man and even though it was expected and a blessing that he wasn't suffering anymore it was still hard for everyone. It was all too familiar for me as that was the anniversary of my own mothers passing and it was just hard to watch them have to go through the same thing. Gaz's sister came into town and we all had a huge feast Saturday night and played a game of Phase 10. We had fun and made sure that Charley was celebrated. It's good to be around loved ones during a time like this and I know that Danielle and I serve as a fun and welcome distraction. My heart goes out to them.

Well the potato harvesting has yet to happen. But in its place we have baby sat, harvested wine grapes, tore down an old fence, went to our first rodeo, burned some fires and placed some bets!

Babysitting was fun and exhausting too. A two and a half year old and a one year old demand a lot of attention BUT we had fun and have become very fond of the curly headed beauties. Winnie and Maggie are their names and playing is their game! :) We played at the park and fed the ducks and just enjoyed the intrigue of putting on lids and taking them off again over and over. hahahaha I think it's so funny how there can be a room full of toys and the little tykes will go for the box the toys came in before anything else. They are smart kids and we really enjoy them.

Harvesting wine grapes was a much different task but also very fun. It was just a one day event with only 31 rows to clear and a team full of oldies... and then Danielle and I. We showed up and assumed that we would be joined by other backpackers. Instead we were met with a retired bunch of men that just make you giggle! We walked up and down the rows with our buckets and snipers and listened to the chatter of many years experience. One conversation consisted of one bloke announcing his retirement from grape picking to finally being able to just sit at home and do his own thing. He was met with an angry group of fellow retirees all chanting... "Merv if you stop working you will die!" So harsh! hahahaha they were so serious though. Then the youngest of the group at 65 was being picked on for having a lady friend. The comments are as follows... "Oh that lady knows more than here prayers! She's not the type of woman that I'd want to take home to mom!" followed with... "Bernie, she only wants you for your body!" hahahaha can you just picture it!? Danielle and I couldn't suppress our laughter it was just adorable! They went on to talk about footy, war, money, beer and then homosexuals. Oh the older generation! Some were very homophobic as they self titled and the opposition was trying to educate them by sharing their own experiences and friendships with gays and lesbians. Encouraging them to take a less harsh stance. I must say it was very educational and entertaining!

Fencing work is just plain good physical labor and we can tackle it any time we wish. The Tayler's are so good to us and we like to help them out in any way we can. The most exciting of the jobs offered us is the burning of paddocks! They run a harvesting farm and grow wheat, bailey, canola and oats. After the season is over and everything is cut and sold they are left with stubble in the paddocks. They mulch this down and let the sheep graze and get fat and then they have to burn the areas so they can restart the whole process. The burning helps with regrowth and basically gives them a clean slate otherwise the soil becomes sterile. They also have to make many truck loads to the lime pits to sprinkle on the paddocks to bring up the pH levels. I went with Gaz on one of his trips. We woke at 5:30 am and trekked down to the pits and it was just amazing to see all the machinery and work that goes into it. We drove back and the big semi (of which they call road trains) tipped the contents of lime onto the ground in a huge heap and we went on to work. I'm really enjoying the farm life and getting to know all the inns and outs of things here. Today we get to burn some more paddocks and we have the job of sitting on the back of the fire truck! In my opinion the best place to watch it all unfold! We drive through smoke and flames and spray all the fences with water so that they don't burn up and then move on to the next paddock to do it all over again! What a rush!

Last Friday we attended our first Rodeo... yes I know we are Texans the put our state to shame but at least now we can say we have been to one! It was fun but interesting and a little too much for me. I can see why the sport is so addictive to the participants but it's just a bit too much for me. I must be turning in to a greenie but that's okay. I can be worse things. ;) I can now say I've seen one and experienced the atmosphere but I'm sure I won't venture to one again. One guy was carried away on a stretcher. Yikes!

