Road Trip Australia!

When I flew into Sydney the first time I noticed many purple trees and round fields.   The round fields, I discovered rather quickly, were for cricket.  The purple trees, on the other hand, are just blooming.  It’s wonderful to travel in the spring time.

 

I was tried as hell, but when I got off the plane I found the rental agency and got ready to brave the city traffic.  Driving through the city was surprising easy.  I drove straight from Sydney to the blue mountains.  The plan was originally to stop in a few small towns on the way, and maybe do some hiking.  I grossly underestimated how tired I would be.  Another 48 hours without sleep and you bet I could drive;  stopping and doing things, on the other hand…. Not so much.

The car was a tiny Mazda, four doors and a little bitty trunk.  It couldn’t make it up the mountain too well.  I ended up trailing behind trucks, flooring it and still going 30.  Yeah, I should have thought that one through a bit more.  I liked her though.  I don’t mind itty bitty, as long as it gets me where I need to go.

I got to Katoomba and just walked around while I waited for Sasha.  I found a cute coffee shop and met up with Sasha and just talked and talked and talked.  I hadn’t seen him in years.  I followed him and we headed over to his house.  That night we had shitty Pinot Nior with some great kangaroo stir fry.  Shasha does everything he can to avoid chemicals.  He shops locally, doesn’t eat anything that is processed.  I loved it.  I have been trying to live that way for years!

Sasha trying on silly hats

One of the highlights of getting to his house was dumb, but amazing.  I could wash my arm!  Tattoo maintenance at it’s best.  I was hoping it would heal ok now that I was in the land of clean water.  

cute little town in the Blue Mountains

We continued to talk all night and planned the hiking in the morning.  I also invited Sasha to come with me on the road trip.  He said yes!  He had to tie up some loose ends, but we figured it out.

The hike was absolutely amazing.  This is one of the reasons I planned on going to the Blue Mountains.  It made me feel so small.  There were waterfalls, cockatoos that tried to steal my lunch, jungle, drops off the side of cliffs…. It was awesome, in the original sense of the word.  We had lunch and just wandered around in the woods.

just goofing off

Sasha trying to climb a very big rock

lunch stealers

the three sisters

Just saying HEY!!!

 The road trip I planned for the next day.  I had a bit of a schedule to keep.  I wanted to see my friend in Brisbane, and then I had to return the car to Sydney.  Luckily I could drop Sasha off in Sydney as well.  He wanted to go visit his daughter. 

our hitch hikers

He brought so much stuff.  I was amused.  I have been living out of a duffle bag for years, so to have the entire trunk full of his stuff was weird.  He brought a tent, tones of blankets, a skateboard, two bags, random containers…  We also brought food: leftovers, bread, olives, cheese, fruit and tahini.  Yum!

On the way out We picked up some hitch hikers.  I thought they would fit ok; they were a bit cramped.  We rearranged, but in the end they still looked like ill packed sausages.  They were a nice couple traveling from Germany.  I wanted to pay back all the people that had picked me up in New Zealand, but unfortunately… these were the only hitch hikers we saw for the entire trip.  Apparently it’s not as common in Australia as it was in New Zealand.

With the hitch hikers in toe, we took our first stop.  A natural spring, so we could load up on free water!  

We tried to find Free Camping and sleep in the car or camp.  I underestimated how cold it would still be at night, so I wasn’t into the tent thing.  We ended up sleeping in car most of the time.  

Our first camping stop

The View when we woke up

lunch stop

The first place we found while it was dark, and I’m pretty sure it was not legally Free Camping, but it was wonderful.  I woke up at 6AM to a beautiful view.  We walked the coast, Sasha went for a swim while I showered and got ready for the day. 

 Next we were off to Brisbane, but of coarse we had to take lunch pit stop first.  A nice windy beach.  I don’t mind a little sand in my food if I get to listen to crash of the ocean and just explore a little.

 We drove all the way to Brisbane, only to find out when I got there that my friend really lived in Goldcoast.  Unlucky for us, it was rush hour on a Friday afternoon, right before the schoolies got out for a testing break.  Fun times.  Brair had forgotten too, and she wasn’t too sure what we would do, so we could avoid all of the teenagers.  We got there no problem and found Brair’s house.

The Goldcoast was a whirlwind for me.  Brair and I partied and partied hard.  I asked Sasha if he wanted to join us but he was content to just skate around.  Chillin on the beach and whatnot.

We started with drinks with dinner and her English friends.  Then we started the clubbing circuit.  We danced with a mouse, some professional pole dancers and then in the end some guys.  It was a pretty sweet night.  I recommend the Goldcoast for anyone feeling like a good time.

comfortable car sleep?

The next day was chill with beach, shopping and sushi.  We didn’t end up go to a nearby hippy town, I was worried about getting the car back in time on Sunday.   Oh schedules….  

Driving all day and then early in the morning.  We slept in car again, and found free parking.  The drive into to Sydney Sunday morning was pretty mellow.  I dropped off Sasha to see daughter and said goodbye.  I think he was the best person to bring on a road trip.  I can’t even start to describe the things we talked about.  I love good company and he was the best.  

After returning the car I walked to the hostel and then took a walk around Sydney.  I had spent less than an hour there before.  So I got myself a tourist map and headed for the botanical gardens and the opera house.

 

When I returned to the hostel I met some Kiwis and we went to the beach and just walked around.  We chilled out, drank some beer, played a weed card game and then a drinking game.  My last night in Australia I went out; it was a Monday.  We found a place to play pool and then went to a strip club.  This is what happens when you get a hostel in the red-light district.  

 

The flight home was a long uneventful affair.  I had a packed flight from OZ to UAE, and then an empty flight to NYC.  I needed the sleep and enjoyed the leg room for once.  I went from near 100 degree weather to 34 degree weather.   It was a shock, but I was happy to get home and see the family.  

little packet i got on the plane. :)