tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27547690972150296632024-03-12T20:47:43.749-07:00The Inescapable Us:Two Canadians quest to see, taste and enjoy the world from Canada to Australia and back again...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-77911587403333119192013-10-20T07:47:00.000-07:002013-10-20T07:48:51.601-07:00New BlogHello,<br />
<br />
We have returned to Canada and I have started a new food related blog. Check it out:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thefoodonmyshirt.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>The Food On My Shirt</strong></span></a><br />
<br />
Thanks!<br />
<br />
JeffUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-89202167839606016702013-05-19T11:35:00.002-07:002013-05-19T11:35:52.456-07:00Return Home: a Visit to Vancouver Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gemha2xUzUs/UYZ8lc8tBoI/AAAAAAAACQ4/TKYwmZgWMVY/s1600/scenic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gemha2xUzUs/UYZ8lc8tBoI/AAAAAAAACQ4/TKYwmZgWMVY/s1600/scenic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With our return to Canada after 18 months abroad we will be
winding down the Blog and moving on to other adventures. After 24 straight
hours of airplanes and airports we touched down in <st1:city w:st="on">Nanaimo</st1:city>
on Vancouver Island to acclimate to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> with a visit with my family.
There were a few misty eyes as we walked off the tarmac and were very happy to
see my parents in person. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVne_f2s9qY/UYZ83S3xmOI/AAAAAAAACRA/bTEKsvSy8J0/s1600/P5040034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVne_f2s9qY/UYZ83S3xmOI/AAAAAAAACRA/bTEKsvSy8J0/s1600/P5040034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Me and my mom having a loving moment.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LcnPC2NENNM/UY1PXxDOLAI/AAAAAAAACS4/IeotcQLr2w8/s1600/8x10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LcnPC2NENNM/UY1PXxDOLAI/AAAAAAAACS4/IeotcQLr2w8/s640/8x10.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RLKGn65hgt0/UY1QDV_brBI/AAAAAAAACTA/NRQbpz2arxw/s1600/the+stoy's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RLKGn65hgt0/UY1QDV_brBI/AAAAAAAACTA/NRQbpz2arxw/s640/the+stoy's.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Being the super hosts that they are we had 10 days of feasting and mostly beautiful weather. We had a bit of a family reunion at my uncles and visited with my Grandma.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDEgnMbCANk/UZWQ0eWkn1I/AAAAAAAACUo/At9EYukLd-0/s1600/fooooood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDEgnMbCANk/UZWQ0eWkn1I/AAAAAAAACUo/At9EYukLd-0/s640/fooooood.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-el16Bec_TqY/UZWRKm5kXII/AAAAAAAACUw/ZFFmngbvl2E/s1600/crab+fest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-el16Bec_TqY/UZWRKm5kXII/AAAAAAAACUw/ZFFmngbvl2E/s640/crab+fest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BXVNHLQoj44/UZWRtAEN3xI/AAAAAAAACU4/o10gRUXpRWg/s1600/archie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BXVNHLQoj44/UZWRtAEN3xI/AAAAAAAACU4/o10gRUXpRWg/s640/archie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
An adorable miniature pony we named Archie. From a distance
we thought he was a misguided puppy, but were pleasantly surprised when he
galloped up to the fence.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Keiiaa7weqI/UZWSJZBh_CI/AAAAAAAACVA/ineLEvqg9ek/s1600/golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Keiiaa7weqI/UZWSJZBh_CI/AAAAAAAACVA/ineLEvqg9ek/s640/golf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
We hiked around Qualicum and set a new course record on the golf course for the highest scoring family to set foot on the greens, bushes, and sand traps.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T54v8eWZlwI/UZWSladoCGI/AAAAAAAACVI/gh5ur4Xyj_s/s1600/walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T54v8eWZlwI/UZWSladoCGI/AAAAAAAACVI/gh5ur4Xyj_s/s640/walk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
We got wet on mothers day but made up for it with Jess' (now famous) homemade strawberry and rhubarb pie. It was great times but we eventually had to move on back to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Calgary</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__93txNZ3Ic/UZWTbLP_WxI/AAAAAAAACVY/ueBdwdUcsHQ/s1600/pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__93txNZ3Ic/UZWTbLP_WxI/AAAAAAAACVY/ueBdwdUcsHQ/s640/pie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-69056455807450728282013-05-10T12:41:00.001-07:002013-05-10T12:41:33.006-07:00Final Stay in Melbourne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--XwycgYtBr8/UYZ0pORY7mI/AAAAAAAACPg/AteLsWeewEw/s1600/apples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--XwycgYtBr8/UYZ0pORY7mI/AAAAAAAACPg/AteLsWeewEw/s1600/apples.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Our final visit to Neal and Laura in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city> was bitter sweet. We were visiting
good friends for the last time, and we were ready to head home and see our
families and friends on Canadian soil.</div>
We arrived on a weekend so Neal and Laura took us out to the
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yarra Valley</b>. It was only a short
drive outside of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city>
and we were surrounded by beautiful fall coloured hills. The fresh country air
must have gotten to the guys because they were enamoured with the apples of our
first cider stop… and each other.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDnxOYxAgig/UYZ2Ho_E0GI/AAAAAAAACPs/LeoJi3qCB40/s1600/P4282705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDnxOYxAgig/UYZ2Ho_E0GI/AAAAAAAACPs/LeoJi3qCB40/s1600/P4282705.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-27mj0moUE6E/UYZ4TFnTVUI/AAAAAAAACQU/vQeTiGQihHg/s1600/the+force.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-27mj0moUE6E/UYZ4TFnTVUI/AAAAAAAACQU/vQeTiGQihHg/s1600/the+force.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7LAU-PwDdE/UYZ2_eszasI/AAAAAAAACQA/SU3pEdPBGVA/s1600/P4282714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7LAU-PwDdE/UYZ2_eszasI/AAAAAAAACQA/SU3pEdPBGVA/s1600/P4282714.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We made a few vineyard stops as well as a dairy stop for
some delicious cheese. The large bottle of wine Laura and I are sitting with
was the exact wine that Prince Harry gifted to Will and Kate for their wedding
after party – 60 bottles to be exact! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5rTq5oB80o/UYZ3baU1LgI/AAAAAAAACQI/KSGDAi2TJeQ/s1600/pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5rTq5oB80o/UYZ3baU1LgI/AAAAAAAACQI/KSGDAi2TJeQ/s1600/pizza.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
After a great day of wine tasting we went for wood burning oven made pizza.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fLl5lzoE-WU/UYZ4_2k6s3I/AAAAAAAACQc/JsQQCwzV7Ks/s1600/city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fLl5lzoE-WU/UYZ4_2k6s3I/AAAAAAAACQc/JsQQCwzV7Ks/s1600/city.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The sunset view from Neal and Laura’s apartment. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8dBE1-nvqsQ/UYZ5mPxqs7I/AAAAAAAACQk/oSVOtFApSyY/s1600/dumplings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8dBE1-nvqsQ/UYZ5mPxqs7I/AAAAAAAACQk/oSVOtFApSyY/s1600/dumplings.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Jeff and I went out for lunch on our last day and enjoyed
some great food before emptying out our Australian bank account…the final task
of our travelling days.
We sure are going to miss this amazing country.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-20634881294232114542013-05-05T07:55:00.001-07:002013-05-05T07:55:15.640-07:00Fitzroy Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQaEtdsYGTQ/UYSNECyUyBI/AAAAAAAACPQ/Oo5XPzZtNDU/s1600/new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQaEtdsYGTQ/UYSNECyUyBI/AAAAAAAACPQ/Oo5XPzZtNDU/s640/new.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Our last booked tour of the trip was maybe the
best. We took a ferry to <st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fitzroy</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></b> 40 min off the coast of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Cairns</st1:city></st1:place> and then went for a guided kayak
snorkel trip. The kayaking part of the tour was an entertaining disaster. We
were issued some sexy stinger suits and snorkel gear then jumped in the kayaks
and started to paddle towards Little Fitzroy. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gkzo-6Hkme4/UYR98ibc55I/AAAAAAAACM0/wukbHVzgg7M/s1600/kayak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gkzo-6Hkme4/UYR98ibc55I/AAAAAAAACM0/wukbHVzgg7M/s640/kayak.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TLsW5mDc0zc/UYR-U_T7F9I/AAAAAAAACM8/QeTsR-1_GJE/s1600/P4252458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TLsW5mDc0zc/UYR-U_T7F9I/AAAAAAAACM8/QeTsR-1_GJE/s640/P4252458.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The “entertaining disaster” was another couple
on the tour that couldn’t follow instructions, paddle or think about what they
were doing. In some of the photos you can see them drifting around in the
background. They eventually flipped their kayak on flat water losing their
camera in the process. They were so useless they only made it half way and the
guide ended up towing them back while we continued on. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tPTvF1imgAE/UYR_tGueSkI/AAAAAAAACNI/nOLbtkyUQUo/s1600/coral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tPTvF1imgAE/UYR_tGueSkI/AAAAAAAACNI/nOLbtkyUQUo/s640/coral.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LmJrPY4vT3g/UYR_9Wm_XYI/AAAAAAAACNQ/6Ayp7O0fyvE/s1600/clown+fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LmJrPY4vT3g/UYR_9Wm_XYI/AAAAAAAACNQ/6Ayp7O0fyvE/s640/clown+fish.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8RglPtz2K0Q/UYSLg-8RlkI/AAAAAAAACO0/zAUp3rnaOMA/s1600/P4252574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8RglPtz2K0Q/UYSLg-8RlkI/AAAAAAAACO0/zAUp3rnaOMA/s640/P4252574.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hlvyEOFAC2g/UYSLDo5VW_I/AAAAAAAACOs/Nt6a8iCON-A/s1600/corals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hlvyEOFAC2g/UYSLDo5VW_I/AAAAAAAACOs/Nt6a8iCON-A/s640/corals.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The exciting part of the trip was when we hit
the water for some self guided snorkelling. On the kayak I had seen a Green
Turtle surface for air and figured it would be a good place to start if we were
hoping to see some turtles in the water. Visibility was mixed but got better as
we stretched a little further from shore. After cruising along for 20 min Jess
looked to the side and found that a turtle was cruising along with us. We found
four different turtles and they kept to themselves and would only swim away if
you tried to get in front of it for a photo. We also found some beautiful reef
coral and fish to entertain us. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SvZLgxukmoM/UYSARKlDaWI/AAAAAAAACNY/TazcuYClgVI/s1600/turtles1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SvZLgxukmoM/UYSARKlDaWI/AAAAAAAACNY/TazcuYClgVI/s640/turtles1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-59gVI07SouA/UYSMMpM4p7I/AAAAAAAACPA/001PyLQahhI/s1600/best+turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-59gVI07SouA/UYSMMpM4p7I/AAAAAAAACPA/001PyLQahhI/s400/best+turtle.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dSd-PxwZVRM/UYSAtiaS7vI/AAAAAAAACNk/eYYT2EgHesQ/s1600/turtles2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dSd-PxwZVRM/UYSAtiaS7vI/AAAAAAAACNk/eYYT2EgHesQ/s640/turtles2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_Lp5gjDgjU/UYSBrW82Z1I/AAAAAAAACNw/5JV3YftX8B0/s1600/turtles3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_Lp5gjDgjU/UYSBrW82Z1I/AAAAAAAACNw/5JV3YftX8B0/s640/turtles3.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C6bA2Dc-2fk/UYSMbQb8OqI/AAAAAAAACPI/bpIV5dujmqI/s1600/best+turtle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C6bA2Dc-2fk/UYSMbQb8OqI/AAAAAAAACPI/bpIV5dujmqI/s640/best+turtle+2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0NHBXgfkXIY/UYSFYhZCwYI/AAAAAAAACOA/bOXB6AVrK6Y/s1600/us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0NHBXgfkXIY/UYSFYhZCwYI/AAAAAAAACOA/bOXB6AVrK6Y/s640/us.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
It was a surreal experience that we will never forget. To
celebrate our successful touring we stayed in a real hotel with a rooftop pool
on our last night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JR8XNsaEzDI/UYSJCNgnsyI/AAAAAAAACOY/U2z9kMbaCp4/s1600/ridges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JR8XNsaEzDI/UYSJCNgnsyI/AAAAAAAACOY/U2z9kMbaCp4/s640/ridges.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gTd3z8uXzNw/UYSJSUhhVbI/AAAAAAAACOg/zNIsVGhoQww/s1600/ridges2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gTd3z8uXzNw/UYSJSUhhVbI/AAAAAAAACOg/zNIsVGhoQww/s640/ridges2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-92226855763276682322013-05-04T09:36:00.000-07:002013-05-04T09:36:01.808-07:00Cape Tribulation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--3sc-2m9yRQ/UYMEsN5DaAI/AAAAAAAACK0/dBvCwRH6cQg/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--3sc-2m9yRQ/UYMEsN5DaAI/AAAAAAAACK0/dBvCwRH6cQg/s640/DSC_0108.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a couple days in Cairns
we headed even further north to the tropical <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cape</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Tribulation</b>.
It was hard to leave but we knew we would be back in Cairns
after a couple days so we were excited to see what we could find in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daintree</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Rain Forest</i>.