I found this amazing cafe in Ballarat called Da Vinci's Cafe and it is amazing! Inside it's all decorated with Leonardo da Vinci's art work and sculptures and the atmosphere is just enchanting. Huge canvas paintings, Italian stucco on the wall with more paintings and just an amazing food selection and environment. So Danielle and I decided to shout our new Australian family to a good Italian meal and we made a night of it. We first went to the TAB (where people go to place bets on horse and greyhound races) and Gaz was going to place a bet on his friend Pedro's horse Totally Oro. He called him earlier and just had a good feeling about it. Now you have to understand Gaz is a very lucky man! At the pockies he can slip a dollar coin into the machine pull the handle and walk away with $130. So the more he talked about placing this bet the more Danielle and I adopted the excitement and adrenaline he was putting off. So we decided what the heck we will place a couple dollar bet and if we lose we aren't throwing away too much. It's just for fun and you can't take your money with ya, right!? So we had Gaz help us. We ended up placing $3 to win and $3 to place. Not a lot of money but a fun investment for the novelty of it. We went and ate our wonderfully cooked meal had some gelato and mint chocolate cake and great conversation and then headed back to the TAB. We arrived just in time for Gaz to place one more bet and we watch the race with a new appreciation and interest that we've never shared before. Sure enough Totally Oro came in first place! The odds were in our favor... $20.50 for a win and $4.50 for a place! We walked away with $75!!!! It was so great! We all celebrated and after Gaz collected his pot full of gold we went home pleased as punch!

We are now quitting our gambling career with a winning streak! hahahaha :)

The weatherman says crickey!!!

Hello all! I know it's been a really long time since I've last blogged! My problem is that I want to post pictures but can't overload the memory of the computer where I'm staying so instead of just blogging I've been putting it off until I go to an internet cafe. Since I have the internet at my fingertips all the time I never seem to find myself at a cafe... Problem! I'm a mess I know so now I will blog without pictures and I will just have to get over it.

Lets see... We last left off with the Tour Down Under. Of which now my poor Lance has a 4 month recovery after breaking his collar bone in Spain! So devastating for him and the cycling world. After our adventures in Adelaide we ventured down to Timboon which is not that far from the Great Ocean Road. A beautiful area! For a week we worked on a dairy milking 340+ cows. It was great! We so loved it. Crazy I know. The cows get on a rotary and you hook them up to the milking devices (I did this part) and as they travel around the circle they are milked until they get to the other side (where Danielle was) and take the devices off and they back out and walk to their freedom. Now the danger in all this is dodging and running away from the "droppings" and "yellow waterfalls" that continuously escape from the cows. It's a mine field out there I tell ya! We looked like mad scientists all decked out in our gumboots and rain slicker aprons. On an unfortunatly hot afternoon I didn't run fast enough and I was the victim of a urine drenching. It was awful! My head suddenly felt a warm sensation and ahhhhhh I ran over to the water hoses and soaked my head until I felt relativly clean enough to resume my duties. YUCK! hahahaha You some how get used to it all though every morning and evening we walked away with many brown specks covering our arms, necks, legs, clothing, faces and hair. What an experience! We got to know the cows there and really enjoyed working with them. I would have to say that it has been one of my favorite jobs. I can't explain why it was so fun but it just was. hahahaha I never thought I'd ever say that. :)

After our time there we headed back to the Tayler's and worked on their farm as well as neighboring farms doing gardening clean up and little odd jobs that no one really has the time to do but needs getting done. We were happy to do them and getting the extra pocket cash was just an added bonus.

