Hello Ningallo

March 12, 2010

Hello Ningalo

Well I bet many of you have heard of this thing called the Great Barrier Reef populated by fish, coral, sharks, sting rays, octopus, and much, much more. But I bet many of you don't know that there is actually a second reef in Australia on the West coast called Ningallo. This reef is actually claimed by many Australians as being better than the Great Barrier Reef for 2 main reasons, knowbody knows about it because it is on the west Coast, secondly you can walk right off the beach and you are on the reef, unlike it's cousin, who you need a boat to get to. Well Ningaloo is were we are currently at, and it is breathtaking, but more about that in a minute. We arrived in Coral bay, which is the southern edge of the Ningallo Reef. We saw the whale shark was indeed in the area, but it was 250 bucks, and on five attemps they only saw 2, so it was still a bit early to gamble 250 bucks. Anyway we went to the beach with our snorkle gear and walked into the water, and there was the reef. We snorkled for about 2 hours before we called it a day, but I will say that the coral there is soooooo cool, and the fish spetacular. The next day we were going to move up to Exmouth, but our morning start was delayed due to mechanical dificulties. Our car has automatic locks, and they engaged on their own locking Ella (who slept in the car that night) in the car. After nearly an hour of screwing around I was able to get in the driverside door and pull the fuse, our car now has manual locks, but you can't lock the back door right now, still trying to figure that out. Anyway we moved up to Exmouth where in front of a dive shop a sign said "Early bird special on whale shark, $160, usually $360" We all walked in wallet in hand ready to sign up. Well inside the woman (who turns out to be from Whistler) was doing a great job of selling it, until she slipped in this one little sentance. "And if you do jump in with the whale shark you pay the other 200 when you come back." This yanked me out of yaya land with the force of a stretched bungee cord. "Sorry" I said, "so it will be 360 bucks just like usual ?" I walked out more pissed off than I have been in Weeks. I just about took my shirt off and cleaned that sign off the board as false advertising. I am sorry 360 is a bit much, especially when you are pissed off at the dive company for purposly missleading you. We drove out to the coast and camped near the beach for the night before our snorkling the next day. Well the next day was, well, spectacular. We started snorkling at Turquoise Bay which blew Coral Bay out of the water for Marine life, and colorful coralI have hundreds of pictures from that site. I really wanted to see a reef shark though, that is like the top trophee I wanted to see (other than whale shark, but I was way to pissed off to sign up for that kind of a rip off). Anyway we snorkled on the second beach called oyster stacks which was totally different than either Coral Bay or Turquoise Bay, which was nice, but I still didn't find my Reef Shark. So we went back to the camp ground to take a break, and I wandered down to the beach to look at the flat water. I did this for about 10 minutes when my eyes picked up 2 very short dorcle fins. I was sprinting down the beach so fast waterproof camera in hand thinking I had my reef shark. When I reached the edge of the water, were they were swimming my common sense brain finnaly caught up to my tourist feet and said "Hold on, you better make sure you know what you are dealing with before you get in there", and that is when my dissapointment became awe. They were not reef sharks, or even dolphins, they were manta reays. Very small and young ones, and what I thought were dorcle fins were actually their outer edges of their bodies curving into a u shape as the swam. I slowly walked into the water trying not to startle them. They went back out to sea a few feet, then one came back and came very close to me, within 5 meters, then I turned on my camera and it jumped and took off, what made me jump is that anouther manta ray was 3 meters to my right that I didn't know was there until it also jumped and took off, but the biggest surprise by far was the one 2 meters to my left was a third manta ray I didn't know was there either. I came back to camp with a huge smile on my face as this was a BIG free bonus that I never expected. Quite often if the dive can't find a whale shark they try to find a manta ray as a concolation prize. I just saw 3 for free. Well that evening I went for a walk down to the beach were I ran into a wonderful Canadian couple who had gone on the whale shark swim that day, and they said they were also dissapointed about the missleading advertising but they decided to do it anyway. I talked to them for about 3 hours, which was about 175 minutes longer than I expected to be gone for. When I did get back supper was cold, and Ella was a little upset with me as I didn't tell anyone where I had gone. She was worried about me as they were wondering if I had drowned, I admit I probably should have cut the conversation short earlier, but I just lost track of time. The next morning Ella went for a swim in the morning and when she came back she said there were dolphins and turtles swimming just off shore. 2 minutes later we were all at the beach snorkle gear in hand. The dolphins were gone but the turtles were still there. The water was incredibly murkey so they were hard to spot, but in the end I saw 5, one of them was huge, his head was about the size of a rugby ball, and his body was huge. I didn't see him for long, but I definately remember comming out of the gloom and seeing this guy sittting on the bottom before he turned and swam off. Anouther BIG freebee dished out by the Ningaloo reef, and these weren't even seen on the reef. Later that morning we went and snorkled at Lakeside were we got the icing on the preverbial cake. within 5 minutes of snorkling I found a turtle hunkered under a rock sleeping, then 3 sting rays also under the rocks, and then anouther turtle slowly swimming through the water which I was able to follow and swim beside for a while, which would be the highlight of the day so far. It was amazing, but unfortunately there wasn't a reef shark in sight, but I saw things I never expected, and the turtle was probably cooler than the shark would have been anyway. We are currently driving north towards Karinjini National Park. Will tell you how it goes later, oh and I also need to do a Ella blog later.

Not So Smart

March 9, 2010

Hut River and Shark Bay.

Well for the last 2 day we have been heading North up the West coast of Australia, and I would like to start off with a trivial persuit question.

Q. Australia is the only country that encompases an entire continent?
True or False

Well if you are answered True to this question you are one of a majority of people who think they know everything.

If you answered False to this question you are probably making the argument that Indonesia, and it's sourounding islands are quite often considered part of the Australian Continent (which they often are). However if you answered False right now for a reason other than that you are either guessing or you know about this guy.