This region is famous in Australia
for its Daintree Tea… tastes no different than regular tea according to Jess.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DpuIwKKKn2w/UYME93Jb29I/AAAAAAAACK8/4dmDHWD3wB0/s1600/croc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DpuIwKKKn2w/UYME93Jb29I/AAAAAAAACK8/4dmDHWD3wB0/s640/croc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our tour started with a river cruise looking for salt water
crocodiles. We came across three but only close enough to get decent pictures
of two. The first was a two meter croc that was known to the guide. The second
was a juvenile that was on the shore and surprised us by charging towards the
boat and jumping in the water. Crocs are pretty cool creatures but they are not
very exciting as they lay on the shore basking in the sun. I wish we had some
food to get it jumping like at the Australia Zoo. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sCWSC7oifjE/UYMGrvvOr6I/AAAAAAAACLU/y61T_OK88SE/s1600/spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sCWSC7oifjE/UYMGrvvOr6I/AAAAAAAACLU/y61T_OK88SE/s640/spider.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xUz174pxp-w/UYMFmq_S8kI/AAAAAAAACLI/nd5pbB967WA/s1600/DSC_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xUz174pxp-w/UYMFmq_S8kI/AAAAAAAACLI/nd5pbB967WA/s640/DSC_0171.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pIQQZT1B87o/UYMHSDkEyiI/AAAAAAAACLc/MdEWhDn-rpk/s1600/jungle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pIQQZT1B87o/UYMHSDkEyiI/AAAAAAAACLc/MdEWhDn-rpk/s640/jungle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qu6hHdp_pks/UYMIW6XRQ2I/AAAAAAAACLs/wTiBLbs_yNI/s1600/cabbin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qu6hHdp_pks/UYMIW6XRQ2I/AAAAAAAACLs/wTiBLbs_yNI/s640/cabbin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->We stayed right in the heart of the rainforest in a quiet
little cabin. It was surrounded by giant spiders and was only a short walk to
the beach. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9VS_0pEclU/UYMJDYgrDdI/AAAAAAAACL0/c9zUTvPn61E/s1600/road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9VS_0pEclU/UYMJDYgrDdI/AAAAAAAACL0/c9zUTvPn61E/s640/road.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
On our last day we went to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mossman Gorge</i> and had an “Aboriginal Experience” to learn about
some of the culture and weapons used by the native people. Although didgeridoos
were not an instrument used by rainforest aboriginals our host had one and
demonstrated its sound. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We would have preferred a day trip overall, but it was a
great little overnight trip through the lush and humid far north.</div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-15937165356183759502013-05-03T10:26:00.003-07:002013-05-03T10:28:23.168-07:00Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As our trip was coming to an end we made our way to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cairns</b></st1:place></st1:city>
(pronounced “cans” by Aussies), and our last major destination. We had over a
week to enjoy <st1:city w:st="on">Cairns</st1:city> and we really liked the food,
nightlife and, of course, the proximity to the <st1:place w:st="on"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Great Barrier Reef</i></st1:place> (GBR).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-POWxzY96M60/UYLw97QcFOI/AAAAAAAACH8/hlh3TEOIYXg/s1600/P4202061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-POWxzY96M60/UYLw97QcFOI/AAAAAAAACH8/hlh3TEOIYXg/s1600/P4202061.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LhqNclo8F8M/UYL9CaQWw1I/AAAAAAAACKM/HcOpWcyNB9o/s1600/lagoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LhqNclo8F8M/UYL9CaQWw1I/AAAAAAAACKM/HcOpWcyNB9o/s1600/lagoon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our first tour to the GBR was through <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Down Under Dive</i> on the Osprey V. The boat was perfectly setup for
the trips to the reef and the crew was genuinely excited to take us out and let
people explore. There was a huge mix of people on the tour, ranging from
trained divers to seniors. We had booked a deal that included a helicopter
flight over the reef. We visited two outer reef locations at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Saxon Reef</i> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hastings</i></st1:place></st1:city><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Reef.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Pictures really do not capture how beautiful and full of
life the reef is. It seemed that every time we turned around we discovered a
new creature or saw a breathtaking view of the coral. We were the first in the
water and last out. The highlight creatures for us were the clown fish, tuna,
Maori Wrasse, giant clams, hump headed parrot fish, squid and a white tipped
reef shark (not pictured). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j0c3neSeFow/UYMKDGH-WXI/AAAAAAAACME/OfTpiwQDqCY/s1600/boat+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j0c3neSeFow/UYMKDGH-WXI/AAAAAAAACME/OfTpiwQDqCY/s640/boat+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mmzbquujGco/UYLzSQoy_5I/AAAAAAAACIQ/iv8LDu6q9ys/s1600/P4191879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mmzbquujGco/UYLzSQoy_5I/AAAAAAAACIQ/iv8LDu6q9ys/s1600/P4191879.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-Mf7wc6jis/UYLzqf08w5I/AAAAAAAACIc/NptrFDFUgfc/s1600/P4191873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-Mf7wc6jis/UYLzqf08w5I/AAAAAAAACIc/NptrFDFUgfc/s1600/P4191873.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WrVonclj3HE/UYL00CftfmI/AAAAAAAACIo/e9LftP2AGFE/s1600/clam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WrVonclj3HE/UYL00CftfmI/AAAAAAAACIo/e9LftP2AGFE/s640/clam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The Giant Clams were fun to dive down and touch –
they closed right up every time I did this. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SsYQ1m4kBvQ/UYPxV_vbCeI/AAAAAAAACMc/gGPgiSEwwPA/s1600/P4191903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SsYQ1m4kBvQ/UYPxV_vbCeI/AAAAAAAACMc/gGPgiSEwwPA/s640/P4191903.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k6NpHlk1s3A/UYL16ZPrlLI/AAAAAAAACI0/-Yc8bcSCc54/s1600/blob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k6NpHlk1s3A/UYL16ZPrlLI/AAAAAAAACI0/-Yc8bcSCc54/s1600/blob.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HcWkNsjNjgI/UYL2OHbWZAI/AAAAAAAACI8/A_rNQFWRs6w/s1600/P4191928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HcWkNsjNjgI/UYL2OHbWZAI/AAAAAAAACI8/A_rNQFWRs6w/s640/P4191928.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The Tuna appeared out of nowhere stopped for a
photo then blasted away. It was the fasted moving creature that we came across.
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9peSF4CV4VY/UYL3ErQ1RzI/AAAAAAAACJI/Z0pgne3A0Kc/s1600/nemo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9peSF4CV4VY/UYL3ErQ1RzI/AAAAAAAACJI/Z0pgne3A0Kc/s1600/nemo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">After the novelty of seeing the clown fish as
the stars of “Finding Nemo” wears off we found them to be totally captivating
because they are very photogenic and fiercely protect their homes. They would
race out and challenge you then retreat back and do it all over again –
unfortunately they do not realize how adorable they are and they think they are
tough.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UCHFZ5yngnY/UYL4f85cLkI/AAAAAAAACJc/yslPyQCGbO8/s1600/big+fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UCHFZ5yngnY/UYL4f85cLkI/AAAAAAAACJc/yslPyQCGbO8/s640/big+fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The hump headed parrot fish were probably the
ugliest fish we saw. The school that passed us could be heard chomping on the
coral and stone, then they would crap a dusting of white powder – this is where
white sand beaches come from.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WerLhpqgU1I/UYL3eqnXXZI/AAAAAAAACJQ/Y88c3JnXiHw/s1600/P4202087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WerLhpqgU1I/UYL3eqnXXZI/AAAAAAAACJQ/Y88c3JnXiHw/s640/P4202087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EHg5qJIiGQ0/UYMCtnjjn6I/AAAAAAAACKg/Kw5UYx5zhKI/s1600/wrasse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EHg5qJIiGQ0/UYMCtnjjn6I/AAAAAAAACKg/Kw5UYx5zhKI/s640/wrasse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Jess had been dreaming of coming across a Maori
wrasse after we heard about them as we moved up the coast. They are massive
fish that are fairly friendly with people. Being the first off the boat was
advantageous because the wrasse came right up to me and let me pet it. Jess was
so shocked at the sight of it she froze and didn’t get a picture. The detail on
the fish and colors are really pretty if you can get over the initial ugliness.
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tkfo-2Kgh70/UYMDV8jTI_I/AAAAAAAACKo/UVutVqDMc4E/s1600/wrasse+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tkfo-2Kgh70/UYMDV8jTI_I/AAAAAAAACKo/UVutVqDMc4E/s640/wrasse+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LmEBQ9WpnP4/UYL5xZkZASI/AAAAAAAACJo/uzchz4NRW6o/s1600/coral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LmEBQ9WpnP4/UYL5xZkZASI/AAAAAAAACJo/uzchz4NRW6o/s640/coral.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67kwvQoEfvU/UYPw48YZIyI/AAAAAAAACMU/2pmYeXm9euo/s1600/aquid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67kwvQoEfvU/UYPw48YZIyI/AAAAAAAACMU/2pmYeXm9euo/s640/aquid.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The squid were even more alien looking than the
rest of the creatures and just hovered in a pack until they were startled and
rocketed off. The shark was maybe a meter long and just cruised by without
paying any attention us.
We starting chasing it to get a photo and then came to
our senses and decided maybe chasing a shark isn’t the best use of our time or
lives. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gj5LRgKAss8/UYL6Jttg5JI/AAAAAAAACJw/CwThII1VjRM/s1600/P4202241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gj5LRgKAss8/UYL6Jttg5JI/AAAAAAAACJw/CwThII1VjRM/s640/P4202241.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
By the time we were loaded on the helicopter our
camera was on the last bars of battery so we could only snap a couple photos.
From the chopper we saw 6 dugongs/sea cows and got to see how huge the reef
actually is. If we could have we would have done this tour every day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IH3jhpRjQ6U/UYL7U6iAdLI/AAAAAAAACJ8/vFUPMXsQMrQ/s1600/heli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IH3jhpRjQ6U/UYL7U6iAdLI/AAAAAAAACJ8/vFUPMXsQMrQ/s1600/heli.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-83790820914653976422013-05-01T00:01:00.001-07:002013-05-01T00:01:41.369-07:00Townsville & Magnetic Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CRkVOMZqDb4/UX4vmRC4KII/AAAAAAAACEY/bzH-f1MaGaA/s1600/town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CRkVOMZqDb4/UX4vmRC4KII/AAAAAAAACEY/bzH-f1MaGaA/s1600/town.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
With both of us barely surviving the Whitsundays we were
apprehensive about our next destination <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Townsville</b>
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Magnetic</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Island</b>. We had a couple of days to
get used to dry land and were very happy as the bus drove through town and we
could see all the signs of civilization (Subway, McDonalds and Hungry Jacks to
name a few) and a beautiful shopping, outdoor recreation, and scenic walking
area called the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Strand</i>. Our hostel
was a little ways away from the Strand but in
another district with great restaurants and night life on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Palmer Street</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HBhZa_JeE3Q/UX4wtls8YTI/AAAAAAAACEs/_b0PHcEcWqw/s1600/warning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HBhZa_JeE3Q/UX4wtls8YTI/AAAAAAAACEs/_b0PHcEcWqw/s1600/warning.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gg78PAQ4DGY/UX43IS6Kv2I/AAAAAAAACFk/WqUv5xRr7v0/s1600/hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The climate had become more and more tropical as we moved up
the coast and the daily high was about 30 - 35 degrees Celsius. To fight the
heat we stopped in the Townsville Brewery (Townsville Brewing CO) and tried
some of the local beers. It was tasty but nothing special. We walked along the Strand and enjoyed the scenery and laid back atmosphere. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0buiX-XNldc/UX4zS_xAV2I/AAAAAAAACE8/uenktkWLVd8/s1600/base.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0buiX-XNldc/UX4zS_xAV2I/AAAAAAAACE8/uenktkWLVd8/s640/base.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From Townsville we took an 8km ferry to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Magnetic</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Island</b>
affectionately called “Maggie” by the locals. I think is was named Magnetic
Island after the mineral properties of the Island affected Captain Cooks
compass… don’t quote me on this though, Captain Cook never spoke to me about it
directly. On Maggie we stayed at another X Base Hostel that was advertised as
the only beach side hostel resort and we were really happy with the location and
amenities. Our room was little and located on the back end of the night
managers’ cabin, but we were only there 2 nights. There was a cute possum that
was living nearby and amused us with its night time stumbling. This is the only
place that I have come across any bed bugs as I had a couple nibbles on my
ankles by one of the rogue monsters. The hostel had a great cook for breakfast
and she would serve up bacon, eggs, toast and instant coffee for the reasonable
price of $8. The bar in the evening was manned by a fellow Calgarian that
hailed from Sundance. They had great drink specials and it was fun to relax in
the evenings listening to the waves roll in.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xC1qlcosoY0/UX436KRw58I/AAAAAAAACFs/CwZx_YA2z24/s1600/P4151748.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xC1qlcosoY0/UX436KRw58I/AAAAAAAACFs/CwZx_YA2z24/s1600/P4151748.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tow25eS9KVc/UX40XHiw1CI/AAAAAAAACFI/Gx3dfJfvS-4/s1600/cars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tow25eS9KVc/UX40XHiw1CI/AAAAAAAACFI/Gx3dfJfvS-4/s640/cars.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Jess REALLY wanted to hire the Barbie car, but there was no
way I was driving that.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second day on the island we picked up some snorkel gear
that was included in our deal as well as rented a Mini-Moke. <i>Mokes</i> are a little
buggy car that was originally intended for military use but never made any
headway because of the piddley engine and earth hugging ground clearance. They
do have a cult following as beach cruisers and Magnetic Island
has a fleet of them to keep backpackers entertained as they rocket around the
island. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9BK5HHjYJE/UYCrgx8oE3I/AAAAAAAACHU/fBTcyr17w1Y/s1600/P4151769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9BK5HHjYJE/UYCrgx8oE3I/AAAAAAAACHU/fBTcyr17w1Y/s640/P4151769.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CJxERI8sSuU/UX42RKWAH_I/AAAAAAAACFU/BrW7od2eAkM/s1600/P4151780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CJxERI8sSuU/UX42RKWAH_I/AAAAAAAACFU/BrW7od2eAkM/s1600/P4151780.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FXtC7wAt1Hc/UYC5fkT4C2I/AAAAAAAACHs/Sd-aYyDvPwU/s1600/jeff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FXtC7wAt1Hc/UYC5fkT4C2I/AAAAAAAACHs/Sd-aYyDvPwU/s640/jeff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We drove partway across the island and did a hike up to some
of the WWII gun turrets and admired some of the views. After the hike we had
lunch on the far side of the island then stopped off to view the islands
tiniest attractions, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rock Wallabies</i>.