The Tayler's were scheduled to go up to Yarrawonga for holidays and asked if we would stay and watch the farm, look after the animals and do some fencing for them while they were gone for the two weeks. So we did so and really got into the farm life here. They invited us up for the weekend in the middle of the two weeks to go out on the lake with them and get some rest and sun. So we headed up there and enjoyed the lake life. Unfortunatly it wasn't such a fun filled weekend. Although the water was fun and knee boarding and tubeing was a blast I suffered some material losses that broke my heart! On our first night there one of the Tayler's friends was teasing me warning me he would eventually throw me into the lake when I wasn't expecting it. So I of course kept my eye on him. But as luck would have it he did catch me unguarded and in the lake I went... not a horrible thing and laughs all around until we all realized I was no longer wearing my brand new Oakleys anymore! Yep that's right the lake swallowed my Oakleys. The even more crushing part is they were a gift and I take pride in looking after things given to me. So we all looked feverishly for them to no avail! So sad! To add salt to the wound an hour before we were to leave and head back to the farm we went on the tube for one more spin on the lake and we were holding on so tight Gaz thought he would speed up and try and dump us off and with extreme force we hit the water and there went my dual time, compass watch that Danielle gave me as a Christmas gift for our trip out here! I was sick to my stomach by the end of that weekend. I know it seems materialistic but when you carry everything you own in one bag and cherish gifts it really makes you sad to lose something. Before we left Couchy (the man who threw me in the lake) handed me some money to get some new Oakleys. I'm happy to say I'm a proud owner of the new Livestrong Oakleys. They are pretty hot if I say so myself! No more lakes though! :)

After our excitment at the Tayler's farm we moved on to South Australia to another farm to help them with a months worth of work and then after that we were to Apple pick for another month until my cousin Brian comes and we head off on another family adventure. But things didn't quite work out that way. They turned out to be a bit interesting and weren't planning on paying us for our work at the farm and treated us like we really were migrant workers. We only lasted 12 days before we high tailed it out of there! Oh well another experience for the books. We are once again at our favorite Aussie family. The Taylor's have become family. They are the warmest people you will ever meet and just have accepted us and welcomed us into their home and lives. We know their kids and grandkids and are included in family functions and birthdays. I just don't have enough words to express my gratitude and love for them. Most everyone we have encountered in Australia have been great and the Tayler's just take the cake when it comes to Australian hospitality. Now this doesn't take away from the other families and friends we have met along the way during our time here. I don't want to hurt any feelings. The Tayler's have just been a God Send.

We are supposed to start potato harvesting next week so I will let you know how that goes. For now we are babysitting the grandkids for the week so they can all get caught up on paperwork and family business stuff.

Love you all and sorry it's been so long.

Oh oh before I sign off! In the middle of all of this somewhere along the line I got a speeding ticket!!!! I guess I should be careful when I say I want a full Aussie experience! Yeesh! 114 km in a 100 km zone! Goosh! Oh the injustice of it all. Oh well such as life. You do the crime you gotta pay the fine! A$227!!!!!

25 Things About Me

So I've been facebooked and blogged and I've decided I should do this because it's fun and interesting... if you don't blog, facebook, or myspace email me your 25 list as I'm very interested to learn new things about my friends. I hope you learn something new about me.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.