Meet Prince Leonard Casley, Prince of Hutt River Province in Western Australia. Now while some of you go roaring accross the internet to go looking up who the heck this guy is, let me tell everyone else with slower internet. In 1970 Leonard Casley was appauled at the new government quotas imposed on wheat and decided to seceed from the commonwealth. Of course the Australian government tried to overturn the Secesesion, but the Prince knows his law and smoked them in the court room. This guy has a great sense of humor, not to mention balls of steel to be able to pull such an insane thing off, and still be a separate country over 40 years later. He and his wife the Princese Shirley still run the farm, and counrty. Of course he isn't young anymore, but he still welcomes visitors with smiles, and even stamped our passports, giving us a demonstration of how imigration did it in Sydney, with the excemption of doing it in full eye view, pointing out all the security features pasports have, including the ultraviolet imprints in the paper. He showed us around the place and showed us some really cool stuff, telling us about the history and cool stories. The most interesting fact is that I could apply for a Hutt River pasport, and become one of the more than 13,000 Hutt River citizens world wide. I lauged at that, and I asked him if any one of his 7 kids have ever tried to dipose him and take over the country. He said his kids thought about it, but then they remember the amount of work involved in running a farm, and that usually changes their mind by the time he gets back from town. I have to admit this guy has class, and a sense of humor. I would definately have to add this guy to my list of really cool Aussies. Anyway after saying goodbye to the Prince (the only royal I have ever met in person) wandered around the farm checking out the government office, post office, statues before departing the only country that came into existence without bloodshed. We drove farther North into the Shark Bay region and to Hamelin station where we stayed for the night. This is also a really cool little place, it is a working sheep station that you can stay at and use the kitchen and camp for the night. It is a really cool place, and we couldn't help but get a picture taken with outback hats on. Anyway, we drove through to the telegraph station just up the road were we went and looked at the stromatolites, like the oldest lising things in the world, bacteria in rock form. We ordered a really good milkshake there (it was 42 degrees out) and got the plesent surprise when they arrived in those old 50's style metal cups. Anyway we asked were a good place to snorkle would be. The guy told us we should drive up to Eagle Bluff to see the sharks from the boardwalk and that if we wanted to snorkle we should do it to Whalebone bay, as it is easyier to see the sharks comming. That is were the conevrsation got fun.

Christian "There are sharks up here?"
Local "Well they call it Shark Bay for a reason"

I tried not to spit my strawberry milkshake over Ella when I burst into laughter. Chris later said he felt like a stupid tourist when he asked that question. I told him that he looked and sounded like a stupid tourist when he said it. Well the snorkling was fine, if not a bit short, but we may wait until Coral Bay as there is supposed to be really good snorkling up there. But seeing some of the sharks from the boardwalk overlooking Eagle Bluff was really cool, and quite safe. About 1 hour North of Shark Bay the never ending flat stretch of road was inturupted by these little hills that had a look out on top of them, which is when I spotted this pile of rocks, and on each one of these wrocks were the names of loved ones who have died recently. I found a flat stone and wrote Mae Astle, as a gift to her, placing it there amoungst 2 others from Canada facing out over the long open plane facing the setting sun. I stood beside the cairn for a little while waiting for the emotions to settle before leaving the hill. Heading to Carnavon tonight were we will probably call it a night.

Leaving Home Again

March 7, 2010
Well yeasterday we left Margret River, and it was one of the hardest things I had to do on this trip. I almost cried when we said goodbye to everyone at the hostel. The french were easier, as we said goodbye to them the night before, and it is way easier to say goodbye when you aren't about to drive out of the parking lot. Everyone said that if I ever came to there part of the world I would be welcomed with open arms. Which means I can travel all over Europe right now and never be far from a friendly face. Anyway we drove North and it was hard. Ella who was really good friends with Lena was really quiet, which was unusual for her as she is usually really quite bubbly. That Night we only got a far as Perth, and we booked into a hostel in Northridge, which is when we discovered that Northridge is kind of the shadyer side of town. It was a big hostel, and it felt so alien, cold, and cayotic. I suddenly really missed Margret River even more. Knowbody looked really that interesting, everyone there seemed rather like Douchbags. Chris decided to go to bed early, and I not wanting to hang around this place long decided to go looking for a quiet bar with Ella. This soon became a thing easier said than done for 2 very simple reasons, 1 it was Saturday night and the bars are packed on a saturday night, 2 there was an AC/DC concert in town and after it finished everyone was out on the town drinking wearing AC/DC shirts and memorabelia. We managed to squeze 1 drink in, and then just walked around talking until 1 in the morning. The next morning we checked out early and headed right up to Quinns Rock to pick up the mail from Gerard and Jane. I knocked on the door and peered through the blinds to see if anyone was there, which is when I spotted a pair of feet through the slits. These feet confued me, they were way to small to be Gerard's, way to young to be Jane's (no offence but this is what went through my mind Jane), so who owned these feet? And that is when the door opened to reveal the Canadian Doctor we all know and love Shara. This was a rather large surprise as last I heard she was working up North of Broome. Well she was back, and staying for a while (and she also like several of my other blog readers made a comment about not getting anything up on my blog). Anyway Gerard and Jane gave us coffee, tea, muffins and we had a nice reunion meeting. I gave Gerard 2 bottles of wine I picked up in Margret and he imediately invited me back in 10 years to drink them, must book plane ticket. It sounds like Jane liked the book I gave her, but now may partially hate me for the fact that the rest of the books in the series aren't written yet. Anyway we were there for maybe 30 minutes before we were all swimming in the pool. I have to admit I gave into temptation and swam for a good half hour. We had lunch moved a large potted plant. During our conversations I heard that one of their house guests actually complained about the purple bed, like my favorite bed in the universe, I was stunned. Anyway we said goodbye, but not before Gerard gave us 6 bottles of wine to go with us, now bringing our total to 20 bottles in the car, that might make Broome. We picked up some cheep wine before we left Margs. Anyway it was great to see Jane, Gerard, and Doc. Shara, anyway heading to Geraldton tonight, will write later.

