Maybe in Oz

Tuesday of our WA road trip was the day I fell in love.  But first we had a long drive through lots of trees.  We left Hamelin Bay in the morning and after a couple hours of driving stopped at Beedelup Falls in Beedelup National Park.  The falls was pretty small, but the highlight of this stop was the suspension bridge on the walk back to the car.  I can't imagine how Phil must have felt crossing it with his vertigo, but even without vertigo this thing was wobbling all over the place. The Southern Hemisphere's most sketchy suspension bridge Down the road we stopped in Pemberton to climb the famous (really?) climbing trees.   They are three trees that used to be used as fire lookouts.  To climb to the top you use metal rods fixed in a spiral up the side of the tree.  What happens if you miss a step?  Don't worry, I'm sure the chicken wire they wrapped around the outside of the tree will catch you.  And once you get to the top, you have t...

The day after the Ironman was not exactly a day of rest for Phil.  I was on vacation, which meant lots to see and no time to sleep in.  We had booked a whale watching tour in Geographe Bay in the morning, but that ended up being cancelled so we took the extra time to explore the breweries and wineries of the Margaret River region. Our first stop was Castle Rocks Beach.  It was just another gorgeous Australia beach with crystal clear turquoise water, red rocks, and no people.  O, and a skink! Skink Phil on the rocks with Castle Rock in the background Castle Rock Beach Next up was Eagle Bay Brewery.  Phil tried the sampler paddle and we shared a really flat bread pizza with chicken, chilli flakes, pesto, buffalo mozzarella, and lime juice. Sampler paddle at Eagle Bay Brewery Next we stopped at House of Cards Winery and enjoyed some excellent Sparkling, Sauv Blanc, and Cab Sav.  Next door was a chocolate shop, so while Phil took his bike...

On December 8th Phil races in his third Ironman Triathlon in Busselton , Western Australia.  Because it's summer and WA doesn't change their clocks for daylight savings time the sun cam up at 4:30 and the race had a start time of 5:45.  This meant waking up at 3:30, but since we were still 3 hours ahead on Melbourne time we weren't quite as bleary eyed as some.   The 3.8 km swim course went around the Busselton Jetty, which is 1.9 km long.  Everyone started at the same time which was quite a sight for the spectators lined up along the pier.  It was nice being able to walk along with the competitors as they swam the course.   Phil always gives me his goal times for the swim, bike, and run before a race, and I usually add some time to this before waiting for him to finish.  He had such a good swim during this race that I didn't even see him finish!  I was still standing on the pier trying to spot him when I heard the commentator announce hi...

Dashing through the bush In a rusty Holden Ute Kicking up the dust Esky in the boot Kelpie by my side Singing Christmas songs It's Summer time and I am in My singlet, shorts and thongs Oh! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle all the way Christmas in Australia On a scorching summer's day Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Christmas time is beaut Oh what fun it is to ride In a rusty Holden Ute. Engine's getting hot We dodge the kangaroos The swaggie climbs aboard He is welcome too All the family's there Sitting by the pool Christmas day, the Aussie way By the barbecue! Oh! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle all the way Christmas in Australia On a scorching summer's day Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Christmas time is beaut Oh what fun it is to ride In a rusty Holden Ute. Come the afternoon Grandpa has a doze The kids and uncle Bruce Are swimming in their clothes The time comes round to go We take the family snap Pack the car and al...

A couple weeks ago we flew over to Perth on the western coast of Australia for the Busselton Ironman Triathlon.  After the four hour flight we picked up our camper van and drove 2.5 hours south to Busselton, located on beautiful Geographe Bay. Busselton has the distinction of having the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.  I don't really know why they had to specify timber-piled, it makes me wonder what other kind of longest piled jetty is in this hemisphere, but around here you have to claim whatever you can.  It's not like there are that many people in the Southern Hemisphere to actually fact check.  But regardless, the Busselton Jetty is 1.9 km long, the perfect distance to feature the 3.8 km swim portion of the triathlon. Phil checked in for the race and got his race number and gear bags, and after checking in at the caravan park we joint hundreds of crazy triathletes for a pre-race briefing and dinner. Saturday morning Phil reassembled h...

I've been a bit worried lately about Phil's Ironman this coming Sunday.  Not about how he'll do, but about the 6 meter shark that was recently spotted at the very place he's swimming, and the recent deadly attack in the area.  And I'd say no big deal because the sharks only seem to eat Americans but clearly we have a problem with that plus they have started eating locals lately also. It would seem though that I've been needlessly worrying.  Turns out that there are more deaths per year due to Christmas Trees than due to sharks.  Since we're not getting a Christmas Tree this year, I figure that about balances out the risk.  More chance of being eaten by a shark minus less chance of being killed by a Christmas Tree equals zero right?

When we first moved here it seemed like every few weeks or so people would put all of this crap on their front lawns and then it would magically disappear a few days later.  We found it really odd and kept wondering what was going on.  We finally learned about hard rubbish collection, which is apparently when the council comes around and picks up anything you want to get rid of.  And I mean ANYTHING.  We have seen all kinds of things stacked outside people's houses - bikes, mattresses, tvs,  furniture, appliances, children... This used to be on a set day but councils have recently required that you call in and book a hard rubbish collection.  It would appear that our neighbours have not received the memo considering their crap has been outside now for over a month and I saw the hard rubbish trucks drive by early one morning without so much as slowing down past that house.  It sure makes me wonder, do these people not notice this pile of trash that's ...