The Outback

After a wonderful couple of weeks in Sydney with family friends, I finally left the East Coast of Australia and began a surprisingly long journey north to Darwin.

A few Japanese tourists and I are mesmerized by the size... the size of everything in Australia. It is a BIG PLACE.

This is Lee Erlin, she helped to make me feel right at home in Sydney while I took a rest from traveling and simply enjoyed home life. The Erlins are friends of my parents, their friendship made during the 1986 America's Cup just so happened to take place in Perth.

This is Clancy, Mike and Lee's daughter who loves horses. I got slightly engaged with the Sydney equestrian community during my stay. I took photos for a trainer, and a wonderful mechanic who's daughter rode at the same place helped me when I decided to buy a car. I should also note that the Erlins also have a fourteen year old son Connor who was good company as well.

Kristen and her wild horse Kora.

Mike introduced me to a friend of his who took me out on his Swan sailboat for a cruise in the Sydney Harbor. That was an incredible day.

So this is my vehicle! I got the idea into my head that it would be easier to drive around Australia rather than take a bus or train. Looking back I'm not sure if that is necessarily true, but "The Beast" or "The Millennium Falcon" or "Ole Faithful" has certainly made it an adventure. She's a 88' Nissan Patrol 4x4. It runs off both LP Gas (Propane) and Petrol. LPG is very cheap here in Australia because they have massive reserves of propane, and it burns clean, so I'm glad to have the option to use it. The car has been running fairly well, but has required a bit of maintenance here or there, and I'll just leave it at that.

Australia is not nice to cars... Really.

The diversity of the road and scenery is abundant. One moment are in lush green forest on the coast, and then for a big lonnnnnng moment you are in desert nothingness.... Otherwise known as the Outback.

There are PLENTY of these guys. I've got lots of kangaroo photos, and I'm sure I'll have many more by the end. I chose to post this one to point out that kangaroos are constantly getting hit by cars, I have chosen not to drive at night for this reason. So cute though eh? See the little Joe?

There is just lots of really unique wildlife here. The bird life in particular is very loud and present, I love it. No photo's of crocs yet.

Lots of great scenery, every sunset I aim to have my camera to my eye.

I went swimming with the crocs here. Although I didn't see any, they tell me that they are definitely there. "Crocs only bite once!" The damn Aussies are always joking with me.

I've stayed in lots of national parks, and free camping sights. Most of the retired population of Southern Australia seems to migrate north for the winter. These folks are camped out here for months! I didn't even catch their names, but before I left this particular couple handed me a bag with cookies, canned beans, and a twenty dollar bill! So nice.

Lots of trees and beautiful sunsets. More is to come, but for now my time at the internet cafe in Darwin is up, and I'm off to see and do more. With very little access to internet or cellular reception, I don't know when the next post will come. But thanks for reading!