I Am CANADIAN

March 1

Well this weekend was really fun. I went to the Busslten music festival were I had an absolute blast, the first day was great fun, with an absolutely amazing lineup ranging from a musical trio reminding me of Red Green to good rythems of Calexico to the wild finish of Xaviar Rudd who bounced us all the way home with some of the most unique and energenic music I have heard in a long time. Anyway we got a call on the Sunday night telling us we had work the next mornin at 5:00. Upon arival back at the campground at 11:30pm I decided that I would play hooky from work the next day. 2 main reasons, first I was tired, and wouldn't be feeling any better in 5 hours, secondly Canada was playing the U.S the next morning and there was no way I was going to miss that in favor of picking grapes. The next morning Chris went to pick grapes at 5 in the morning I slept to a very nice 8:30am, before moving over to the camp kitchen with a bottle of red wine in one hand and a hockey stick in the other. I sat down in front of the television and put on a face saying if anyone changed the channel someone would get hurt. I then patiently waited for the news to end. It was an agonizing wait but finally the news turned to sports where they anounced

"And now to the olimpics. Right now Canada is up 2-1 over America in the gold medal final right now at the end of the second period. We will be bringing you the third period live after the news."
Which was the best news I heard all day. The news took aganizingly long to tick away but eventually it did and I joined the rest of Canada just as the puck hit the ice to begin the third period. Soon I was joined by a Dutch guy who lived in Sweeden for 2 years. Then my cheering whooping and singing soon drew the attention of 4 Australians, all of whom had never seen a hockey game before, none the less a mad Canadian hockey fan delerius in the 40 degree heat. I soon taught them the basics of hockey and they were kind enough to cheeer for Canada along with me, that or they were scared what I would do if they cheered for the other side swingint a hockey stick, dancing on the tables, singing every known hockey song in my library(including The Hockey Song, Me like Hockey from the Arrogent worms, Canadian Anthem, and the Zamboni Song) . As I know you all were aware the Yanks scored to tie the game with under a minute to go, and I banged the picknic table in frustration. The tension was building as the overtime began, I chewed my nails, and when I ran out of those I started knawing on the wood picknic table (like a true beaver). One of the Australians asked me in a rather retorical question.

"This is big in Canada isn't it?"
I replied "Let me put it this way, If Canada wins this game there will be parties all night long, the olympics will be considered the most succsessful in Canadian history, and knowone will be at work tomorow as they will all be hung over. If Canada looses this game, the Vancover Olympics will be forever shunned and knowbody will be at work tomorow as there will be no workplace, if they are lucky, the fire department might have the fires under control by noon Tuesday next week. When Canada found out they got the winter olympics Canadians only throught of 1 thing, Winning hockey gold on home ice, all the other medals are insignificat next to this one."
And just then to prove my point they showed the outdoor jumbotron and 20,000 people packed around it.

As I probably don't have to tell you, it was an action packed overtime period, and when we finally scored I became the loudest person in Margret, dancing on the tables and downing the wine with my fellow fans. It didn't really matter if it was only 10:30 here, it was 5:00 somewhere. They then went on to show the first 2 periods, but they didn't really matter, I was celebrating to much to care. Later that afternoon I watched part of the closing cerimonies, and even the Australian comentators were talking about how all of Canada was tense waiting for that gold medal hockey game, how the country really wanted that one thing and now that they had it they are sitting back and enjoying the rest. I am going to make a bold prediction here, and say that the Vancouver Olympics will be the best remembered by Canadians, Montreal and Calgary won't be able to touch it. Not for the number of gold medals we won (even though we did really well there), not for the fact that a Gorgian Luger died (very unfortunate), but for that single hockey game Canada vs. the US, on home ice, in front of the home crowd, for the gold, and taking it in overtime. The last minute tie to send it to overtime, and the extra period that pulled the tension right to the max, and the goal by the most touted player in the NHL (even though I personally think he sucked the whole tournament and hate his guts) pushes this olympic games to the land of the legendary. This is what Canadian dreamed about, and they wern't dissapointed, and I am glad I saw it happen instead of picking grapes, this makes such a better story to tell the kids.

my future Child "Dad where were you when Canada won gold?"
Me "I was dancing on a picknic table in a caravan park on the other side of the world holding a hockey stick screaming as loud as I could, sourounded by 1 dutch guy, 3 Australians, and 4 very confused looking Kangaroos."
Chris "I was picking grapes in a field."

I am Canadian and I am damn proud of it.

Adam is at it again

Adam Vs. the Waves, Again.