They are miniature cousins to Kangaroos and were hilarious as the bounced
around eating and fighting. We even got to see some Joey’s coming up for air from
their homes in mums pouch. We did snorkel a little but the water was still
stirred up from the bad weather that attacked us further south. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8mh8WKiS7u8/UX45B7RGrMI/AAAAAAAACGA/OR7JPRm0oIQ/s1600/hike2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8mh8WKiS7u8/UX45B7RGrMI/AAAAAAAACGA/OR7JPRm0oIQ/s640/hike2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMGbGCIhXAQ/UYCoZEhFnrI/AAAAAAAACG8/R82Cn0j9Rok/s1600/rock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMGbGCIhXAQ/UYCoZEhFnrI/AAAAAAAACG8/R82Cn0j9Rok/s640/rock.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VhoC3N57BOU/UYCquUNNMbI/AAAAAAAACHM/7rM6FPVMybE/s1600/P4151758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VhoC3N57BOU/UYCquUNNMbI/AAAAAAAACHM/7rM6FPVMybE/s640/P4151758.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The car was so fun that I even talked Jess into driving for
a bit. From the fear in my eyes in the photo you can tell I’m terrified but
proud she was such a great student.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KRQraS0OahY/UYC4_0Q1CEI/AAAAAAAACHk/EcEwhCxJj2E/s1600/P4131590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KRQraS0OahY/UYC4_0Q1CEI/AAAAAAAACHk/EcEwhCxJj2E/s640/P4131590.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Upon our return to Townsville we decided to hike Castle Hill
which is a few meters short of being classified as a mountain. It overlooks the
city and we worked up a sweat getting to the top. They thankfully had mist
stations to cool you off as you looked down on to the town. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gg78PAQ4DGY/UX43IS6Kv2I/AAAAAAAACFk/WqUv5xRr7v0/s1600/hill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gg78PAQ4DGY/UX43IS6Kv2I/AAAAAAAACFk/WqUv5xRr7v0/s1600/hill.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the hike we decided to spoil ourselves and went to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ribs and Rumps</i> for some meat. We ended
up sharing a meal because it was so huge there was no way we could each eat
one. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Townsville and Magnetic
Island had everything we
were looking for and kick started some more fun times as we got closer and
closer to finishing our trip. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgwcN-o1Btc/UX44btRZoeI/AAAAAAAACF4/JNeriOmfUAg/s1600/P4161798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgwcN-o1Btc/UX44btRZoeI/AAAAAAAACF4/JNeriOmfUAg/s640/P4161798.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1785668484"></span><span id="goog_1785668485"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xC1qlcosoY0/UX436KRw58I/AAAAAAAACFs/CwZx_YA2z24/s1600/P4151748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1785668484"></span><span id="goog_1785668485"></span><br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-47753538852640189062013-04-30T19:21:00.002-07:002013-04-30T19:21:47.145-07:00Airlie Beach & Whitsunday Adventurer Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sY9XPWixTMs/UX4qHVrH5QI/AAAAAAAACDY/nwqj6cUvRBI/s1600/airlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sY9XPWixTMs/UX4qHVrH5QI/AAAAAAAACDY/nwqj6cUvRBI/s1600/airlie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div style="color: red; text-align: center;">
<b>Warning, the blog you are about to read is highly
descriptive.</b> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif-->After a grueling 14 hour bus ride we arrived in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Airlie</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Beach</b>
– the launching pad for our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whitsunday</i>
sailing tour. The weather was starting to be sporadically rainy and we were
hoping it would clear up for our tour. Our prayers definitely went unanswered and
we were treated to the single worst adventure we have had since leaving Canada.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Airlie is your standard beach/harbour town with small cafes
and even smaller shops along the Esplanade and Lagoon. The “Lagoon” is simply a
fancy outdoor pool for the public to use because the open water is full of
sharks, riptides, and jellyfish. We stayed in an X Base hostel and were very
impressed with the size of the room, bathroom and bed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lEdjuu6i1cY/UX4qdaXSnhI/AAAAAAAACDg/b_Kaqr9Fd_Y/s1600/P4071363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lEdjuu6i1cY/UX4qdaXSnhI/AAAAAAAACDg/b_Kaqr9Fd_Y/s1600/P4071363.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The real meat of this story is our Whitsunday Islands
sailing tour aboard the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Whitsunday
Adventurer</b>. Our tour was set to depart at 1:30 in the afternoon and the
weather had gone from a steady drizzle to torrential downpours in 60 min
intervals. After checking out of the hostel and having nothing better to do we
headed to the marina and lurked while the earlier departures loaded up. We
should have trusted our nerves about the weather but figured that as long as
they were sending boats out it must be nicer in the islands. It turns out that
they will send you out in anything as long as the coast guard doesn’t recall
the boats and they can keep your premiums.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fLLDz7R0GO0/UX4rUhzKt_I/AAAAAAAACDo/PqUqhma0Xwo/s1600/rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fLLDz7R0GO0/UX4rUhzKt_I/AAAAAAAACDo/PqUqhma0Xwo/s1600/rain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeff is holding Whitehaven sand which was shipped and used
to make the Hubble telescope. Super fine sand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a huge amount of venom to spit about this tour
because it was one of the most recommended places to go in all of Australia as
well as the most expensive tour we have gone on. I think that the tour
operators have a lot to learn about customer service, safety and tour
management before the Whitsundays end up on my list of places to visit again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meeting the other ten passengers and the two person crew we
were relieved that we would be traveling in good company. Our first leg of the
trip was to speed out to a cyclone approved bay and hide out. There was some
mild turbulence and we arrived as the sun was going down to spend the evening
inside because of the weather. </div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Jess and I settled in to our accommodation (on the
kitchen table) and slept soundly until 5:30am when the crew was up and getting
ready to head to the famous <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whitehaven</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Beach</i>.
This is where the tour should have stopped because the weather was crap and
getting worse.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EvtY4BTOMe4/UX4sF039lmI/AAAAAAAACDw/2DAWNoBe7q4/s1600/poor+visibility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EvtY4BTOMe4/UX4sF039lmI/AAAAAAAACDw/2DAWNoBe7q4/s640/poor+visibility.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can see by the photos how bad the water visibility was.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We devoured our breakfast and set out. The design of the
catamaran may be sufficient for gentle island sailing but is not meant to hit
the open water under power of the gerbil or whatever they had running the
engines. The passengers fled to the back deck under the cover of tarps as it
was the most stable part of the boat and you could convince yourself that you
weren’t getting that wet. As we bounced along in 2-3 meter waves everyone was
looking green and my stomach was doing some back flips with my breakfast. Neither
Jess nor I are prone to motion sickness but the unrelenting pounding of the
boat finally loosened Jess’s breakfast and she launched it into the (soon to be
well used) puke garbage at the back. I meanwhile was choking on bile and doing
the thousand yard stare to try to keep my own breaky down. I didn’t earn a
single brownie point for being the consoling husband as I merely looked at her
and the puke dripping on her shirt and decided that this tour had officially
became an “Everyman for himself – Hunger Games” and that we probably all
weren’t coming back. The Argentineans were terrified for their lives and
everyone else wasn’t far behind. After an eternity of pain we arrived at Whitehaven Beach and donned our wetsuits as a
survival method to keep warm in the rain. We were abandoned on shore with a
radio and told that we could find safety from the wind on the other side of
some rocks. This was one of many lies that we heard from the crew. There was
nowhere out of the wind and after shuffling around on the beach we called for
rescue. You could see that Whitehaven
Beach would be very nice
in reasonable weather but probably not worth the expense of an overnight trip
and maybe worth a day tour.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following the disappointing morning we headed somewhere
nearby for some snorkeling. We figured that this would be OK as it doesn’t
matter that it is raining because you will be wet anyways. It turns out that
the rain had stirred up the water so that the visibility was barely on the far
side of our diving masks. Our skipper told us that it usually takes about three
weeks for it to clear up… thanks for that! After our snorkel we had a great hot
meal of nachos. I had worked up an appetite shivering and we eventually decided
that the combination of shivering and projectile motion sickness is the
Whitsunday Diet (TM Pending). I inhaled a good portion of the Nachos not
thinking that this could be my last meal. After the snack two hardy adventurers
braved the water again and tried to snorkel for a bit. Once they were fished
out of the increasing swell we started heading to where we were staying for the
night or our salty graves, we weren’t quite sure. The boat started its now
constant bounce like a Mexican low rider car with 3 – 5 meter hydraulics. I was
sitting just inside the door clinging on to the kitchen table for dear life and
staring at the camera 10 feet away and thinking that we should get this on
film, it’s like a sea rodeo. It was actually so violent that I couldn’t get to
the camera so you’ll have to imagine being in a washing machine. The giant
beads of sweat had started again and I was trying to focus on anything other
than the nachos slowly crawling up my throat. To distract me the TV mounted on
the wall behind me decided it had had enough and flew off the wall landing on
my kidneys. This was the TV that cracked the dam and I was back at the trusty
garbage can turning myself inside out. One of the French Canadians was spewing
in a garbage bag inside and getting her friend to take photos for a souvenir or
her autopsy, we weren’t totally sure. By this time it was dark and we were
about 1.5 hours past the time we were told we’d be safe, more lies. Finally we
made it! We ate our meal quietly then forced everyone to go to bed because we
were ready to hit the table for some shut eye. Sleep was hard to come by as the
boat was still rocking and the Skipper was in and out after tending to another
boat that was taking on water… safety first with this outfit.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">In the morning we pooled our remaining anti- nausea
tablets and loaded up. The waves had finally abated to the point that we could
head back. </span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S8RODPGRvkY/UX4sTCyN4-I/AAAAAAAACD8/a4vY3pstxqY/s1600/P4111538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S8RODPGRvkY/UX4sTCyN4-I/AAAAAAAACD8/a4vY3pstxqY/s1600/P4111538.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy to have survived…</div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Upon reaching shore I was thinking that the company would be
apologetic that we had been sent knowingly into bad weather. Nope! We were told
that even though there were no more boats being sent out it was perfectly legal
and we had traveled to all of our tour destinations so as far as they were
concerned we could consider ourselves happily serviced. This is where the
mutiny began and we came together to see if there was something to be worked
out. Whitsunday Catamaran took our information with the promise that they would
contact the owner and discuss our situation. I don’t know about the other
passengers but we were refunded a small portion of the fee as a result of me
being the victim of the flying TV. All in all it was a horrible couple of days
followed by some additional horrible customer service.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone is dreaming
of the Whitsundays we would recommend you move your dream north to Cairns for some Great Barrier Reef
adventures or south to Noosa for some relaxing beach time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnSU64BaRlc/UX4sk04CSJI/AAAAAAAACEE/qGARtqKMQbo/s1600/P4111537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnSU64BaRlc/UX4sk04CSJI/AAAAAAAACEE/qGARtqKMQbo/s1600/P4111537.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-31558078332675970922013-04-29T23:28:00.002-07:002013-04-29T23:28:51.158-07:00Rainbow Beach & Fraser Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4AkKmzmQ1oI/UX4hE34wmaI/AAAAAAAACB0/tbBRM6cn9pg/s1600/rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4AkKmzmQ1oI/UX4hE34wmaI/AAAAAAAACB0/tbBRM6cn9pg/s1600/rainbow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our next stop was <b>Rainbow
Beach</b> and <b>Fraser Island</b>.
Rainbow Beach is a tired little beach town with a couple hostels, cafes and not
much else. We were booked for a couple nights at the hostel running our
Tag-Along-Tour on Fraser
Island and were so
grossed out by the state of the room that we ended up booking at a motel across
the street for our return journey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rainbow
Beach derives it name
from the sediment in the sand. I think “rainbow” is stretching it a bit and they
could have just called it Sediment
Beach. We hiked from the
hostel to the start of the rainbow and lurked around the sand dunes there to
pass some time.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lw_k19nip-c/UX4iRVU-cUI/AAAAAAAACCA/8rxow2N93qU/s1600/the+gang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lw_k19nip-c/UX4iRVU-cUI/AAAAAAAACCA/8rxow2N93qU/s1600/the+gang.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a couple days we were ready to get over to Fraser Island
for our 4 X 4 adventure. Our tour had 4 vehicles with 8 people per vehicle.
Drivers would alternate so that everyone could get a chance behind the wheel.