1. My confirmation name is Mary after my grandmother on my dads side
2. I have a huge facination with maps
3. I own my dream car
4. Cycling is my favorite sport to participate in
5. I think food is a waste of time
6. My biggest pet peeve or as they say in Australia Pet Hate is people who smack, ie chew with their mouth open and make unneccessary eating noises. It's SO GROSS!!!
7. I have NEVER spent any amount of money on a dress in my life and I have been to 5 Hish School dances that required on as well as MANY weddings! I hate dresses... and yes I wore one to those dances. Blah!
8. I can't stand long fingernails so I'm constantly cutting mine... it feels very unhygenic to have long nails.
9.I've never had a manicure or pedicure but am seriously considering it when I return from this adventure. My word farm life is hard on the digets!
10. Among the many dreams I have for my life my #1 is to climb Machu Picchu
11. My #2 secret dream (although now it won't be a secret anymore) is to one day purchase an old stone church and convert it into a house with lots of secret passage ways and many rooms and then evenutally raise a family there. I think the kids would love it.
12. I still miss Joan of Arcadia being on TV. I'm really sad they cancelled it. :(
13. A cow has peed on my head
14. I was the mascot in High School my senior year with 3 other seniors.
15. I am cup hands... this requires an entierly differnt entery to explain
16. I've taken 7 years of spanish and still can't speak the language. I'm such a bad Mexican!!!
17. It utterly freaks me out to have my achilles tendon touched... SO DON'T!!!
18. I kick violently when I'm tickled and hurt people but I can't control my body under such attack so it's not my fault.
19. I am the master at the scissor lock (also known as something else but a bit insensitive to put on a public forum)
20. I don't tell people what I want to name my children because I'm scared they will take the name but that's not the total reason I'm just supersticious that way I guess.
21. Terry Goodkind is my favorite author
22. I am horrible at talking on the phone. I need face to face convo so I can read facial expressions and body language
23. I doodle a lot
24. I have an obsession with hats, backpacks, luggage bags, books and once upon a time pens... I have to use some serious self control to not buy every cool hat, bag, or interesting book I come across. In High School I used to have to go into a store and find a pen to purchase so I'd stop obsessing about them. I guess to feel "normal" I don't know... you can say it... I'm weird. As you can imagine my pen drawer masive!
25. I believe the chicken came before the egg

The Tour Down Under

Well its been a while since I last blogged but to be honest nothing interesting has happened up until today. Of course if you count, watching the tennis on tv or finding an echidna on the front porch or a snake in the house all in one day exciting!!! hahaha all of that was exciting... well except for maybe the tennis but that's fun too. NOTHING compares to the what I experienced today! I got to see Lance Armstrong and a pro cycling race! I was on cloud nine all day and still am! It has been an amazing day and I really can't put into words the excitment and adrenaline I experienced today so I've put a lot of pictures up to show you how cool it was.

I do apologize if this blog bores you as basically it is mainly for my friend Dail as I SO wish he could have been standing next to me the WHOLE TIME!

Miss you Dail!

This is us before the race! Two days before we went to Big W (the equivalent of our Walmart) and bought supplies for Lance Flags... Yes, I know they look very similar to that of our Texas flag but they were made with the motivation to get Lance's attention and hopfully a signature on the star... alas it did not happen. BUT no matter the day made up for it in full.

We woke up early to get a good spot on the barricade. We chose a very nice spot about 100 meters on the receiving end of the finish line... the idea to see the finish clearly looking straight at it. A very cool move on our part as we got to see a smooth start and finish as well as every lap in between a this race was a circuit and set up on a loop type system.

But first warm ups...

That's right! George Hincapie!!!! What a beautiful picture! I would marry him if he wasn't already married! Drat!
Micheal Rogers!

A great Aussie Rider!

Team Columbias whater station was right infront of where we were standing I didn't have to zoom in much for this picture. I have many pics of him and my husband... I mean George sitting and chilling before the race.

Like so... Love this one

Robbie McEwen!!!

Another great Aussie Bloke!

Stuart O'Grady!!!

The First winner of the Tour Down Under and one of the best Aussie riders out there!

And look who snuck in the other way! None other than the legend himself!

Lance Armstrong!!!!

That bike is AMAZING!!!!

He just smiled his sly smile as he rode past because it took everone by surprise as we all were expecting to see him come from the other direction.

Then!!!! Then George came over and signed my hat!!!!! So exciting! I wished him a very good ride and he just smiled and said thanks sheepishly.

What an amazing guy!

The greatest domestique EVER!!!

Right before the start! Everyone ready?!?!?!

They blew past but I managed a rough shot of Lance! Can you see him?

Get ready!

There he is going on the other side of the loop... I told you the best spot! Got to see him twice on each loop and there was 18 plus warm up! I'm just saying I got to see quite a lot of my pal Armstrong today.

So much later in the race as the peleton caught up with the break away group Quick Step controlled the peleton to help out the main man Allan Davis!
A closer shot of the line and you can make out Allan Davis in the orange or ochre jersey!

There he is again!!!!
And again! He's so fast he's blurry!!!