Well some of you have probably read my earlier entries about my surfing/swiming experiences with waves, and I would like to anounce the waves are still kicking my ass. Of course I can now say I am not the only one loosing. I now have many stories from other people on the same beaches as me getting pummeled into oblivion. Anyway here are some more of mine. I was getting wet at Rivermouth near Mergret Rive rone day. I was waiting for a wave along with about 8 other people on surf boards, but the waves appered to have taken the day off, so after floating out there for like 20 minutes before we all unanimusly decided to call it quits at the same time. We all started to paddle in towards shore, when a shadow loomed over us, I looked up into the curving blackness of the biggest wave I have ever seen at this beach, and ever have the misfortune of being in the water for. There have been very few times on this trip when I have verbly swore on this trip, this was not one of those times, not because I didn't want to, but because well, before I could get it out, the wave pounced. If you have ever had the oportunity of being swallowed by a 10 foot wave, I won't have to tell you that it felt like I was stepped on by a giant, I won't have to tell you that I was bounced off the bottom of the ocean (3 feet below the surface) like a bouncy ball, i would never have to mention how you get winded along with a mouthfull of sand, and I most certainly will not tell you when it got bad. I will tell you that when the wave receeded how there were 8 gagging caughing bodies lying on the beach 6 surf boards and 1very stressed looking life guard. All was ok in the end, and the 2 missing surf boards did eventually turn up, though there teathers that held them to there master were snapped like a peice of string. 2 days later I was swimming at Redgate beach with everyone at work, and at one point we were standing at the waters edge chatting when a stupid little wave about 6 inches tall hit my ankles and well, I landed flat on my ass to the whooping laughter of everyone else standing there, well everyone else but Kat, who was kind enough to fall on her butt, just so I wasn't alone. Embarasing, well yes it was, esspecially when women were around. Anyway about a week later I was at Yallingup, North of Margret River where, well, the waves are bigger than any I faced before, but they were really fun. Anyway I was standing in the water taking the waves and chatting with a local guy, when a 12 foot monster rolled in, and we both instinctingly did the same thing, dived into it trying to gut under the curl of the wave, or as i call it, the painful part. Well I succeeded, kind of, I got my upper body through, but my legs got caught and my knees bounced off the ocean floor like a pingpong ball hit with a baseball bat. Even the local guy got caught by this thing, and he later said it was the biggest wave he has seen on this beach. Anyway it was great fun and 2 days later after some wine tasting Ella, Lena, Kia, Chris and Myself all went back to Yallingup. Chris and Kia both attacked the waves, the rest of us looked on and said "Not a chance in hell", actually honestly I was ready to go in but I was going to go snorkling with Ella in the calm part of the beach just off the reaf. Secondly Lena and Ella said Chris and Kia looked stupid to attack the beach with waves like that, and on closer inspection I agreed as this was the first time I was at this beach, and noticed knowone else was swimming out in the waves, that, and I am trying a new tactic of trying not to do stupid things in front of women. Well us three went off to the calm waters and I snorkled with Ella for a little while, and when we were done I looked over at Chris and Kia and found them sitting on the beach not far from where they were swimming earlier, which was strange as usually they are out there for about an hour before they need a rest. I walked down to them and as I approached I noticed something, they were both looking at the ocean, and neither one of them were talking. That is when I found out what had happened. Tweedle De and Tweedle Dum were swimming in the waves and decided to come back in for a drink, Chris turned and went to shore, Kia was 1 foot further out and he got caught in a rip tide. Chris grabbed a drink and turned around to find that Kia was still in the water, rather far in the water. So he goes back out there to find out what is going on and now well they are both caught. Luckly Chris knew what to do, because I pointed it out to him on a poster 2 months prior. If you are caught in a rip, don't fight it, just swim parallel to the beach and you should find a place where the rip tide swings back into shore. It still took them 20 minutes to find that hole in the rip tide, and by that time they were about 200m down the beach, but Kia almost didn't make it, he was so exhausted he actually had a hard time breathing for a while after. I of course new nothing about this when I was snorkling, and by the time I had shown up, they were both re-living the near death experience in their heads. Needless to say they didn't go swimming for the rest of the day. On the not so death defying side of the swim, the snorkling was good and rip tide free.

Working in Margret

Working
Well you heard about how we obtained our first job picking grapes, but what you probably don't know is that because of that first day we scored anouther 8 days of work. Well here is how. We spent some time down south of Margret river near Pemberten as we had 4 days until our next pick. That is when we got the call offering this new job to us. Paid hourly and 40 hours a week, offered to me and Chris and we need to give a ride to Kia, Lena and Ella (Lena and Ella were swaped off for Katrina and this weird French girl). All which was great for me as we get to start work at 7:30 instead of the stupid 5:45. Anyway I have spent the last week cutting all the dissesed grapes from the vines. You walk opposite someone and simply cut off all the grapes contaminated with bugs or disseas. The best part I find is that you can have a conversation with the person you are working with, which is by far the best thing about the job (correction it is the only good thing about the job because it is incredibly boring otherwise). I have talked to so many different people and learned so much lately. Chris burrys himself in his IPod the whole time, which I think is a waste of a good conversation. I have talked to Indians, Germans, French and Italians. Strangly the only person I really haven't talked to a lot is the Brit Ella, Ironic I know as I give her a ride to work every morning. The person who I find the most interesting so far is Lena, we have had several conversations so far and I find myself more and more intrigued. I don't think it is a coincidence that the person I find most interesting is training to become a Pycologist. This job would be incredibly boring if not for the fact that I have learned so much about all these really cool peopler to help pass the time. For that fact alone I love this job, I think we scored the ultimite job in Margret. Solid hours, good company, good conversation, and a good boss. But alas all good things come to an end and so did that job. The day after we finished that job, and after killing that day watching the Canada Russia quarter final game (You have no idea how weird it is to watch a hockey game in 42 above on Australian TV in the company of 2 Germans and 6 French chearing as loud as you can even though you know they already won. Go Canada) we found a posting for some grape picking work needed for the next morning, which we had to get up very early for. The job wasn't nearly as enjoyable as the old one, or as good of money, in fact it was a flat out rip off. The thing I hate about grape picking is that everyone is in such a hurry (as you are being paid by the bucket) that knowone is really interested in talking, which makes the job horrifically boring. Also, if you hit one poor section of grapes, you don't really make any money. For example one day we didn't even make minimum wage for the 5 hours we worked, and I woke up at 5 in the morning for it. But our last day of work we were being paid by the hour, and it was kind of nice as it was mostly just a "Make work day", as we just walked around and chatted for most of the day. Easy way to make some cash, and nice since it was our last day of work before leaving in 2 days.