Jess doesn’t drive standard so she elected to be a cheerleader. Our Car 4 Team
was easily the best car to be in. We were the last car in the group and enjoyed
watching the cars in front of us get stuck and mercilessly hounded them and our
guide with radio chatter and bad jokes. Our guide Jimmy did humor us by
keeping an eye out for our lost flip-flop. I ended up driving for just over an
hour and got to experience some legitimate 4 X 4ing and racing down the
beach/highway. I struggled with the shifter on the left but we made it without
incident.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Our accommodation was a permanent campsite hosted by
the mysterious Cinnamon. The tents were tiny and the mats were as thin as
tissue paper. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b833mLSKtZk/UX4jS9NwhII/AAAAAAAACCY/tlm3ddnpmrc/s1600/creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hDtk92_eEJk/UX4iZs5zdpI/AAAAAAAACCI/mhMv_jhhHN8/s1600/goon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hDtk92_eEJk/UX4iZs5zdpI/AAAAAAAACCI/mhMv_jhhHN8/s1600/goon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the bright side we took a lot of sleeping medicine, ('Goon': cheap boxed wine). To keep refuse to a minimum we just took the insert out of
the box. Once you are done you can just re-inflate the bladder and have a comfy
pillow. Neither of us slept well and at four in the morning some of the other
campers were screaming “You eat the horse meat!!!” we think they were French
and watched them struggle with the simplest of tasks. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In between the drinking hours and during the driving hours
we did visit some inland streams and lakes and spotted some of the local
Dingoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fraser Island
has the largest population of wild Dingoes. No babies were harmed in the making
of this vacation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endi--></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b833mLSKtZk/UX4jS9NwhII/AAAAAAAACCY/tlm3ddnpmrc/s1600/creek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b833mLSKtZk/UX4jS9NwhII/AAAAAAAACCY/tlm3ddnpmrc/s1600/creek.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eli
Creek. AKA: Hangover
Creek was a great place to stop. You walk up a short ramp to the start of the
creek & jump in for a lazy float to the end. Very cold at first but so
refreshing. This water was so clean that we actually filled up our drinking water
canteen here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8YP9GIbSL5A/UX4j-_hU7gI/AAAAAAAACCg/X8mVSXbOTUs/s1600/P4011203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8YP9GIbSL5A/UX4j-_hU7gI/AAAAAAAACCg/X8mVSXbOTUs/s1600/P4011203.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lake
Wabby: The deepest lake
on the island.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GpSeR0Fl-2U/UX4kSx-IrgI/AAAAAAAACCo/yhI4CzMGjbg/s1600/P4021253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GpSeR0Fl-2U/UX4kSx-IrgI/AAAAAAAACCo/yhI4CzMGjbg/s640/P4021253.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Champagne</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> Pools: Another great invigorating dip. The waters are
protected by the rocks, but every once in a while a large wave will crash in
and stir up the waters causing many bubbles to surround you – like the bubbles
of champagne. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bI9KLhPU-4g/UX8OAA-97fI/AAAAAAAACGs/F0etOaNW1xY/s1600/P4021262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bI9KLhPU-4g/UX8OAA-97fI/AAAAAAAACGs/F0etOaNW1xY/s640/P4021262.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">One of our truck mates told </span>Jess that I looked like a child because I was all decked out
in my sun protective gear even in the water.
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Wfw_0w0A0M/UX4lXP5B4MI/AAAAAAAACC4/r0O610gT9OI/s1600/foot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Wfw_0w0A0M/UX4lXP5B4MI/AAAAAAAACC4/r0O610gT9OI/s1600/foot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Indian Head: We all walked bare foot up to this lookout –
the Aussie way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LhpqMexoXhc/UX4m56LDt_I/AAAAAAAACDE/AbzDYI7lf0Y/s1600/cops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LhpqMexoXhc/UX4m56LDt_I/AAAAAAAACDE/AbzDYI7lf0Y/s1600/cops.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Our last day started with a little excitement as
our tour was pulled over by the Police and breathalyser tests were administered
to the drivers. Two out of the three of them had to stop driving as the
residual Goon was still seeping out of them. It seemed like a setup because the
Policeman and Jimmy were on friendly terms and he neglected to test Jimmy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overall we recommend a day trip to experience driving on a
beach highway. There is no need to stay the night unless you plan on drinking
way too much and potentially sleeping with snakes and mice – which yes, did
happen in another group’s tent…probably the French. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-9773922119506565992013-04-29T17:12:00.003-07:002013-04-29T17:14:24.519-07:00Noosa <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hqlBSa2eWmc/UX4Y3bBXAwI/AAAAAAAACAs/hAK4jkizHMU/s1600/funky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hqlBSa2eWmc/UX4Y3bBXAwI/AAAAAAAACAs/hAK4jkizHMU/s1600/funky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
We left <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Brisbane</st1:city></st1:place>
on the first of six Greyhound bus trips and headed north to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Noosa</b>. Noosa is our favourite
beach/resort destination because of the beauty of the area and the ability to
enjoy affordable activities at your leisure. This was our second trip to Noosa
and the weather was much better this time allowing us to get nekkid. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
We were a little disappointed with our accommodation, at
Noosa Flashpackers, because the staff lost our reservation and then sent us
across the street in to a very dated motel. The room and furnishings were as
old as us and had that delightful musty smell that comes free with aging
property. We were unhappy with the room and asked to be moved but were told we
had to stay there despite the fact we had booked months in advance. They
happily booked other customers into other available rooms while we were left to
rot across the street… not the best customer service!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GvB1QcsYeT8/UX4ZJJdJsxI/AAAAAAAACA0/hhLIYflt2Hk/s1600/scenic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GvB1QcsYeT8/UX4ZJJdJsxI/AAAAAAAACA0/hhLIYflt2Hk/s1600/scenic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vNACco7JHFE/UX4cRX7JvaI/AAAAAAAACBE/TyS5cwgfNPU/s1600/nudie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vNACco7JHFE/UX4cRX7JvaI/AAAAAAAACBE/TyS5cwgfNPU/s1600/nudie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Despite the accommodation the area we were staying was
great. To access the main shopping, dining and beach area we could navigate a
National Park or take the hostel shuttle 1.5km into “town”.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
The National Park is criss-crossed with hiking trails that
run through a tropical forest/jungle. It also has a coastal walk that runs
along one of the best long boarding surf spots in the world as well as an
unofficial nude beach. We decided that you do not get too many opportunities to
strip down and swim in the ocean so we went for it and hit the beach in our
birthday suits. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i-0wEfmV-bE/UX8LWScfQHI/AAAAAAAACGU/pSQNRydRYJY/s1600/new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i-0wEfmV-bE/UX8LWScfQHI/AAAAAAAACGU/pSQNRydRYJY/s640/new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aZDvbH-Jev0/UX8Lqjbis1I/AAAAAAAACGc/TDOqYoSJKjM/s1600/P3280918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aZDvbH-Jev0/UX8Lqjbis1I/AAAAAAAACGc/TDOqYoSJKjM/s640/P3280918.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2KtZYPw-A-I/UX4dX-kJ65I/AAAAAAAACBY/PohOkLRq55c/s1600/sup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2KtZYPw-A-I/UX4dX-kJ65I/AAAAAAAACBY/PohOkLRq55c/s1600/sup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Check out the beauty of a local behind Jeff.</div>
<br />
The boring non-nude beach is still worth a visit if you are
interested in sunning or surfing. We decided to dust off some of our new found
surf skills from Surf Camp and rented a surf board and a stand up paddle board.
It turns out that we actually learned something and could hang with some of the
local tribe. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
There are some great restaurants as well as eclectic shops
to browse if you are not a beach goer. It is an expensive area but in our minds
well worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xgg1NA47LaI/UX4dmlPLjOI/AAAAAAAACBg/ojjyioZbtPM/s1600/surf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xgg1NA47LaI/UX4dmlPLjOI/AAAAAAAACBg/ojjyioZbtPM/s1600/surf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The older man behind Jeff was out longer than anyone catching waves.
Cool dude.</div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-52038281916394384022013-04-28T19:42:00.001-07:002013-04-28T19:42:25.334-07:00Brisbane & The Australia Zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c1H5Yq2CATM/UX0UfxA1bLI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/TXl_WXN12K8/s1600/P3240141.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c1H5Yq2CATM/UX0UfxA1bLI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/TXl_WXN12K8/s400/P3240141.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The first stop on our East Coast trip was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brisbane</b> and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Australia Zoo</i>. It was a quick flight from Melbourne and we ended up in a great hostel
on the edge of the city centre – Brisbane City YHA. Brisbane has a river running through the city
centre with a great pathway system that allowed us easy access to the city and
the recreational lagoon area. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jy2-G9miVJI/UX0Sht8gx8I/AAAAAAAAB-E/PD3shQy7jHM/s1600/art.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O6Zd8rJL54Y/UX0TEsdJ0MI/AAAAAAAAB-M/VPioJ42eKDc/s1600/hostel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O6Zd8rJL54Y/UX0TEsdJ0MI/AAAAAAAAB-M/VPioJ42eKDc/s640/hostel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
The rooftop view from our hostel & the main elevator.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZH6HypLHbg/UX0VJyZ1WLI/AAAAAAAAB-k/DDbiTtCTKPs/s1600/P3220058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZH6HypLHbg/UX0VJyZ1WLI/AAAAAAAAB-k/DDbiTtCTKPs/s640/P3220058.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Along the way we stopped in the art museum (GOMA), and
checked out a market near the lagoon. There were some affordable restaurants in
nearby places that our hostel guide recommended, namely Caxton Street and the Barracks. They were
pretty lively the nights we were there due to footie matches going on. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jy2-G9miVJI/UX0Sht8gx8I/AAAAAAAAB-E/PD3shQy7jHM/s1600/art.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jy2-G9miVJI/UX0Sht8gx8I/AAAAAAAAB-E/PD3shQy7jHM/s640/art.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oa7F5yCaWe4/UX0VyKMspoI/AAAAAAAAB-s/ionFgp1Kusc/s1600/city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oa7F5yCaWe4/UX0VyKMspoI/AAAAAAAAB-s/ionFgp1Kusc/s640/city.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bqEvNJdwb0g/UX0WWHKLH0I/AAAAAAAAB-0/_craA_QsX1k/s1600/steve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bqEvNJdwb0g/UX0WWHKLH0I/AAAAAAAAB-0/_craA_QsX1k/s640/steve.jpg" width="640" /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
One of the days we booked a tour to visit the Australia Zoo,
home of the Crocodile Hunter. It started as a Crocodile sanctuary that the
Irwin family has expanded to include more traditional zoo exhibits. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bqEvNJdwb0g/UX0WWHKLH0I/AAAAAAAAB-0/_craA_QsX1k/s1600/steve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5YZzSZ-KHI/UX3TgPe8jhI/AAAAAAAACAQ/nG79QC80j6Q/s1600/DSC_1030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5YZzSZ-KHI/UX3TgPe8jhI/AAAAAAAACAQ/nG79QC80j6Q/s640/DSC_1030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T-DWDGfjv_g/UX3PDftcqnI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/QuBarx0cRVc/s1600/zoo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T-DWDGfjv_g/UX3PDftcqnI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/QuBarx0cRVc/s640/zoo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UewUJvJskUw/UX0XMbRtnAI/AAAAAAAAB_A/1mJXi7Y4cRs/s1600/DSC_0999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UewUJvJskUw/UX0XMbRtnAI/AAAAAAAAB_A/1mJXi7Y4cRs/s640/DSC_0999.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9DyLjV7z3vA/UX3PUdViPBI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/0owkuu8bQLg/s1600/zoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9DyLjV7z3vA/UX3PUdViPBI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/0owkuu8bQLg/s640/zoo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9uxYVBujuE/UX3QrdxJRgI/AAAAAAAAB_k/QDJL69MrWmk/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9uxYVBujuE/UX3QrdxJRgI/AAAAAAAAB_k/QDJL69MrWmk/s400/DSC_0042.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">It was a very interactive Zoo where you could
pet Koalas and Kangaroos. Jess, as usual, was in love with the Koalas. The
Kangaroos, despite being cute, are always a little scary as they look like they
are always on the brink of losing it and tearing you up. The highlight of the
Zoo was the “Crocodile Show” that ran for around an hour. It is in a mini
Gladiator arena where they entertain the crowd with birds and eventually have
the Crocs come out and hand feed them. It was pretty jaw dropping to see how
fast they could attack and how far they could get out of the water to snap
something up. If you visit the Zoo and do not see the show, chances are you
will be a little disappointed with the Croc area alone because it is hard to
see them in the enclosures and they more or less do a log impersonation the
whole time. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BYxb_7vL5wI/UX3RrWE5o5I/AAAAAAAAB_0/vgKbaoO0-Uc/s1600/zoo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BYxb_7vL5wI/UX3RrWE5o5I/AAAAAAAAB_0/vgKbaoO0-Uc/s640/zoo3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JTBQuFjvDOs/UX3SdsMp93I/AAAAAAAACAA/Dkuk6GrUseU/s1600/zoo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JTBQuFjvDOs/UX3SdsMp93I/AAAAAAAACAA/Dkuk6GrUseU/s640/zoo4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bf8e4PhaMNA/UX3S-atOiaI/AAAAAAAACAI/B8cS6xSnWa0/s1600/DSC_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bf8e4PhaMNA/UX3S-atOiaI/AAAAAAAACAI/B8cS6xSnWa0/s640/DSC_0159.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