Ok this picture is just to give you an idea of how close the cyclists were to us. In no way could you stick anything over the barrier or you would have died! It was amazing! I could feel the wind they generated like it was going to blow me over and they all were litterally inches away from me. Especially since I was pushed up against the barrier and was resisting the crowds push to not interfear with the riders it was insane!!! But I loved every minute! I saw Lance this close but of course as luck would have it I was never lucky enough to actually snap that shot the below pictures give you an idea of what I could get of Lance during the race.

Can you spot him...? He's in this picture I promise.

Or this... I have so many rear shots of the man. His girlfriend is going to come hunt me down for all the bum shots I have of him. GO #11!!!!

Alas all fun must come to an end. Those 18 laps went far too fast for me. I could have stayed out there all day long. But the boys must have their rest. :(

Give the man some water he deserves it!!!
"Sign my flag Lance!!!!"

Just another pic of my new friend.

The only pic I will have with Lance unless of course our paths cross in the future... oh how I hope that happens... can you see me in the center of the pic? I have an orange sweat band on my wrist and a camera in my face!

"Don't go Lance! Please sign my flag!!!"

I sound like a psycho fan and really I'm not I just was really excited to see him. He is an amazing athlete and a hoss on the bike. But more importantly I respect what he is doing by coming out of retirement and making cancer such a huge awareness to people. Everyone knows about cancer but they don't pay attention until it happens to them or someone they love. Believe me I know! Lance has two numbers on his bike that mean something to him. 1274 representing the days in which he hasn't been off the bike since his 7th Tour de France in 2005 and the first day of the Tour down under. And 27.5 representing the 27.5 million people that have died from cancer during those 1274 days. My mother is apart of that number and that is why his cause is so important to me. I appreciate what he is accomplishing with his tenancity and boldness. Most people think he's crazy for coming out of retirement but I think he's an angel.

I have a goal to ride in the Livestrong Challenge so I too can help make a contribution to the fight against cancer.

After Lance left it was Allan Davis's turn to take the stage!!!

That's the boy wonder!

I'm really glad he won he deserved it!

Bodysurfing with the fans!

Brave man!

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!

Oui! Oui! Oui!

3,600 KM and counting

Well it's been crazy since I last signed on. I feel like I've driven through the whole country! In Canberra we went to the Australian War Memorial and National Museum. We saw the missions (which are the Embassy's from each country), and toured both Old and New Parliament. On our way out of the city we visited Peter and Jim at the Geoscience Australia. They showed us all the specimens they've found all over Australia as well as in other countries and then gave us a tour of everything they do. It was very interesting and so good to see them both. Thanks guys! We could have spent more time there but it seems there isn't ever enough time no matter where you go.

I took this at the war memorial. For my dad... my own personal Navy Hero. I love you daddy!

So my Christmas Eve morning started with this...

I got to fly in Graeme's Ultralight! It was so amazing! Thank you Graeme! I got a birds eye view of his property and the land that surounds his. It was just exhilerating! I was on cloud nine all day! Dad got to go after me and he was just as excited and happy as I was. That just started our amazing day. After some waking up (as flights started at 6:30am) we all visited and ate some breakfast and Graeme took us on a drive of his property. Our goal was to find a Christmas tree to bring back to the house. We took the long way around and got an amazing tour of the hilly and beautiful land that he and Pat live on. I was so happy that my Aunt and Dad got to share in that experience with us. I just can't put to words how lucky Danielle and I have been since we've been here and the time we spent at Pat and Graeme's house just gave my family a taste of what we've experienced here. Christmas was amazing between both days I think we ate enough for a month. The food was amazing and spending Christmas with such a generous and amazing family was just a blessing. Thank you for opening up your home to us I can't express to you enough how amazing our Christmas was and how much it meant to be able to share the holidays with such a wonderful family.