Friends in far Away Places

Ella, Katrina,Lena and the return of Kia

Well last week when we came into Margret we were Killing time in town waiting for work we were in Coles when we stumbled into a old friend. Kia, who had just arrived in town. We spent a couple of days together killing time on the beach having a reunion tour, I surffed a lot those few days, and snorkled a bit. It was nice to run into a good friend. Anyway we first met Ella and Lena at the area and regional employment agencies, both smoking hot. I didn't talk to them a whole lot that day I was very consumed by the thought of having to wake up at 4:30 the next morning. I know, not exactly the best first impression. The next morning we picked them up bright and early the next morning and picked grapes for 5 hours, I didn't really get to talk to them all that much, until the end when I helped them top up their buckets as I didn't have enough to do my own. We dropped them off at the hostel before heading back to camp as we were both tired. 3 days later on Monday morning we picked them up again to start our full time jobs. I learned a whole lot about them from the conversations we had walking up and down the rows. I love to hear their laughs, and when a frog jumps out at Lena, it is one of the funnest screams I have heard in a long time. Kia is also now working with us, I haven't learned much more from him lately. Anyway Katrina (Kat for short) joined our work crew after the first week, and we soon became fast friends, she grew up on the coast of the baltic sea in Germany where her family runs a hotel. Anyway we kind of all became one big family, hanging around at work, and after it. Even though we didn't sleep at the hostel, we soon became regular faces there. Quite often we would take an afternoon and go wine tasting with various members of our crew to some of the wineries, after all there are over 90 in the Margret river area. It was actually a really nice way to spend a day off, go for a wine tasting trip, get drunk,go to the beach for some snorkling and a swim, and if you are German, nearly drown from a nasty little rip tide, but I will get back to that later. Anyway we spent many days going to the beach, or drinking at the hostel, or going to the bar after drinking at the hostel. I guess the biggest thing was we all became a kind of family, we spent nights on the beach with a bottle of wine watching the sunset pass below the glittering waves, but all of the beauty of the waves, or the sun, or the wine, all came down to the Margret river family that was forged between us, all travelers, all away from home. This was the first time really that we have spent a large amount of time in one place with large amounts of backpackers, and I think I might have to re-evaluate my traveling style, as I might be tempted to spend more time in one spot so that you gain some more of those conections, gain that feeling of home, gain the friends that you can almost call your family. It was incredibly hard to leave Margret River, we all stood on that Saturday morning, at the hostel waiting for the inevitable. Lena was flying to Melbourne the next day, and Kia was leaving in three days, while Team Canada were heading North and taking with us Ella who had decided to join us. The only person remaining behind was Kat, as she needed to work more. Soon though the car was packed and it was the hardest thing in the world to say goodbye to Kia, Kat, and Lena. We all hugged, and I promised to come to Europe soon, which I think I may be doing sooner than I originally planned (I am almost thinking next Christmass). I think that today I leave behind more friends in Margret River than I left behind back home. Having already said goodbye to the French the night before we parted ways, and it was one of the most somber drives I have ever had, everyone wanted to stay, but we new that with Lena's departure set for the next day, the family would not be able to stay together forever, and Chris and I needed to head north, as we have only 6 weeks to go up the west coast, accross the top and down the east coast back to Sydney. Margret River was made by the people we met and I am seriously thinking about saying screw it to the plan and simply find a nice place to put down roots sell the car, and fly back to Sydney a couple of days before I fly home.

Gracetown Caravan Park

The French Quarter

A little over two weeks ago when we came into Margret River we went to the beach at Gracetown to kill some time. On the said beach we ran into for the first time Peirre, Peirre, Cecile and Julian. This was our first ever meeting, and it was them who sugested we stay at Gracetown Caravan park, and well the rest is history. But that isn't nearly enough so let me expand a bit. In the Gracetown caravan park there is a section of it that we are now calling the Frech Quarter, as it is nothing but French. There is Pierre, Pierre,(For a short time there was also a 3rd Pierre, but he left after only 2 days) Cecile, Julian, Natelie, Mark, and 2 others that I cannot recall at the moment. Well one night I was playing caps (a game in which you flick a bottle cap at your opponents bottle cap on top of their beer bottle. Everytime you hit their's they take a drink. Aparently I am very good at it, as at the end of the night I had to finish my beer on my own, they were all out.) with the French when in the midst of usual conversation they made a comment regarding the large number of French in the campground. They said that they are hearby renaming this section of the campground as "De French Quarta", and it stuck. I have to admit that I have spent a large amount of time in the French Quarter, especially in the evening, mostly just chatting and stuff, having a good time. I have been teaching them how to speak English (upon their request) in return they have been teaching me how to drink cheap wine. An acurate pay scale as my English isn't exactly the best in the world. I have got to know the French very well over the last few weeks, and it feels good to have friends to come back to in the evenings, especially when Chris goes to bed so early in the evening. We quite often go snorkling at Gracetown along the rock edge, or just sit and watch the sunset with beer in hand joking and chatting. 2 nights before I left Margret River we sat had a little goodbye party in which we sat around and drank playing caps. Thay said that if I ever came to France again I would be welcome at any of their homes, and it sounds like I have the whole of France covered as each one of them lives in a different part of it. But I think I will be returning to Europe soon as I have so many friends there.

Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving
On Febuary 20 I spent money and did my first ever scuba dive on 4 mile reaf. I think the biggest thing to get used to is having to breath through an aparatus, and under water. I have used similair gear before when I took my H2S course, and it wasn't a very big leap to do it under water. Anyway we got suited up flippers, tank and all and got in the water. There were 3 of us rookies out on this short 5 meter dive, along with a certified dive instructor in the case that we got ourselves in trouble. We are all arranged around this down rope attached to the boat slowly starting to decent towards the bottom. At about 2 feet below the surface the girl panicked and shot up like a cork towards the surface. Her brave boyfriend followed her quickley and was instantly reminded of the earlier lesson given to us by the big ugly bugger (captain of the boat) of never blasting to the surface without looking up as his head smashed into the bottom of the boat. The dive instructor sensing disaster on the door step followed the young couple. I was left forgoten alone 2 feet below the surface, the boat drifting over my head, the shadow cutting out the sun, floating and calmly watching the fish swim below my feet. I would love to say that a lonely dolphin swam up to me and I touched his nose, but that would have been to wonderful. But what I can say is that after about 2 minutes of floating I was tapped on the shoulder by my dive instructur, not wearing her regulator, looking rather stressed, who finaly came to get me. She pointed towards the surface, to a point away from the hull that loomed over me. After reaching the surface we grabbed hold of the back of the boat and I waited for my travel comapnions to get up the nerve to try a second decent. (For those of you who never have scuba dived before, and wonder why I didn't follow on my own, the reason is this. First, I was told in case something hapens to stay where I was and calmy breath, don't come to the surface as you might hit the boat. Second the vest we use holds air that can be added or removed like a balast tank in a submarine, and the dive instructor had removed more air from mine than anyone else as I was decending first.) When my head appeard at the surface I heard the captain say "Ah, there's the third one." What I missed up on the surface was this:

dive instructor to girl "Are you ok, just breath for a while and when you are ready we will try again."
Captain to boyfriend "I told you not to swim to the surface, how is your head by the way."
Dive instructor to boyfriend "Did you hit your head?"
Captain to dive instructor "Oh ya, I felt the thunk through my feet."
1 minute pass in which Captain and Dive Instructor talk down girl until...
Captain to dive instructor "Where is the third one?"
Dive Instructor to knowone in particular "Oh Shit"

At which point she came down in such a hurry that she didn't even put her breathing regulater in her mouth, she was holding her breath the whole time she was retreiving me. After several minutes on the surface, of which I swam around killing time and waiting for my diving companions to be ready. (Apparently she wasn't to worried about me to much, though she did seem to keep an odd eye on me maybe just to make sure I didn't get to far.) Eventually we once again returned to the down rope and made it all the way to the bottom. This is when the real fun begins, I have to admit I love diving, swiming around on the bottom with the fish and other wonderful things. Rock formations along with lots of vegitation. Though I have to admit I may have slightly annoyed the Dive Instructor as I may have been a little over zelous and vanished from her view within the first 38 seconds on the bottom, when she turned around to check how the couple were doing I may have dropped into a crevis between 2 rocks. When we met up moment later she may have made a gesture that may have meant that I wasn't to get beyond her eyesight again, and would greatly appreciate me staying behind her. That or she wanted me to see if a labster was attacking her butt, but I think the first one is closer. I still had fun doing under water arial acrobatiks and such, saw some lobsters, touched some sea erchands. I am so doing this on Nigilo reaf. Anyway I had a great time on the bottom lots of fish and such, but I only have a disposible camera that I won't develop for a while until I finish off the film.

My Birthday

Febuary 20th ish

My birthday has now come and gone and the only thing that remains are electrical impulses firing in my brain cells, which is why I am transfering these impulses onto the web in case my wiring becomes corroded. So my birthday was actually a really quiet event, which was fine as I was really bussy anyway. The day was spent doing my first day of grape prunning, and on that evening we had Cake, beer, and ice cream as a special treat. As I was cleaning up around our campsite Natelie and Cecile pulled in and shouted out a happy birthday to me as they drove by in a French convey heading towards the French District . Chris went to bed early as usual and I wandered accross the road towards the French district to have a conversation with Peirre, Peirre, Cecile, Natelie, Julian, Thomas and Mark. As I came closser Julian holding the guitar struck the first 3 notes of "Happy Birthday". We chatted for a while and Nattelie promissed me tha she would have a surprise for me in a couple of hours and that Peirre would sing me a song. I was sitting having a beer with Julian later that evening looking at the stars (Julian had just spotted his first ever shooting star) when Natelie, Cecile and Peire showed up singing happy birthday and gave me 3 balloons. I had a nice time drinking and chatting with them expanding their English vocabulary by telling bad jokes. The next morning I picked up Ella, Lena and Kia and Lena asked me why there were balloons floating around the car. I told them it was my birthday yesterday and she responded with "Why didnt you say anything, we would have gone out for drinks" and that is how we ended up drinking friday night. Friday evening Chris and I headed into Margret River and hit the hostel where we sat down and had a couple of drinks with a whole bunch of people from the hostel including Ella, Lena, Kia, as well as Pete and Chris (The guys we worked with in the Vineyard at the Prongrup). It was nice to see so many people you know. We drank there for a while before heading out to the Settlers bar. The bar was great, live music and lots of people. Anyway we all chatted some more, Christian didn't drink as he was DD, but I did, and I am glad I did as a guy I know from the caravan park showed up and slipped in with several fine beer that needed emptying. When the bar closed we wandered to the car, and then 6 of us piled into the 5 empty seats for the short drive to the hostel where we said good night to Ella, Kia, Lena, and English Chris (who we worked with in the Prongrup). Ella got a call while in the car and she said "She was in a taxi heading back to the hostel" which got resounding laughter from everyone in the the car, as we are now called the team Canada taxi service.

Tall Trees

Febuary 13

Do the lawyers know about this?