A Cassowary - a large flightless bird from the rainforest</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tm5s8tppYiM/UX3T-Ox8sZI/AAAAAAAACAc/wecBa6GDTiE/s1600/P3240146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tm5s8tppYiM/UX3T-Ox8sZI/AAAAAAAACAc/wecBa6GDTiE/s640/P3240146.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5YZzSZ-KHI/UX3TgPe8jhI/AAAAAAAACAQ/nG79QC80j6Q/s1600/DSC_1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>We enjoyed Brisbane and the Australia Zoo – next stop Noosa!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jy2-G9miVJI/UX0Sht8gx8I/AAAAAAAAB-E/PD3shQy7jHM/s1600/art.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-48294083953912367772013-04-28T17:59:00.002-07:002013-04-29T16:33:58.728-07:00Melbourne Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f3QMX5Xkems/UX0OjKFIHlI/AAAAAAAAB9c/r-LmyiRr-jM/s1600/snag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f3QMX5Xkems/UX0OjKFIHlI/AAAAAAAAB9c/r-LmyiRr-jM/s400/snag.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Catching up on the blog again – bare with us as we update our
final pictures and stories.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After successfully completing half of our Great Australian
Tour we had a couple more days to regroup in Melbourne before setting off for our journey
up the East coast. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Neal and Laura allowed us to stay with them and we were
treated to a special guest from the beginning of our trip in New Zealand our
pet… Derek!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Derek, Neal, and I quickly fell into our old routine of
juvenile jokes and general shenanigans culminating in a nightly paper airplane
contest launching from the Shannon’s 18<sup>th</sup>
floor apartment. Derek, being the nerd that he is, had the most successful
plane that landed over a block away. There was also a pant wettingly funny
incident when a plane did a kamikaze run into the stomach of a pedestrian
heading to work in the morning.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6kvYaagf89w/UX0OvlKhhUI/AAAAAAAAB9k/arOvuG9_DV4/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6kvYaagf89w/UX0OvlKhhUI/AAAAAAAAB9k/arOvuG9_DV4/s640/bike.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To pass the time during the day we fuelled up on my
favourite food (hot dogs from Snag Stand) and headed out to explore the city
using the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Melbourne Bike Share</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Bike Share was great because you can buy a helmet at
7-11 for 5 bucks and grab any bike from the racks around town. As long as you
dock the bike every thirty minutes there is no charge. Our tiny biker gang,
reunited after our scooter trip on Waiheke NZ, visited the Botanic Gardens then
rode along the Yarra
River. Jess and Laura took the bikes out on another day and were
stopped by a reporter to ask their opinion on using the Bike Share. They are
officially famous now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJ0TPu-3jbs/UX0Pnsn9HRI/AAAAAAAAB90/ZPRMS_l3Fgw/s1600/P3200034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJ0TPu-3jbs/UX0Pnsn9HRI/AAAAAAAAB90/ZPRMS_l3Fgw/s640/P3200034.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yarra River</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k4w2lnopaPU/UX0O_6n16eI/AAAAAAAAB9s/czA6V1-B0E4/s1600/bike2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k4w2lnopaPU/UX0O_6n16eI/AAAAAAAAB9s/czA6V1-B0E4/s640/bike2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srOQvgkHHr4/UX3DLMVbS0I/AAAAAAAABNY/Q4qnVsxzgeY/s1600/P3210019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srOQvgkHHr4/UX3DLMVbS0I/AAAAAAAABNY/Q4qnVsxzgeY/s400/P3210019.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went for a bunch of great meals and had a couple big
nights out. As always the time flew by and we were off again – to later return
for our final round of Melbourne
fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eLM97-2mzMo/UX3C6a6KbcI/AAAAAAAABNQ/jCAQD9lpimk/s1600/P3200001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eLM97-2mzMo/UX3C6a6KbcI/AAAAAAAABNQ/jCAQD9lpimk/s400/P3200001.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-3424698952080617742013-03-21T00:08:00.002-07:002013-03-21T00:08:21.269-07:00Adelaide & the Great Ocean Road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1it_cqZOvrc/UUffWFVLHoI/AAAAAAAAB6M/EMOJ_CTM0VA/s1600/P3130530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1it_cqZOvrc/UUffWFVLHoI/AAAAAAAAB6M/EMOJ_CTM0VA/s200/P3130530.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HqGsjLR79y8/UUfe1waTsFI/AAAAAAAAB6E/9Mj1UKWPV5U/s1600/P3130508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HqGsjLR79y8/UUfe1waTsFI/AAAAAAAAB6E/9Mj1UKWPV5U/s200/P3130508.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After the heat of the Outback it was great to get a little
cooler weather in <st1:city w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adelaide</b></st1:city>
before starting our trek back to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:city></st1:place>
via the <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great Ocean Road</b></st1:address></st1:street>. We picked up our
rental at the airport and had a smooth trip to the hostel with the help of a
borrowed GPS. I wasn’t very comfortable driving on the opposite side of the
road but am now proficient after the 1500km we racked up in a few days.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vmnrol1pi1w/UUfgCYvJ0KI/AAAAAAAAB6U/iElQCmPSeds/s1600/DSC_0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vmnrol1pi1w/UUfgCYvJ0KI/AAAAAAAAB6U/iElQCmPSeds/s640/DSC_0662.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Adelaide</st1:place></st1:city>
is a very clean hip little city that was a perfect reintroduction to civilized
life. The best part of it was we had a local tour guide in to form of our
friend Heather that we met/stalked on the STRAY bus in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Heather met us for a coffee and then rounded out our plans for the next day by
volunteering to chauffeur us to the nearby wine region and visit <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s
oldest German settlement called Hahndorf for some pretzels, beer and sausage. I
tried to convince the girls to join me in ordering a meter long hot dog but
they opted out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-peUVOl-vmFQ/UUfiEdFeYzI/AAAAAAAAB6c/MNb4Xp42-Qk/s1600/strawberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-peUVOl-vmFQ/UUfiEdFeYzI/AAAAAAAAB6c/MNb4Xp42-Qk/s640/strawberries.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Hahndorf had everything we were looking for within its tiny
street of shops. We did a free cheese tasting and a reasonable wine tasting
followed by lunch. Then to top it all off we went to a farm and picked fresh
strawberries for dessert. Heather then took us through town and pointed out the
shopping and restaurant districts for later. She was great guide and made us
feel at home in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Adelaide</st1:place></st1:city>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Our last night in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Adelaide</st1:city></st1:place>
we went out for pizza on the way to the fringe festival, which was taking place
not too far from the hostel. The setup was great with food and entertainment
venues set up throughout a garden that you could walk through. We took it easy
as we were gearing up for the drive on the following day</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mUP8aNOj_cs/UUfiffgWwqI/AAAAAAAAB6k/X7Zf3NG3JvE/s1600/adelaide+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mUP8aNOj_cs/UUfiffgWwqI/AAAAAAAAB6k/X7Zf3NG3JvE/s640/adelaide+2.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9ch7vj823I/UUfjKVTZDRI/AAAAAAAAB6s/ky7qzWDurG8/s1600/adelaide+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9ch7vj823I/UUfjKVTZDRI/AAAAAAAAB6s/ky7qzWDurG8/s640/adelaide+3.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our first stop on the way back to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:city></st1:place> was a small town called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Robe</i>. It was a very quiet town that was a needed stop because I didn’t really feel like driving more than 4hrs a day. </div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7JDtID1mu8/UUfq9u-9p6I/AAAAAAAAB7s/O1Y0YRDgHBA/s640/adelaide+7.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rqymqi7hzss/UUfjookdwiI/AAAAAAAAB60/nDXpg9Rd4Vo/s1600/P3140564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rqymqi7hzss/UUfjookdwiI/AAAAAAAAB60/nDXpg9Rd4Vo/s640/P3140564.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
After Robe came <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Port
Fairy</i>. Port Fairy is another small town that had some cools cafes. We took
a spur of the moment trip to a place called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tower
Hill Reserve</i>. It is advertised as one of the few places where Kangaroos,
Emus, and Koalas live in harmony. It turns out that they weren’t kidding!
Within 10 minutes we had startled a bunch of Kangaroos, chased an Emu down the
path and found a snoring Koala. The weather started to turn and we were kind of
freaked out trying to hunt down some photos. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M5xIAvot3q4/UUflMZLlbXI/AAAAAAAAB68/sBIvCpPTzzE/s1600/kangaroo+-+emu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M5xIAvot3q4/UUflMZLlbXI/AAAAAAAAB68/sBIvCpPTzzE/s640/kangaroo+-+emu.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Klqn7fDxKEw/UUfmO3JAZ3I/AAAAAAAAB7E/VJcvvs1oYlE/s1600/P3150595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Klqn7fDxKEw/UUfmO3JAZ3I/AAAAAAAAB7E/VJcvvs1oYlE/s640/P3150595.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3J9KlIdXw_Q/UUfoAKDd1rI/AAAAAAAAB7U/Qr4akTIeyw8/s1600/adelaide+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3J9KlIdXw_Q/UUfoAKDd1rI/AAAAAAAAB7U/Qr4akTIeyw8/s640/adelaide+4.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ObxSyrLgVg/UUfp3K_ZVwI/AAAAAAAAB7k/hIRYtKY2Kno/s1600/adelaide+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ObxSyrLgVg/UUfp3K_ZVwI/AAAAAAAAB7k/hIRYtKY2Kno/s640/adelaide+6.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZeI_70HCWQ/UUfpBQ2DU0I/AAAAAAAAB7c/vQaP86mY9Ew/s1600/adelaide+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZeI_70HCWQ/UUfpBQ2DU0I/AAAAAAAAB7c/vQaP86mY9Ew/s640/adelaide+5.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Following Port Fairy we stopped at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Apollo</i></st1:placename><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></i></st1:place>. The YHA here is the best Hostel we have ever stayed in. It bordered on Spa Hotel with its great views and two floor lounges and kitchens. This ended up being an epic day of driving because we stopped at so many places. Jess’s favourite was on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cape</i></st1:placetype><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Otway</st1:placename></i></st1:place>where we were enamoured with the sleepy Koalas crawling around and stuffing their little faces. I enjoyed a crazy bit of road that was the twistiest road I’ve ever been on. It made the Road to Hana (in <st1:place w:st="on">Maui</st1:place>) feel roomy after we a came upon a head on collision in the middle of nowhere. The closest encounter I had was with four or five chubby little sheep that were too stupid to get out of the way and decided to sprint in front of the car in an effort to tire it out. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRtvA4zKRfI/UUfr9UffIDI/AAAAAAAAB70/-tBnn5Teq4M/s1600/koalas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRtvA4zKRfI/UUfr9UffIDI/AAAAAAAAB70/-tBnn5Teq4M/s640/koalas.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hTaq5MpzUm8/UUftFjHssaI/AAAAAAAAB8E/UCkodFykyRs/s1600/DSC_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hTaq5MpzUm8/UUftFjHssaI/AAAAAAAAB8E/UCkodFykyRs/s640/DSC_0881.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you look close you see two little front teeth - something I did not know koalas had. Hilarious.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-Q5i_exuXo/UUfsm1hGZ1I/AAAAAAAAB78/d6OTTVNSIJw/s1600/koalas+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-Q5i_exuXo/UUfsm1hGZ1I/AAAAAAAAB78/d6OTTVNSIJw/s640/koalas+2.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lbcnJI5TDkQ/UUqw1cTfFPI/AAAAAAAABNA/-ZLxYYZjeiU/s1600/P3160633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lbcnJI5TDkQ/UUqw1cTfFPI/AAAAAAAABNA/-ZLxYYZjeiU/s1600/P3160633.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
This is an echidna. A curious little creature.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
In the end we checked out all the coastal sites and stopped at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Torquay</i> to see the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Surf</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>
and the home of Ripcurl and Quicksilver. It was entirely underwhelming and a
bit of a sour end to a great part of our trip. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnwkqEgEifc/UUlk_nhkJ-I/AAAAAAAAB9E/3W8Z76LKBk8/s1600/surf+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnwkqEgEifc/UUlk_nhkJ-I/AAAAAAAAB9E/3W8Z76LKBk8/s1600/surf+collage.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lbcnJI5TDkQ/UUqw1cTfFPI/AAAAAAAABNA/-ZLxYYZjeiU/s1600/P3160633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-47342213578782250992013-03-19T23:16:00.002-07:002013-03-19T23:16:57.654-07:00Outback Tour: Darwin to Alice Springs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Get ready for pictures...because here they come.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NIMJUtrU8g8/UUearSgbdCI/AAAAAAAAB20/RtrlbxsaN5A/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NIMJUtrU8g8/UUearSgbdCI/AAAAAAAAB20/RtrlbxsaN5A/s400/DSC_0114.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We arrived in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Darwin</st1:place></st1:city>
as a starting point to our Outback tour. This is a very small town and we only
recommend going here as a stop over spot. There is a high population of
homeless aboriginal people, but we found the locals to be quite nice – on the
day we arrived we went for a walk around town and a woman driving her car
stopped in the middle of the street:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Lady “Are you tourists?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Us “Yes”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Lady “How do you like <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Darwin</st1:place></st1:city>?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Us “It’s nice”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Lady “Good, enjoy your travels”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