From left to right: Kylie, Ashley, Tanya, Auntie Cata, Melissa, Pat, Micheala, Tony, Uncle John, Dad, Danielle and Rebecca. I was taking the pic and poor Graeme was at work. Thank you all for making this blessed holiday a memory I will never forget. I hope we get to play spoons again sometime girls! All of you made this a very special Christmas.

We got back on the road and headed south towards Melbourne. Our ultimate destination Phillip Island. Beautiful that's all I can say. Check out the picture below.

Enough said don't you think? Just beautiful!!!

It was a near miss... hahaha! Since we couldn't take pictures of the seals or the penguins we decided to get inventive. Phillip Island was amazing. Koalas and Seals and Penguins... oh my! The penguins were my favorite part I just can't get over how adorable they are. It was just amazing getting to see them pop out of the ocean and onto the beach and waddle their little selves to safety. Too precious!

After some time in Melbourne we had to take Auntie Cata and Uncle John to the airport. After that we decided to head to the Great Ocean Highway and see the Twelve Apostles. It took a lot longer than we had anticipated and we found ourselves in a bit of predicament. Everywhere we turned there was a NO Vacancy sign lit up mocking our need for sleep! AHHHHHH after much deliberation and no other option we transformed our cozy Camary into our own personal bedroom. Yep that's right we slept in the car! It was comical but worth it because the next morning we got to see the Twelve Apostles.

There we are! If you can't tell from the pic it was amazingly windy! It was really cool to see and the ocean was just amazing especially with all the white caps. We ended up back in Robinvale and have been recovering from our nonstop adventures at our good friend Smythe's. It's been great to relax and just enjoy each others company and dad has been in hog heaven doing handy jobs around the house. We head out tomorrow for Melbourne again as dad has to leave in two days. :( Then it's back to work ~ wish us luck in finding one! ha

Now this is Australia!

They made it!!!!! Danielle and I met the "oldies" (as they've been deemed) Saturday (12/13/08) afternoon and we've hit the ground running! Although it was raining we decided to head into Melbourne anyway and get some food and see what we could find. We ended up eating and seeing the movie Australia as it was raining and cold so we wanted to chose and inside event. The movie was beautiful! I don't care what the critics say it was so good and I recommend going out and watching it!

The oldies heading to Cairns! We have SO much luggage! Danielle and I are packed for a year guys... what's your excuse! hahahaha back aches and pulled muscles later we all made it relatively in one piece.

Dad and I standing on the balcony of our apartment in Cairns! Check out that view! Cairns was so awesome! We spent three days there and although it was hot and sticky due to the 85% humidity 3 days was NOT near enough time!

Our first day out we walked to the marina which was a stone throw away from our apartment and we found this amazing wooden ship so we expored closer... we ended up getting a tour and found out it's the Duyfken which was a Dutch merchant ship and helped aid in the success of the beginning of Australias settlement. It was so cool inside! We got to explore the whole ship! Just amazing! And we could touch anything we wanted! Just look below!

Watch out you scallywags!

The next day we took off for the Great Barrier Reef! Beautiful just doesn't cut it but it's all I have! We took the Quicksilver out to the reef and once we got there our adventures began!

Lycra suits to protect us from jellyfish stings... we look like smurfs I know! Hahahaha Oh Dear! This is us suiting up for snorkling but first!

The oldies went on a helicopter tour of the reef! Lucky! I'm happy they got to though!

Dad looks so happy!

While they were braving the air we were braving the ocean!!!! Snorkeling was SO AWESOME!!!! I didn't think I would do it as I'm SO scared of big water and SHARKS but I just put on my sexy smurf suit and said why not! I jumped in that water like it was a kiddy pool and the next thing I knew I was looking at the amazing coral and ocean life below me! Just breath taking! We took pictures with a waterproof camera but those aren't developed yet. I just can't believe how amazing it was!

