Month 3 marker- holy cow. Our time in Australia has almost come to an end with 7 short
days left. I always look back and wish I wrote a bit more but then I question
when I could have fit in it. Now is better than never though- and I’m thankful
I will have this blog to look back on for a reminder of the incredible things
we came across on this trip. After the Tough Mudder, we high tailed it to Sydney where we
spent two days roaming around the city. We got to see the Sydney Opera House as
well as walking all around the shops and restaurants. We stayed at another
AirBnb that was less than a 2 minute walk to the train station- which is the
suggested means of travel if heading into the city I’d say. No fuss with
parking or worrying about paying the meter when a round trip ticket is $5. It
was awesome to stand in front of the Opera House when I have seen so many
photos and post cards of it prior.
Sydney Opera House
From there we made our way south and spent a night on the
beach before starting our work-for-stay in Mallacoota. While Adam went on an
hour car ride to acquire goggles and a snorkel, I was more concerned about
setting up shop on the beach!
This was truly one of our favorite days here in Australia. I
basically had a beach to myself, while Adam adventured around with his goggles
and the GoPro to catch some awesome shots and a video of an octopus he near
smooshed!
We loved it and fell asleep listened to the tide roll in. I
couldn’t have been more relaxed. We picked this work-for-stay gig up through a website called
HelpX.com. In exchange for a bit of your time, you are provided with different
things. This house specifically provided all meals and a room for about 3 hours
of work a day- so it was time to save some money for us! We stayed with
Trigger, the town cop, and his family. The week flew by- Adam got to do some
spotlight hunting one night and after our few hours of work, Trigger took us
around town and showed us some secret spots and beaches- beautiful [even in the
rain]!
Trigger & Nicole- Showing us around to secret spots.
It was nice to spend a week with an Australian family and
have a full stretch of home cooking! Thanks to the Triggers! They also offered us
up their mountain bikes to use, which we had a BLAST with!
From here, we made our way to hunker down for the next 4
nights in a camping spot while it monsooned rain for 72 hours straight.
Adam making a ditch for the water to flow through next to the tent!
Lots of napping, playing cards, and cooking in the vehicle.
For you Shark Tank viewers- did you catch PowerPot on there?! We heard they
were on it but obviously missed the episode. This is the pot that was provided
to us to travel with on our journey by a good friend of Adam’s- Allyn, a
PowerPot and Granite Gear sales rep. Pumped to see them getting some spotlight
as we use this pot at least twice a day. We also brought this to their
attention which they loved: The mesh bag that the pot comes in can be utilized
as a pasta strainer!! Mmm, Ravioli.
PowerPot Pasta Strainer!
During our time at Triggers, we also met a wonderful couple,
Harvey & Jane from Zimbabwe, who have so graciously opened their home to us
to stay with them for a few days. We are heading there tonight and are excited
to get a nice bed and hot shower. Another one of the wonderful things that come
from traveling- meeting people and making friends from all around the world. Adam
and I have said that when we get back, our home is open to all of these
wonderful people who have opened their homes to us… let’s just hope they don’t
all come at once or that will be a dinner no one would want to miss!!
Today we adventured around Phillip Island where we ran the
Tough Mudder a few weeks back. We came across a daily feeding of wild pelicans,
which was on the border of awesome and terrifying, as one could swallow you
whole. I hid behind Adam after a few went rogue and out of the roped area. We walked along this beautiful beach and got some pretty
awesome photos.
Adam jumping!
He said he didn’t get wet at all, so I decided to do the
same. I was then pummeled by a gigantic tidal wave that almost knocked me over
and drenched me.
Drenched!!
In conclusion, Australia is beautiful.
I hope to post more frequently on what we are doing and
where we are- it definitely isn’t as easy as I thought it would be! Since we
will be leaving Australia soon, here is where we are headed, AND WE ARE SO
EXCITED!!!:
April 22: Arrive in Thailand [Bangkok]
May 21: Arrive in Singapore
June 5: Arrive in Indonesia [Bali!]
That is all we have planned so far. Hopefully I’ll get to
ride an elephant for my birthday in Thailand [AHEM, ADAM..]
I also just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone that reads
and sends positive words our way. It means a ton! J