Well we decided to spend a couple of days away from Margret River, as we had 4 days off between pickings, and since I couldn't go diving as they were all booked up we headed down to Pemberten for a couple of days. On our first day we went and saw the Bicentenial Tree, which stands 75m above the ground. Chris really wanted to see this tree as he heard that you could climb it using the stairs they built around it. We arrived and Chris spotted the tree and the stairs and suddenly didn't seem to enthusiastic on climbing it. I on the other hand saw the stairs and got a wide smile accross my face. What they called stairs were actually 3/4 inch rebars sunk into the tree trunk that spiraled all the way to the top where they had built a platform. It reminded me of the wrung ladders I used to climb the bins with back home. It reminded Chris of a rather horrifying scene from Vertigo, as he didn't like the sensation of seeing his feet below him acompanied by a large amount of empty air. At 25m he turned back and retreated to the ground, I on the other hand never looked back, seriously as I didn't really want to look down. I reached the top in under 10 minutes, which I was rather proud of, and proclaimed rather loudly "I'm king of the world" which made the lady sitting beside the tree jump. Unfortunately I forgot to do my Tarzan impression, and will fully admit that it was an opportunity I totally missed. Chris, who looked rather more comfortable since he returned to the ground, started taking pictures and asked how the view was. I said it was excellent, though if I had to admit it, even if it was crap I wouldn't have told him, I could just imagine the conversation.

Chris "So you climbed 75m up a tree and saw absolutely nothing?"
Adam "Shut up, I don't want to talk about it."

Anyway continuing on. I took some pictures and gave Christian adequit time to use the video camera (which I had given him) to show the world the tree and me upon it's tallest braches. I beleived he would use the very powerfull 40 times zoom to pull right up to my face giving everyone a great perspective of actually how tall that thing was. (I later discovered that he did not do that, something that I am still mad at him for.) Anyway I began the 75m decent, something which I have to admit was much harder than the accent. I think the hardest part was having to look where you put your feet, and seeing only a large amount of empy space behind the 3/4 inch rebar. On a happy note if I did miss the rebar I would be able to call home to say farewell before I hit the ground. I reached the ground safely, punched the air in defiance and did a little jig, patiallly because I was estatic, and partially to hide the fact that my legs were shaking more than I wanted my crowd of would be admirerers to see. The next day we decided to keep our feet on the ground. We went to the Lavender Farm where they serve lavender pancakes and ice cream. Then continued onto Manjimup where we got some of the best bread from a bakery I have had in years, had a nice relaxing drive through the countryside, and saw a really deep mine pit (300m). I spent some time checking out an old railway station and antique shop where I found these 2 things. The first are 2 cans of Canadian beer, the second is this thing. Does anyone have a guess what it is? Correct guess via comment or e-mail may win prize. Anyway, will probably hit sack now, am cheering for Team Canada as the olimpics have now started. I must find some more Canadians to cheer with.

Cheers

Adam

The Argument Begins

Tuesday Febuary 9, 2010

Ok, so you haven't heard from anyone in a while, and this is mostly because there hasn't been much happening. So since Adam has been ignoring his computer this blog will be done by non other than I, Matilda. Adam and Chris arrived at Margret river 4 days ago expecting to get a job fruit picking. That didn't exactly happen as it has been 4 days and the only thing that has happened so far is Adam went surfing for 3 days and Chris sat on the beach sleeping for those same 3 days. It sounds like the grapes are late this year because of the cold weather this summer. It will be anouther 2-3 weeks apparently, which brings forth a glaring problem. In 3 weeks we have to head north so that we can finish our trip. As you can imagine, this puts anyone who only has 22 dollars in his bank account, in a rather small bind. Especially when Adam went and calculated that it was going to be abouth 2,000 dollars worth of fuel to finish the trip alone. This has caused some small arguments as one of them is as rich as the bank and the other isn't. So alas as Adam looks into taking scuba diving lessons Chris isn't. Which makes the discussion I overheard last night even more interesting. Chris wants to go see Ayres Rock, 2000km out of the way and about 500 dollars worth of fuel. Adam doesn't.

Chris "It is a big red rock in the middle of knowhere. We have to go see that.
Adam "Exactly, why the hell would you want to go see a big red rock."
Chris "It is the most idenifyable feature of Australia. It is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eifly Tower."
Adam "I went to Paris, and you know I never did see the Eifel Tower."



I think I finally found the big difference between the 2 of them, it isn't the money, it is what they find interesting. Chris loves seeing the sights, seeing big red rocks. Adam thinks they are cool but only to a point, what Adam finds interesting is, well people. He is more interested in the culture, the people who live hear or the people he meets. He never remembers the sights as much as he remembers the people he meets there. He takes pictures of the things he finds cool in order to remember them. Which won't help for Arey rock as you are no longer alowed to take pictures on top of the Rock, anouther reason why he doesn't really want to hit it. What is the use of driving 2000km and not be able to take a picture on top of the rock?

Ok, something stange just happened, Team Canada (as nicknamed by the British boys Pete and Chris) were debating weather or not to head north to look for work when they got a call for work the next day. They returned from Busselton to Margret River 59km away and went to the employment office. Christian was bouncing off the walls Adam was his usual self doing math and calculating how much money and so on. So they arrived at the employment office and proceeded inside. I stowed away in Adam's bag in order to completely hear the situation. They finished their paperwork and then got the detailes of the work. It was 3 days spread over the next week consisting of a 3-4 hour pick each day. I could see Adam raise an eyebrow as this was a little bit less than the amount of hours he was expecting. And then the the man layed a bombshell that struck Adam like a titlewave crashing over his surf board.

Man "Be there at a 5:45Am"

"What time?" Said Adam

Upon the return to the car Chris was excited, Adam wasn't. 9 hours of work is hardly worth haning around a whole week for.

Chris "It is better than what we had yeasterday."
Adam "Yeasterday I was able to sleep in past 5."