Then!!!!! Then we went on an ocean walk! Oh my goodness that was amazing! we put on wet suits and this huge helmet as you can see in the picture above of my Auntie Cata and we walked under the ocean! That's right WALKED! Poor dad couldn't go because of his heart surgery a year ago so he went on a semi submarine tour of the coral reef around the docking station. He got to see a sea turtle!!!! As we walked under the ocean we got to hold a sea cucumber, coral, sea anenimi... sp? and a conch shell! The guide fed the fish while we were down there too and they just came in droves! They were so awesome! They crowded around all of us just swimming like we weren't even there! It was amazing!

The gang! We all had so much fun at the reef! The observatory was amazing the food was delicious and the reef was just breath taking!

The next day we went on a train tour of the rainforest which ended at Kurranda where we caught a sky rail over the canopy down to the bottom. The rainforest is beautiful and although we didn't get to see the Barron Falls at their fullest we enjoyed in nonetheless.

Us on the train... and after we got off the train!

That's right we got to hold Koalas!!!!! This is Princess and we each got a chance to hold her and cuddle her and take pictures! So amazing!

It gets better!!!!!!

Feeding Kangaroos!!!!! We each got a turn and there were so many to feed we were all speechless!

Ranger Dave where were you?!?!?! We waited and waited and you never showed up! :(

We took the SkyRail from Kurranda down to the bottom of the mountains of Rainforest to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Culture Park where we had lunch and then spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the grounds.

The afternoon started with an Aboriginal Dance. They showed us traditional dances and fire dances as well as other fun dances which Danielle and I were picked to participate in. Hahaha it was fun as you can see from the picture up top. We did our best but I don't think they will be recruiting us any time soon! After that we got to try our hand at throwing spears and boomerangs! It was hard but so fun and after that we got a lesson on their food and the history of the didgeridoo. It was all very facinating. We watched a special on their creation story how they percieve the world to have begun and then the history of their people which was really sad because all they suffered and still suffer at the hands of those that don't understand them.

Dad got recruited!

That night we cooked at the apartment and enjoyed each others company and headed to Sydney the next day... bye Cairns we will miss you!

This is Danielle and I at Manly Beach. We had an all day bus tour of the city sites. The beaches are beautiful and this one in particular has pine trees surrounding the sand. Sorry I didn't get them in this shot.

We took a cruise of the harbor at lunch where we got to eat and take pictures of the harbor bridge and opera house! You can see them in the background! Although the day was full of interesting things to see and do we were spent from our time in Cairns...

"All toured out"

You don't even have to ask if the water is cold! hahahaha

Bondi Beach

The next day we drove up to the Blue Mountains where we saw the three sisters!!! We actually got to walk out to see them up close and personal. Danielle and I went down the back of the sisters on the Giant Stair Way which was 900 steps one way! We didn't realize how steep it really was until we had to climb back up! Ugh! It was amazing though!

We left Sydney on saturday and headed south towards Canberra. We stopped in Wollongong and saw the Nan Tien Temple. It's the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. It was so inspiring and just down right breath taking. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the shrine but got to go inside and have a guided tour by this amazing 63 year old man who loves his job! After our tour we got to hike up a hill behind the temple and ring the gratitude bell... you are to thank God for the things you are blessed with then ring the bell 3 times and make a "wish" offering up your prayer to God.

The bell is huge!

Beautiful!

We stayed in Wollongong and got another apartment... I like traveling with the oldies! It had a washer and dryer so we did our laundry....

and some how my clean panties got flung into the toilet!!!! There is never a dull moment around here folks!!!!

We got back on the road today and headed to Canberra but not before stopping at Pebbly Beach where we saw Kangaroos on the beach just lapping up the sun! These are not like the roos we fed at the park as they are wild animals and below is the roo that almost killed Uncle John!

Isn't he huge!?!?!?!? He walked straight up to Uncle John and scared us all we thought he was a gonner! Uncle John just stood still and when he thought it was safe he started walking away slowly... I don't know how we did it but we managed to get out of there both excited and scared!

Well that's it for now tomorrow we discover Canberra! When I can I will update! Love ya!