And off she went.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFcr_zN8N1A/UUea_uMDljI/AAAAAAAAB28/XqbA72jc1oU/s1600/outback+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFcr_zN8N1A/UUea_uMDljI/AAAAAAAAB28/XqbA72jc1oU/s640/outback+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
The next day we were up early and off to start our trip. Two
things that you need to know if you are going to do a trip like this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">You
start your days early to beat the heat of the sun. We were up most days by
5:00am.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">You
will spend a lot of time driving. In six days we were driven about 2600
km.</li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Darwin</span></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Katherine Gorge </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Devils Marbles </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Alice Springs </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Uluru (Ayers Rock) </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kings</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
The company we did our tour through is called <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Adventure
Tours Australia</i></b> (adventuretours.com.au). The reasons we chose them was
because we were able to see all of the sights that we wanted to see, they
supplied the meals, accommodation was included, and we didn’t have to do any
driving.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyGkpf2Jdwo/UUegok97q9I/AAAAAAAAB3E/GOlGZA-RlKQ/s1600/outback+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyGkpf2Jdwo/UUegok97q9I/AAAAAAAAB3E/GOlGZA-RlKQ/s640/outback+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Katherine Gorge</b>
is part of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nitmiluk</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> and was a
hot, humid and lush destination. We paid $25/person to go on a short cruise of
the gorge and then swim in a waterfall. About 20 minutes into the ride, our
cruise driver pulled aside to let those of us off who wanted to go swimming. We
were given no directions other than his finger pointing in a general direction,
and “follow the blue arrows”. We hoped off and traversed over the boulders of a
dry river until we found the oasis. Now they do have crocodiles that roam the
gorge so many of us were a little hesitant to be the first to jump in. We let a
kid be the first… he seemed fine and then we all joined in. What an amazing
experience! We swam directly under the powerful falls and Jeff climbed the
walls to do a canon ball. The water was a perfect temperature and we really
didn’t want to leave.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2U86GpXXUYU/UUfUvOzQYpI/AAAAAAAAB4c/E9nxAgysBWg/s1600/outback+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2U86GpXXUYU/UUfUvOzQYpI/AAAAAAAAB4c/E9nxAgysBWg/s640/outback+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGwyWQjxM_8/UUfPu9G41FI/AAAAAAAAB3k/rZwT1JgPT3c/s1600/outback+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGwyWQjxM_8/UUfPu9G41FI/AAAAAAAAB3k/rZwT1JgPT3c/s640/outback+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HSaTWDqQctA/UUfQiTOe9mI/AAAAAAAAB3s/PdCTpp4mysw/s1600/outback+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HSaTWDqQctA/UUfQiTOe9mI/AAAAAAAAB3s/PdCTpp4mysw/s640/outback+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OAL8Svyo8z4/UUfUEWksWvI/AAAAAAAAB4U/cE0MFrx34Sw/s640/outback8.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPY_vuf71Mw/UUfSXEtB0YI/AAAAAAAAB34/6w00ibH53P8/s1600/outback+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPY_vuf71Mw/UUfSXEtB0YI/AAAAAAAAB34/6w00ibH53P8/s640/outback+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-kacmZSho8/UUfYYZf3qqI/AAAAAAAAB48/88qeQPvDRf8/s1600/DSC_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-kacmZSho8/UUfYYZf3qqI/AAAAAAAAB48/88qeQPvDRf8/s640/DSC_0261.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
As we drove on we saw less and less trees and more and more
red earth. We were surprised however at how much vegetation we saw overall. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NI29s1MqGg/UUfdcL-q-BI/AAAAAAAAB50/HPxBo4z2rXU/s1600/DSC_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NI29s1MqGg/UUfdcL-q-BI/AAAAAAAAB50/HPxBo4z2rXU/s640/DSC_0357.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-56YQy_-MCu8/UUfTMkFiNzI/AAAAAAAAB4E/R9HOk0P_fPk/s1600/outback+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-56YQy_-MCu8/UUfTMkFiNzI/AAAAAAAAB4E/R9HOk0P_fPk/s640/outback+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Two explorers arrived at the vast landscape of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Devils Marbles</b> many years ago and said:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Explorer 1 “What in the devil are those?!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Explorer 2 “They look like marbles”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
And so they were named. True story.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJFBRLGj8mU/UUfdDmwjsLI/AAAAAAAAB5s/p80_k-NyD44/s1600/DSC_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJFBRLGj8mU/UUfdDmwjsLI/AAAAAAAAB5s/p80_k-NyD44/s640/DSC_0314.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Half way through our journey we stayed in <st1:place w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Alice Springs</b></st1:place>. This is
another one of those stop over stays. Not a place worth staying too long.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NI29s1MqGg/UUfdcL-q-BI/AAAAAAAAB50/HPxBo4z2rXU/s1600/DSC_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NDGq0_a3jWE/UUfThLqvhuI/AAAAAAAAB4M/IenbDMk3TVI/s1600/outback+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NDGq0_a3jWE/UUfThLqvhuI/AAAAAAAAB4M/IenbDMk3TVI/s640/outback+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Uluru (Ayers Rock)</b>
was our next destination and we were very excited to see this major attraction
of the Outback. At a distance it is quite spectacular, but once we
got right up close to it we were drawn by the details you can’t see from afar. We
enjoyed an Uluru sunset with champagne, and a sunrise and base walk the next
day. It was really worth the early wakeup call. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Some interesting facts that you might want to know:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>Aboriginals didn’t become citizens of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> until
the ‘70s</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>Much of the Aboriginal land was not returned to them
until 2012</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>Aboriginals do not want you to climb Uluru. This is a
sacred sight and surprisingly they do have a trail open for tourists. Why would
you want to climb on the only thing you can see for miles? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Another amazing destination was our short climb of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kata Tjuta</b> (The Olgas). A brilliant red
formation, but unfortunately Uluru takes all the attention of tourists. We
found it to be nicer looking from a distance, where as Uluru is best seen up
close.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1eGWEKvWRY/UUlUDy-6yjI/AAAAAAAAB88/JGtdRZqqPCI/s1600/DSC_0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1eGWEKvWRY/UUlUDy-6yjI/AAAAAAAAB88/JGtdRZqqPCI/s640/DSC_0428.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhr_26_4PYY/UUfXdnhYicI/AAAAAAAAB40/yNggLuUCB-o/s1600/DSC_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhr_26_4PYY/UUfXdnhYicI/AAAAAAAAB40/yNggLuUCB-o/s640/DSC_0535.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GLCc8s41-rk/UUfVeZSzqTI/AAAAAAAAB4k/sECDJYA_6Vo/s1600/outback+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GLCc8s41-rk/UUfVeZSzqTI/AAAAAAAAB4k/sECDJYA_6Vo/s640/outback+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
One problem once the sun came out was the pesky flies – I
received a head net from a friendly stranger in our hostel one night. She said
I would need it, and she was done her trip so I could have it. Thank you kind
stranger!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Jeff didn't need one, he had his beard.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmlnJUI81Tk/UUlQfZd95dI/AAAAAAAAB80/AXgXoVCVRbk/s1600/outback+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmlnJUI81Tk/UUlQfZd95dI/AAAAAAAAB80/AXgXoVCVRbk/s640/outback+12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
One of the highlights of this trip was our experience
sleeping under the stars in a SWAG (an aussie bedroll). As you can see from the
pictures it’s just the red earth, the swag, and you. We did this on two nights
and we are still alive to speak of it – no bugs, snakes, or any other crazy
Australian creature you can think of visited us in the night. The outback sky was breath taking –
something we have recently started labelling as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Things we can’t bottle”.</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
The other nights of our tour were spent sleeping in tents on
beds. They were pretty hot and so the swag offered much needed fresh and open
air flow.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eq2TCtHqFhY/UUfWVSwqaSI/AAAAAAAAB4s/LqZeZwL2o_Q/s1600/outback+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eq2TCtHqFhY/UUfWVSwqaSI/AAAAAAAAB4s/LqZeZwL2o_Q/s640/outback+11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">On our last day we were up again at 5:00am and
off to hike <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kings</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></b></st1:place>. It was a 6km trek and due to
extreme temperatures we needed to be done by 9:00am. It was a steep start, but
otherwise easy to navigate. Jeff was most interested in this day and neither of
us was disappointed</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BM8PgJiHew/UUfb99I3L8I/AAAAAAAAB5k/sH6qiLzF6f0/s1600/P3110471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BM8PgJiHew/UUfb99I3L8I/AAAAAAAAB5k/sH6qiLzF6f0/s640/P3110471.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A picture to scare the mom's</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tUGL4O2XBSI/UUfYss353BI/AAAAAAAAB5E/FIcR-_rqSBc/s1600/outback+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tUGL4O2XBSI/UUfYss353BI/AAAAAAAAB5E/FIcR-_rqSBc/s640/outback+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlmctMGEjR4/UUfZl5EvpBI/AAAAAAAAB5M/RT-aTwMpD4o/s1600/outback+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlmctMGEjR4/UUfZl5EvpBI/AAAAAAAAB5M/RT-aTwMpD4o/s640/outback+14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn0M7zzJoAo/UUfahZYOqpI/AAAAAAAAB5c/jwEp_sAU_-8/s1600/P3100419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn0M7zzJoAo/UUfahZYOqpI/AAAAAAAAB5c/jwEp_sAU_-8/s640/P3100419.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sg2owvjN-4A/UUfZ4BSojdI/AAAAAAAAB5U/qkc0j3AQaJA/s1600/P3110443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sg2owvjN-4A/UUfZ4BSojdI/AAAAAAAAB5U/qkc0j3AQaJA/s640/P3110443.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We made it to the Red Centre!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxhW0aq9b0Q/UUfd3v3fuKI/AAAAAAAAB58/-JOs5KVJrto/s1600/P3100370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxhW0aq9b0Q/UUfd3v3fuKI/AAAAAAAAB58/-JOs5KVJrto/s400/P3100370.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-21651326890799169012013-03-18T23:38:00.003-07:002013-03-18T23:38:49.424-07:00Man Makeover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Earlier today Jeff underwent a major transformation. For the
low price of $15 the beard and hair he had been growing since December was
chopped off – thank god. Please feel free to participate in the poll below.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18Rjz3H1YNQ/UUgGe7iyQII/AAAAAAAAB8U/_iGj43R0oAg/s1600/Beard+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18Rjz3H1YNQ/UUgGe7iyQII/AAAAAAAAB8U/_iGj43R0oAg/s1600/Beard+Collage.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eCHTm_0sWRg/UUgHj_8mNQI/AAAAAAAAB8k/NK6mlNtkhIo/s1600/P3180088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eCHTm_0sWRg/UUgHj_8mNQI/AAAAAAAAB8k/NK6mlNtkhIo/s1600/P3180088.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
He's like a new man... I even took him out for a reward lunch at <strong><em>Snag Stand</em></strong> (Melbourne)</div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-17095555493968510752013-03-18T19:21:00.003-07:002013-03-18T19:21:35.990-07:00Perth & Rottnest Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDQynmn1ZNI/UUeViNVaB7I/AAAAAAAAB14/h0UcY0nk8kQ/s1600/P3050218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDQynmn1ZNI/UUeViNVaB7I/AAAAAAAAB14/h0UcY0nk8kQ/s640/P3050218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
The first part of our Western and Outback Adventure took
place in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Perth</b></st1:place></st1:city>. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Perth</st1:place></st1:city> is one of the most geographically
isolated cities in the world. The flight from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city> was long but the time difference worked
in our favour. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Perth</st1:place></st1:city>
is a very clean modern city with nice shopping and restaurant districts. It is
a very walk-able city with a nice river pathway system.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Pg_mLf2dE/UUfC1oQyxvI/AAAAAAAAB3U/RWAlNu_A6CQ/s1600/perth+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Pg_mLf2dE/UUfC1oQyxvI/AAAAAAAAB3U/RWAlNu_A6CQ/s640/perth+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B3uONgN-UcA/UUeWLEiNTmI/AAAAAAAAB2I/-EkjZYQ6BZE/s1600/rotto+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B3uONgN-UcA/UUeWLEiNTmI/AAAAAAAAB2I/-EkjZYQ6BZE/s640/rotto+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Our first order of business was to head out for some bicycle
and snorkel fun. Our destination was the beautiful <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rottnest</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></b></st1:place>.
Our day started with a river cruise past Freemantle, and 18km offshore was the
island. Rottnest means “Rat Nest” in Dutch after the first explorer here glimpsed
the local <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Quokkas</i>. These pint sized
Wallaby things would look like rats from a distance but are actually very friendly
and cute.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j9_6qWoR5eo/UUeXL2tqA5I/AAAAAAAAB2g/Qsj9qkeFGC8/s1600/rotto+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j9_6qWoR5eo/UUeXL2tqA5I/AAAAAAAAB2g/Qsj9qkeFGC8/s640/rotto+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Upon arrival to Rottnest we were issued our trusty cruiser bicycles
and snorkel gear strapped on the back. Armed with a map we were left to explore
the island and its many beaches. This was a once in a lifetime experience and
we both rated it pretty much as high as you can for personal satisfaction.