It sounds like Adam doesn't sound to excited to be up before the sun tomorow, as he continued to make some comments revolving around 3 hours being way to short, and that since it was going to be such a short time that why couldn't they start at a civilized hour. Chris replied that since it was such a short time that you could really go hard for a short time (especially since they are being paid by the bucket) and then have the rest of the day to do whatever you want. Adam killed the discussion by mentioning that at 5 in the morning the only thing he would be going hard for is a shot of speed or failing that a stiff faceplant into the ground. I think moneybags Adam was hoping to get some more decent work, with longer hours. If I didn't know better I would think that Adam was planning on saying the hell with it and sleeping in. But then again I know better as he already agreed to give a ride to 2 young ladies named Ella and Lena from England and Germany. I have a feeling that Chris's flat brokeness is really starting to annoy Adam as I think he feels that he has lost control of his holliday. That and he hates commision work, Adam was never really a good sprinter, he was always better as a long distance runner. I wonder if these 2 won't split for a while before they head North. Time will tell I guess.

Kind of a Low

January 31

Well today we are in Albany sleeping in the car outside of the tourist info, beside 4 other vehicles containing other backpackers. Most of them are French, which is really weird as before albany I think I met like 2 people from France. No Germans though, I am kind of wondering where they are hiding suddenly? Anyway, we said goodbye to the Prongrup today as well as Scott, Die, Adam, and all the other wonderful people I have met there. I like meeting the local people, gives you a better feeling for who they are, what they value, and what there favorite type of beer is. I have to admit that evening I spent playing beach vollyball with the locals was great, the beer and wood fired pizza at the end was the icing on the perverbial cake. Scott and Die though are some of the nicest people I have met in australia. They found us a job, and when they came back from their holliday they sent us in the right direction to look for work.



On my personal note Chris's serious lack of money is really starting to cause some tension between us. He claims to have no money, so we don't go out and do anything, even if it look to be really fun. His policy of refusing to pay for acomidation is begining to bug me as where we sleep, we meet nobody. And the part that really pissed me off today was he spent an hour looking on the internet on my computer looking up info on Asia. I understand he wants to go to asia, but he is restrictig the fun I am having in Australia so he can go to Asia. This has infuriated me to no ends. What I will start to do I think is to do some things on my own, especially if they cost money. If he can't do them, or more specifically if he doesn't want to spend the money on it I don't care. This I think will start to be my new policy.

The half way Report

January 29

Day 78 of 156

The half way report.


Well today marks the halfway mark in my journey across Australia. I have now been in this foreign country 3 months, with still anouther three months left. Chris is completely broke and we are now working a bit so that we can keep going. Gas isn't cheap up north, aparently like 2 bucks a liter. Anyway I found myself missing home a lot, especially when I get the e-mails stuff telling me what is going on, the good the bad and the truely mundane, but I love hearing it all. I am not sorry that I went on this trip, though I do miss my friends and family back home. It is hard to beleive that I hav been away from home for 3 months, it seems like such a long period of time, and it is even harder to beleive I still have like 3 months still to go. Well enough of my heart to heart, here is my australian half way report,

It is strange really I just went through my list of my favorite things so far in Australia, and I came to a sudden realization, it is all about the people I have met along the way. The only real natural features I want to mention are the drive through the Snowy Mountain Ranges and snorkling on Rotness island. All the rest were people we met along the way. In Tasmania it was the nice evening we spent in Hobart with the other 2 Canadians from Guelp and Quebec. Melbourne reminds me of spending 2 nice days with Jasmine, the Murry River reminds me of Mick the mechanic and those 4 guys who invited us over for drinks on their houseboat. Adelaide was all about all the cool people I spent christmass with. The Nulabour brings Kia into my memory, Perth bring out the wonderful people of Jane, Gerard, Dr. Sarah. Then there is Boyup Brook, which is packed full of memorable people, Harvey, Sandy, his wife, Hugo, and Pom. The Prongrup mountains only register to me as Scott, Die, and their family who wo stayed with for the last 2 weeks. oh ya, also beach vollyball and all the people I met playing it. The mountains themselves seem insignificant next to them. Which I think brings me to something that has been causing some tension between my co-traveler and myself. I have been leaning to stay at hostels if we can so that we can meet more people, maybe pick up some passengers, etc. However there is one problem with this from Chris, it costs money, we don't even go out to the bar to have the odd drink, we usually drive off way out of town into the middle of know where, where there is know one, for free camping. I find it ironic, that the most populated state NSW, is only on my list for a natural feature, no memerable people though, how strange is that? I just remembered NSW did have one memorable person, the crazy yute lady in Sydney I told you about.

I guess to sum up my halfway report is this, talk to people, feel the culture, become something other than a tourist. Signing off from Australia

Ok, so it has been a while, and it may be a while longer

I haven't blogged in a while and this won't exactly quench your thirst from my travels in the world down under but this is the best I can do for now. I don't have a lot of time to tell you what I have been up to, but don't worry when I get good internet and some time I will get something up, and you had better bring your reading glasses, because I have so many tales of adventure, danger, drinking and some involving all three that you may need a week off work to get through it all, but for now here is the VERY short version of what I have been up to. Went from Prongrup to Albany, Albany to Margret and then spent several weeks in Margret River and am now heading North to Broome with our newest team member Ella. Meaning internet and I will be continuing our long distance relationship for some time more, and dad will be wondering who this Ella is for at least a couple of weeks. But for now wish us luck as we need to clear 13,000 km in under 6 weeks while still seeing 2 reefs, crocidiles, manta rays, dolphins, and probably a doctor, though hopefully for reasons not relating to any of the before mentioned items. Anyway, have to run, and drive, so I will hopefully get something up soon, but for all those people who have been checking my blog daily for a month only to be disapointed again and again, (hi Mike) I apologise and simply say I am having a wonderful time and have all my stories down for your later reading pleasure. But be prepared once I get them up, you may get a blog reading headace, so please take your time.

Cheers,

Adam