Traffic on the island is limited to a few coaches for the elderly and lame, and
bicycles for the rest. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mlt-l6TI-dQ/UUeWknAVMzI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/BIFtlEK2zy8/s1600/rotto+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mlt-l6TI-dQ/UUeWknAVMzI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/BIFtlEK2zy8/s640/rotto+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
We pedalled for a couple kilometres and eventually came up
to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Little Salmon Bay</i> for our first
snorkel dip. Within ten feet of being in the water we were stalking a ray as it
cruised along. We barely had time to fire up the camera before it outpaced us
and moved on. We were surprised at the coral that was there as well as the
mapped out snorkel tour with undersea guideposts. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YhLoEs1dRrg/UUeW0yOyeHI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/rvZ_RjPbinQ/s1600/rotto+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YhLoEs1dRrg/UUeW0yOyeHI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/rvZ_RjPbinQ/s640/rotto+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
We dried off on the bikes and continued on past a nice light
house, where we befriended a Quokka, and ended up going for another swim at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Little Parakeet Beach</i>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFsLxxKrIs0/UUfI_V4iPqI/AAAAAAAAB3c/4vejH4wE5mw/s1600/P3040053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFsLxxKrIs0/UUfI_V4iPqI/AAAAAAAAB3c/4vejH4wE5mw/s640/P3040053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our time on Rottnest was excellent and have not stopped talking about since. So many travellers do not venture into the West or through the Outback and it was a relief to have such a genuine experience. The beer and wine afterward tasted delicious as a reward for a moderate days work.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j9_6qWoR5eo/UUeXL2tqA5I/AAAAAAAAB2g/Qsj9qkeFGC8/s1600/rotto+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The following day we explored the city on foot with a quick
trip to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Western</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Australian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>
and downtown street malls. We really enjoyed our couple of days in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Perth</st1:place></st1:city> and would have
liked to see the wine and beach regions to the south and some of the desert
areas outside of town, but we were off to start our Outback camping tour…</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-54363645033060795852013-03-02T03:25:00.003-08:002013-03-02T03:25:33.888-08:00Tram-tastic: Melbourne Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UASGJogUE-4/UTHWMnRrWjI/AAAAAAAAB00/O94RwKjAl8M/s1600/P3010053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UASGJogUE-4/UTHWMnRrWjI/AAAAAAAAB00/O94RwKjAl8M/s640/P3010053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
We successfully moved out of our house in <st1:city w:st="on">Sydney</st1:city>
and have begun our whirl wind tour of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>. First stop was <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><strong>Melbourne</strong></st1:city></st1:place> to catch up with
Neal and Laura and see where they’ve made a temporary home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city>
is a beautiful, eclectic city with amazing food and great sights. Our
first night out was to an evening market where we enjoyed some meatball sliders,
drinks and hippy drum dancing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-97FGTI-Fzts/UTHWzHloOnI/AAAAAAAAB08/-_OK6pgALDY/s1600/train+car+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-97FGTI-Fzts/UTHWzHloOnI/AAAAAAAAB08/-_OK6pgALDY/s640/train+car+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
The second day Laura took us on tour of some of the laneways
and street art. For the evening they had booked a night out starting with dinner
on a <strong>Tram Car</strong> that toured the city and included an open bar. We abused the open
bar and had an amazing meal. Afterwards we headed to <strong>Lui Bar</strong> on the 55<sup>th</sup>
floor of a building overlooking the city. We continued our mini bender and
finished off with some hot dogs and Hungry Jacks (Burger King).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--PiRPuHkf8g/UTHXQWif2tI/AAAAAAAAB1I/mQkBNbekVc8/s1600/grafitti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--PiRPuHkf8g/UTHXQWif2tI/AAAAAAAAB1I/mQkBNbekVc8/s640/grafitti.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NN9mHvUmU9Q/UTHXzu1VagI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/rMRg4z7iu5s/s1600/randoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NN9mHvUmU9Q/UTHXzu1VagI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/rMRg4z7iu5s/s640/randoms.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Feeling a little rough on the third day we rented a car and
headed to <strong>Portsea</strong> to snorkel and soak up some sun. It was nice to actually be
in a car and see some of the landscape beyond the city. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YNMybxswCgA/UTHY-4VpjJI/AAAAAAAAB1k/gC0BFnQJ3Io/s1600/DSC_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YNMybxswCgA/UTHY-4VpjJI/AAAAAAAAB1k/gC0BFnQJ3Io/s640/DSC_0344.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Neal and Laura have been amazing hosts and we are looking forward to catching up with them again in a couple weeks. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Tomorrow we head to <st1:city w:st="on"><strong>Perth</strong></st1:city> for some more snorkelling and a bike tour on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rottnest</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></b></st1:place>.</div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-13884157329272815762013-02-23T20:09:00.000-08:002013-02-23T20:24:43.534-08:00Dirty Thirty – Surf Camp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wcKt1rWJQi0/USmDnFuFC7I/AAAAAAAABJw/jh7ZTF1K90s/s1600/P2210055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wcKt1rWJQi0/USmDnFuFC7I/AAAAAAAABJw/jh7ZTF1K90s/s1600/P2210055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--LwEE33Zn18/USmVgbN60JI/AAAAAAAABMI/GRIk2ErScBE/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--LwEE33Zn18/USmVgbN60JI/AAAAAAAABMI/GRIk2ErScBE/s640/DSC_0005.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Depending on the odds you give me, you can say that I am
going through a third or half life crisis by selling most of my possessions and
travelling the world. My 29<sup>th</sup> birthday was wild with Jess getting me
a tattoo so we wanted to go all out for my 30<sup>th</sup> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- which provided mixed results. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZImBF_0A14/USmKzkgQMZI/AAAAAAAABKY/Kp3t83v-anE/s1600/surf+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZImBF_0A14/USmKzkgQMZI/AAAAAAAABKY/Kp3t83v-anE/s1600/surf+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
We finished work last week and decided to start the travel
part of our vacation with a bang and go to a five day Surf Camp. Monday morning
we jumped on a bus and travelled about 2hrs South West to <strong>7 Mile Beach</strong>. The
camp was a quick walk away from a pristine beach that was made for beginner
surfers like us. </div>
We split into groups and hit the water in our standard
issue, make-you-look-like-a-fat-white-chubbo, wetsuits and started our lessons.
The first couple days were spent finding new muscles to ache and ways to bail
off a surf board in the least graceful way. Jess, of course, made it look easy
and was getting private lessons from an instructor that thought he could
replace me. I was making steady progress and consistently getting up. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AbD1rh-ixOg/USmOnB-h5II/AAAAAAAABLM/g1Q1vtUooko/s1600/jeff+surf+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AbD1rh-ixOg/USmOnB-h5II/AAAAAAAABLM/g1Q1vtUooko/s1600/jeff+surf+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We were greeted to Dolphins swimming offshore for a couple
of the days and one of Jess’s other boyfriends, (who she named Sawyer – Lost
reference), was fit enough to paddle out and get some great video of them on a GoPro. The
night life consisted of stuffing our faces and falling asleep early feeling
like the waves were still floating you on the bed. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
At the very end of the third day I caught a wave, crashed
and rolled up on shore like the whale that I am and realized that it felt like
a donkey had kicked me in the ribs and I was having trouble breathing. I
figured I got hit by the board and the sting would lessen as the night wore on.
Boy was I wrong! I woke up on my 30<sup>th</sup> Birthday with a mystery bulge
in my rib cage and was having trouble with simple tasks like sitting, standing
or lying. I figured the water would help me stretch things out and make me feel
better. Wrong again. It was official… I am old. I missed out on one and a half
lessons but took the opportunity to take an extra couple of thousand photos of
Jess not being old. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HqlqZCKPpy8/USmPzxybSmI/AAAAAAAABLc/JK6gIOy718w/s1600/857168_10151272176606931_1372049365_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rqfTRD0y_zo/USmMtZ_cKXI/AAAAAAAABKk/IPFnSNVwoDQ/s1600/jess+surf+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rqfTRD0y_zo/USmMtZ_cKXI/AAAAAAAABKk/IPFnSNVwoDQ/s1600/jess+surf+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
All in all it was an amazing trip and another good birthday story. We will continue to surf when we can, and think that the camp was and awesome place to meet some great people and have fun even when you are reminded of your own mortality.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HqlqZCKPpy8/USmPzxybSmI/AAAAAAAABLc/JK6gIOy718w/s1600/857168_10151272176606931_1372049365_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HqlqZCKPpy8/USmPzxybSmI/AAAAAAAABLc/JK6gIOy718w/s1600/857168_10151272176606931_1372049365_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8J0hAHA4w9Y/USmPEZZUlJI/AAAAAAAABLU/jvmnvOKSFI8/s1600/823463_10151267135831931_1645686717_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8J0hAHA4w9Y/USmPEZZUlJI/AAAAAAAABLU/jvmnvOKSFI8/s1600/823463_10151267135831931_1645686717_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Surf Camp crew.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/X7WeOkSJSyA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Each day the instructors took video of us using GoPro cameras. Here is the final week summary video. If you look close you can see us a few times.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMhYnr4gFPg/USmV9ceP09I/AAAAAAAABMQ/bPcXH7ZmIm8/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMhYnr4gFPg/USmV9ceP09I/AAAAAAAABMQ/bPcXH7ZmIm8/s640/DSC_0008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-77828017524714671792013-02-16T20:06:00.004-08:002013-02-16T20:54:04.537-08:00Around Australia in 73 Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nbULKvgo3Cg/USBSJ2mNfVI/AAAAAAAABzg/-CsHI00X0GY/s1600/P2160086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nbULKvgo3Cg/USBSJ2mNfVI/AAAAAAAABzg/-CsHI00X0GY/s640/P2160086.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We have finished working and are now ready to take on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>! We
will be gone for <strong>73 days</strong> and enter 5 states – the 6<sup>th</sup> state is <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tasmania</st1:place></st1:state> and we will not
be going here unless we have some leftover money. Our plans are
outlined below and we are more than thrilled to get started.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Phase One:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: currentColor; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 480;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.4pt;" valign="top" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
February 18 to 22</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 162pt;" valign="top" width="216"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Seven <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Mile</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(NSW)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 176.4pt;" valign="top" width="235"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Surf Camp<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.4pt;" valign="top" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
February 28 to March 3</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 162pt;" valign="top" width="216"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Melbourne</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(VIC)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 176.4pt;" valign="top" width="235"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">First visit to see Neal
& Laura on their new home turf.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.4pt;" valign="top" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
March 3 to 6</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 162pt;" valign="top" width="216"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Perth</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(WA)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 176.4pt;" valign="top" width="235"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Snorkel on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rottnest</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.4pt;" valign="top" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
March 6 to 13</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 162pt;" valign="top" width="216"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Darwin</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> & the Red Centre<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(NT)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 176.4pt;" valign="top" width="235"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Tour from <st1:city w:st="on">Darwin</st1:city>
to <st1:place w:st="on">Alice Springs</st1:place>. Some highlights should be
sleeping under the stars in the outback, seeing Ayers Rock & riding a
camel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.4pt;" valign="top" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
March 13 to 22</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 162pt;" valign="top" width="216"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Adelaide</span></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> & back to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(SA)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 176.4pt;" valign="top" width="235"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">After a couple of days in <st1:city w:st="on">Adelaide</st1:city>, we will rent a car and drive the <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Great Ocean Road</st1:address></st1:street>
back to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Visit #2 with Neal &
Laura.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Phase Two:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: currentColor; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 480;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: silver; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 122.4pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
March 22 to 25</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126pt;" valign="top" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Brisbane</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(QLD)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 194.4pt;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Visit the Australian Zoo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(AKA: Steve Irwin’s zoo)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: silver; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 122.4pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
March 25 to 29</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126pt;" valign="top" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Noosa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(QLD)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 194.4pt;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Relax and soak up some
rays. We were here for a weekend in November and are looking forward to going
back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: silver; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 122.4pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
March 29 to April 5</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126pt;" valign="top" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Rainbow</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(QLD)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 194.4pt;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Fraser Island Drive</span></st1:address></st1:street><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Safari – camping and 4 wheel driving on a beach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: silver; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 122.4pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
April 5 to 12 </div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126pt;" valign="top" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hervey</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Airlie</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(QLD)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 194.4pt;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Whitsunday Catamaran Tour –
snorkel <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: silver; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 122.4pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
April 13 to 17</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126pt;" valign="top" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Townsville <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(QLD)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 194.4pt;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Magnetic</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Escape – scooter or Barbie Car rental<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: silver; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 122.4pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
April 18 to 26</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126pt;" valign="top" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Cairns</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(QLD)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 194.4pt;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Great
Barrier Reef</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> snorkel and
helicopter tour (super excited for this one).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Tribulation</st1:placename></span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Safari.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kayak Tour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background: silver; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 122.4pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
April 27 to May 2</div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126pt;" valign="top" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Melbourne</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(VIC)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 194.4pt;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Final visit with Neal &
Laura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: silver; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 122.4pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
May 2</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 320.4pt;" valign="top" width="427"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Return to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YuUzEOndTA/USBSyxYvhUI/AAAAAAAABzo/xtblJXOeOQU/s1600/P2160085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YuUzEOndTA/USBSyxYvhUI/AAAAAAAABzo/xtblJXOeOQU/s640/P2160085.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
As you can see there has been a lot of planning going on...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In other news, Jeff is very proud of his beard at this point. I am sure you all look forward to seeing it progress on this trip.</div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-870133032280672952013-02-02T19:56:00.003-08:002013-02-02T19:56:45.699-08:00Australia Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2hBeilGsATc/UQ3Z-JToXiI/AAAAAAAAByE/ELTjRk-1tOU/s1600/australia+day+jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2hBeilGsATc/UQ3Z-JToXiI/AAAAAAAAByE/ELTjRk-1tOU/s640/australia+day+jump.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Me in my "<b>Totes Amaze</b>" vest... It's totally amazing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some other Aussie slang for you:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Ranga</b> - short for Orangutan (what they call gingers - and my personal favorite)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Relo </b>- short for Relative</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Fluoro</b> - short for fluorescent</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Credo</b> - short for credentials </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Unco</b> - short for Uncoordinated</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Abo</b> - short for Aboriginal (derogatory)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been pretty rainy here in Sydney the last few weekends. It was the
Australia Day long weekend last week and we got lucky with 1 day of sun so we
took advantage of the day and went for a walk followed by a BBQ. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Jj0GUUPM2M/UQ3aRUHtgGI/AAAAAAAAByQ/TEXBHk4wauw/s1600/P1260028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Jj0GUUPM2M/UQ3aRUHtgGI/AAAAAAAAByQ/TEXBHk4wauw/s400/P1260028.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p-lJEgel5Tk/UQ3co8OAr3I/AAAAAAAAByY/KkjNiTtNkNs/s1600/food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p-lJEgel5Tk/UQ3co8OAr3I/AAAAAAAAByY/KkjNiTtNkNs/s640/food.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We saw these baby octopuses at the grocery store and decided
it would be something different to grill. I didn’t like the final texture but
Jeff loved them, and says he would make them again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While we waited for them to grill we had some Crabbies
Ginger Beer, a new favorite of ours. Jeff also made some flat bread pizza that we’ve
been eating multiple times a week. Very yummy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZorQmDomTpc/UQ3dIaY2pGI/AAAAAAAAByg/XthViRsbJ0c/s1600/crabbies+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZorQmDomTpc/UQ3dIaY2pGI/AAAAAAAAByg/XthViRsbJ0c/s640/crabbies+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Only 10 days of work left and then we continue on our way to
see Australia
– North, South, East and West.</div>
<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-26498918415314232472013-01-19T19:47:00.001-08:002013-01-19T20:07:05.174-08:00Out and About<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5QhasPv1I5Y/UPtipLqzTOI/AAAAAAAABuw/TmkLY0XbCYg/s1600/P1180073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5QhasPv1I5Y/UPtipLqzTOI/AAAAAAAABuw/TmkLY0XbCYg/s640/P1180073.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This weekend was pretty overcast. We were still out and
about and thought we would show you what we got up to.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After work on Friday we went to Darling Harbour
for drinks. This giant duck has been floating here for a few weeks now, and is
five storeys high and five storeys wide. The artist who created it claims to
“astonish audiences and give them a new perspective on public spaces”. Mission accomplished.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This particular duck has been popping up in various cities
around the world since 2007.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LCeuleQnpnw/UPtjzu-nt3I/AAAAAAAABvw/4hVG0GzxXyY/s1600/bird+cage+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LCeuleQnpnw/UPtjzu-nt3I/AAAAAAAABvw/4hVG0GzxXyY/s640/bird+cage+edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![e-->On Saturday we went on a wander around downtown. We walked
by this alley way where an artist has created a tranquil memorial for bird
species that once sang in central Sydney.
While you stand there you hear recordings of these birds and it is pretty
serene considering we were only a few meters from the main street.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QFpaPLt-9gw/UPtkYLRhjSI/AAAAAAAABv4/eOAB-wc73ss/s1600/downtown+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QFpaPLt-9gw/UPtkYLRhjSI/AAAAAAAABv4/eOAB-wc73ss/s640/downtown+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today we decided to head over to the basketball court. It’s
been a while since we have played and I think we surprised ourselves with our
mad skills… a picture is worth a thousand words.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uEVqb8hbit0/UPtl0sloOuI/AAAAAAAABwM/Srnvkgt0xBE/s1600/basketball+collage+jess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uEVqb8hbit0/UPtl0sloOuI/AAAAAAAABwM/Srnvkgt0xBE/s640/basketball+collage+jess.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9uzjZbHZ2N4/UPtlBAxCNUI/AAAAAAAABwA/4wBVMJuYp1w/s1600/basketball+collage+jeff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9uzjZbHZ2N4/UPtlBAxCNUI/AAAAAAAABwA/4wBVMJuYp1w/s640/basketball+collage+jeff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t be jealous.</div>
<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-33894177110504862722013-01-11T18:39:00.001-08:002013-01-11T18:41:36.439-08:00Taronga Zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BSYtvQD-Ej4/UNegRPZmOcI/AAAAAAAABn4/AV7UlwLfpuA/s1600/taronga+zoo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BSYtvQD-Ej4/UNegRPZmOcI/AAAAAAAABn4/AV7UlwLfpuA/s640/taronga+zoo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks back we went to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Taronga Zoo</b>. It’s safe to say that neither of us had seen so many
lively and beautiful animals. We must have passed through after meal time
because they were running around like wild animals.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![end-->We went to this zoo by ferry and it kind of felt as though
we were going to Jurassic
Park. It was a beautiful
zoo and gave a great view of downtown Sydney
from many locations along the way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t_dRW59xrB8/UNeg7wU4thI/AAAAAAAABoA/5Mywzayc4E4/s1600/taronga+zoo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t_dRW59xrB8/UNeg7wU4thI/AAAAAAAABoA/5Mywzayc4E4/s640/taronga+zoo3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif][if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This little guy was easily the cutest animal of the day…that
was until he drank the pee of another relative straight from the tap! Then this same relative ate its own <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">excrement (see below).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrBd2XMoCto/UPDH2ur6TEI/AAAAAAAABrw/oX6ZsPmCcMg/s1600/taronga+zoo+collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrBd2XMoCto/UPDH2ur6TEI/AAAAAAAABrw/oX6ZsPmCcMg/s640/taronga+zoo+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBV705zPNr8/UNehRY1cuJI/AAAAAAAABoI/AhRyQwHDKhE/s1600/taronga+zoo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBV705zPNr8/UNehRY1cuJI/AAAAAAAABoI/AhRyQwHDKhE/s640/taronga+zoo4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did you know Koala’s can jump from tree to tree? I did not,
and when this happened was pretty amused. If they didn't move you would swear they were just stuffed animals.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FrjSoGVFmU0/UN_Eb6GWR5I/AAAAAAAABpg/iaKu2P3z2ng/s1600/DSC_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FrjSoGVFmU0/UN_Eb6GWR5I/AAAAAAAABpg/iaKu2P3z2ng/s640/DSC_0697.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Jeff and me at the beach...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sBeUmtSoLks/UNeh5ZZ4GXI/AAAAAAAABoQ/83oSloxu3fY/s1600/taronga+zoo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sBeUmtSoLks/UNeh5ZZ4GXI/AAAAAAAABoQ/83oSloxu3fY/s640/taronga+zoo5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2aZygWRRjU0/UPDMPvtMzGI/AAAAAAAABtw/9kGKDUUhreM/s1600/last+collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2aZygWRRjU0/UPDMPvtMzGI/AAAAAAAABtw/9kGKDUUhreM/s640/last+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MAQFxUd5KLk/UPDIrG04z7I/AAAAAAAABr8/uwZNwJiGfS0/s1600/DSC_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MAQFxUd5KLk/UPDIrG04z7I/AAAAAAAABr8/uwZNwJiGfS0/s640/DSC_0401.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFKnq2Nna9I/UN_Dtt22kQI/AAAAAAAABpY/Mk2MS982vJw/s1600/DSC_0532.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFKnq2Nna9I/UN_Dtt22kQI/AAAAAAAABpY/Mk2MS982vJw/s640/DSC_0532.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2aZygWRRjU0/UPDMPvtMzGI/AAAAAAAABtw/9kGKDUUhreM/s1600/last+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-91016080575992745092013-01-05T17:20:00.000-08:002013-01-05T17:20:33.719-08:00Calzone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQ0cCbEXjVs/UOjJzsrdkBI/AAAAAAAABG0/SZt7WY78Vus/s1600/P1050038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQ0cCbEXjVs/UOjJzsrdkBI/AAAAAAAABG0/SZt7WY78Vus/s640/P1050038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Pizza is pretty much at the top of my list of things I could
happily eat every day until I died. We usually have a selection of ingredients
in the refrigerator for toppings but do not have an easy pizza dough recipe to
fall back on. This dough recipe is literally the easiest recipe you could ever
make and it pays huge dividends. It is fast and only has a few ingredients. We
have a tiny oven and I made Calzones so that I could fit more in at a time. The
ingredients shown will make one large calzone or one standard pizza.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Dough Ingredients:</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>1 ½ cup Self Raising Flour</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>¾ cup Greek
Yogurt</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Optional:</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>2 tbsp Olive Oil</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>2 tbsp tepid Water</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>2 tbsp White Wine</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>Chopped Fresh Herbs</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Directions:</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Dump the Flour on a clean counter. Dump the Yogurt on the
Flour. Mix around with your fingers. If it is too dry add Water, Wine, or Oil…
I did some combination of all three with fresh Rosemary and Oregano. As you
work the ingredients together it will start forming a sticky ball. Keep working
it and it will turn into smooth stretchy dough. As you can probably tell this
is a recipe that anyone can follow and it makes the perfect texture, taste,
crunch and color of crust. The only hard part is deciding what to fill it with.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNAD-f4fz-A/UOjK576qRzI/AAAAAAAABHI/-XxcQH4D77o/s1600/P1050022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNAD-f4fz-A/UOjK576qRzI/AAAAAAAABHI/-XxcQH4D77o/s400/P1050022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Filling:</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The combination of filling I used is a perfect “adult”
calzone that we shared as part of a Tapas night we had with our Roommates.
Instead of Red Sauce I used a Basil Pesto topped with sliced Feta stuffed Green
Olives, chopped Spinach, diced Spicy Salami, shredded Provolone and shredded
Mozzarella. It was amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A7v3qyHeof4/UOjKoZX8ZqI/AAAAAAAABHA/4bonfR5ns4w/s1600/P1050028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A7v3qyHeof4/UOjKoZX8ZqI/AAAAAAAABHA/4bonfR5ns4w/s640/P1050028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-80325523591118542652013-01-05T17:18:00.001-08:002013-01-05T17:18:29.155-08:00Lemony Pancakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7fAQmsDWdXw/UOjIhmRoRHI/AAAAAAAABGk/LvuRz1aWlSA/s1600/PC280062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7fAQmsDWdXw/UOjIhmRoRHI/AAAAAAAABGk/LvuRz1aWlSA/s640/PC280062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
The best thing after a big night out is a giant breakfast to
cure your hangover. Neal and Laura visiting guaranteed that we would be having
a giant breakfast.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
This is my favorite pancake recipe because it makes fluffy
but not dry pancakes that are almost a crepe in consistency. The burst of
citrus makes every mouthful worth it.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
They are a little time consuming to make depending on how
many you plan on cooking at a time. I wake up early so I amused myself by
making one medium/large pancake at a time and warming them in the oven until
everyone dragged themselves out of bed. I made a double recipe and it makes 15
– 20 that fed 6 people. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Ingredients:</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>1 ½ cup Full Cream Milk</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>4 tsp Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>2 tbsp Sugar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>1 ½ cup Self-Raising Flour</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>¼ tsp Bicarbonate of Soda</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>1 Egg</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>1 ½ tbsp Melted Butter</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Directions:</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Despite the Full Cream these pancakes end up being light.
Mix the Cream, Lemon Juice and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Set the mixture to
the side for 5 minutes while the Lemon Juice starts to curdle the Cream… this
sounds gross but you are basically in the infant stages of making cheese. I
guess these could be called Lemony Ricotta Pancakes.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Combine the Egg and Melted Butter with the Cream mixture.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry Flour and Bicarb, mix and let stand for
another couple of minutes. Cook in a lightly greased skillet until bubbles show
through, flip and repeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LResHxzO5n8/UOjJE7hfNuI/AAAAAAAABGs/DJwnW_U1ohM/s1600/PC280066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LResHxzO5n8/UOjJE7hfNuI/AAAAAAAABGs/DJwnW_U1ohM/s640/PC280066.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754769097215029663.post-62146832364265609502013-01-05T17:16:00.001-08:002013-01-05T17:16:13.520-08:00Sydney Fireworks...and New Years!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ykXsBZd0zkE/UOjOS8Mk7eI/AAAAAAAABIk/aa4jsopb76s/s1600/DSC_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ykXsBZd0zkE/UOjOS8Mk7eI/AAAAAAAABIk/aa4jsopb76s/s640/DSC_0171.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
For New Years this year the only agenda was to see the
famous Sydney Fireworks. In order to do this you need a good view of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbour</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bridge</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and this unfortunately means you
need to camp out all day to reserve your spot. Armed with 24 sandwich rolls and
litres of booze, we camped out under the shade of a tree for 12 hours. I cannot
emphasize how worth it this waiting was. From our vantage point we were able to
see 4 locations of fireworks set off at the 9:00pm and midnight showings.
AMAZING!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-84jzmCYT_fM/UOjPWA4UtJI/AAAAAAAABI8/ixfRO9EKHBk/s1600/NYE+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-84jzmCYT_fM/UOjPWA4UtJI/AAAAAAAABI8/ixfRO9EKHBk/s640/NYE+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMcxqcUHWWo/UOjPpOcp1-I/AAAAAAAABJE/7aHg6Kx9BA0/s1600/sydney+NYE3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMcxqcUHWWo/UOjPpOcp1-I/AAAAAAAABJE/7aHg6Kx9BA0/s640/sydney+NYE3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
After waiting only 4 hours we went slightly crazy and made our blanket into a magic carpet...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tsJ8f0g52E/UOjO9rHC3II/AAAAAAAABI0/ZS2T5o6RV1Q/s1600/sydney+NYE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tsJ8f0g52E/UOjO9rHC3II/AAAAAAAABI0/ZS2T5o6RV1Q/s640/sydney+NYE2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Happy New Year to everyone!! </b></div>
</div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821631264679455156noreply@blogger.com0