Around Sydney Harbor

Blue Mountains, Sydney

Here is a video of Mariella repelling down Empress Falls (100ft.) located in the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. Megs also did an amazing job making her way down. This was our highlight of Sydney. Our friends Rowan and Debbie live in the Sydney area. They gave us a great experience canyoning. Thank you for the serendipitous event. An unexpected blessing! Mariella and I met Rowan on the top of a mountain in the Swiss Alps many months ago. Thanks for inviting us to the Blue Mountains and letting us spend time with you.

Rainforest River Crossing

Here is some video footage as we drove through the flooded Daintree Rainforest a few days ago. This is not an actual river, but it looked like one to us. Thankfully the rental car made it through!

Sydney, Australia

We arrived safely to Sydney. Yesterday we went canyoning with our friends Rowan and Debbie in the Blue Mountains. We were decked out in wetsuits and harnesses. The trek was down a water filled canyon. A times we leapped off of cliffs, freefalling in pools of water. We ended the adventure with a rappel down a huge waterfall. You've got to see the pics of Megs and Mariella lowering themselfs down the middle of the giant falls. Crazy! Pictures coming soon. Today we are walking around the Sydney Harbor area. Having a blast. Thank you Rowan and Debbie for taking us on a crazy canyoning trip!

Operation Cape Tribulation: Not Accomplished

Today we drove north to Mossman Gorge, the Daintree Rainforest, and Cape Tribulation. Mossman Gorge is “Gorgeous”. The entire day was rainy. We were able to observe the Rainforest in its truest sense: raining! It rained so much that we were unable to make it to Cape Tribulation, which is the furthest north, Coopers Creek overflowed making impossible to continue. By the time we made our way back through the rainforest, a hillside collapsed on the north bound side of the road. Waterfalls were cascading off cliffsides and we were forced to drive through a wide swath of an overflowing creek. We looked for saltwater crocodiles when we crossed on the Daintree River Ferry, none were seen. We heard about a crock petting zoo, but it costs and arm and a leg to visit, get it? It must be a good experience because parts of you may never leave. We wish everyone a Happy Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the freedom of the resulting saving grace.

Port Douglas, Queensland & The Great Barrier Reef

Thank you Thomas family for letting us be with you while in Melbourne. Our time with the family was great. We arrived safely to Port Douglas. The weather is humid and rainy. I do not think we will see the sun in our time in Northern Queensland. It is the end of the rainy season. Yesterday we went snorkeling and diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Mariella and Megan snorkeled while I went on three dives. We went to three different reef locations over the course of a day. It is difficult to describe the great beauty of the underwater world. The time underwater went by so fast. We wished we could have the super power of breathing underwater. We saw huge schools of fish, clown fish, a turtle, white tip sharks and giant Grouper. One giant fish was named Daisy. She was about the length of me. Daisy let us hang out with her for about ten minutes before we swam further down the reef. Although the weather above water was rainy, under water was warm and beautiful. Tomorrow we plan on driving to the Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest and further north to Cape Tribulation.

Megan's arrival and B-Day/Goodbye Cake

Thanks Megan for making a good Ice Cream Cake. There are also some shots from Megans arrival. We celebrated my B-Day seven days early. On my actual Birthday we will likely be sleeping at an airport in New Zealand. We'll see what unflolds. Thanks Thomas family for loving on us.

Off to the Great Barrier Reef

Tomorrow we fly to Queensland, Australia. Our final destination will be Port Douglas. We hope to visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. We will make the best of the rainy weather that is expected in the North of Australia.

Craigs Hut Photos

After a long drive we made it to Craigs Hut. Here are some photos. There were a couple sections of the drive where we almost did not get through. At one point we drained water from a deep bog in the middle of the track. On another ocassion we had to dig out big ruts on a muddy, sloping hill.

The Man From Snowy River

Today we head to the hills on a 4 wheel drive track that leads to Craig's Hut. The hut and surrounding mountains are the backdrop for the film, "The Man From Snowy River". We will pack into the Landcruiser with the family for a long day of adventure. We hope to post pictures soon. We are grateful for every day. Thank you Jesus!

Great Ocean Road With Grandma Win

Before picking up my sister Megan we spent a few days driving on the Great Ocean Road with Grandma Win. We had a nice picnic lunch on Bells Beach. We wished our friends Nick, Steve and Dan were around to surf the spectacular break. Later that night we stayed in beach side town of Lorne. We enjoyed the time with Win as she is overflows with joy. She is always up for an adventure. Here are some photos.

Miss Megan is officially "down unda"

Hey all, no photos just yet, but Miss Megan has arrived and is well and now drifting off to sleep. We took her into the city to browse Queen Victoria Market and then we met John and Luke to watch an Australian Rules Football game. She's happy to be here with Craig and happier to be here with me, Mud, because we just love each other! Meow!

Beautiful Wilsons Promontory

We returned from Wilson’s Promontory this afternoon. Wow! This place must be one of the most beautiful places in the Australian state of Victoria. We hiked 23 miles over three days. The white sand beaches were phenomenal. Mariella and Luke and I started the hike from Telegraph Saddle. From the Saddle we hiked to a place called Sealers cove to camp for the night. The next morning we hiked to Refuge Cove where a sailboat was anchored. We continued to Waterloo Bay to sleep the second night. After waterloo we hiked out through Telegraph Junction back to the car park. Tomorrow we head out for a three-day trip along the Great Ocean Road. Grandma Win will be our tour guide. : )

Hiking Wilson's Promontory

Tomorrow we head off for a few days hiking in Wilsons Promontory National Park. The trails will take us through swamps, forests, marshes and valleys of tree ferns along beaches lined with sand dunes. Hiking Wilsons Prom. was a highlight of my time in Australia six years ago. We hope to give another update in a few days. : )

The Wedding

Yesterday we celebrated the union of our friends Mark and Beck. We enjoyed the unique experience of witnessing an Australian wedding day. Congratulations Mark and Beck!

A Trip into the City

A couple days ago we ventured into Central Melbourne on the train. Emma and Little Josiah were our Australian tour guides. It was Josiah first train ride. He had a blast looking out the window and staring at the people on the train! Here are some photos.

A Weekend at the Farm

Mariella and I had the opportunity to visit the family farm near Phillip Island. The farm is home to many cattle that roam freely on the huge plot of land. I even saw a cow with no legs (ground beef!). It was nice to retreat into the quite of rural rolling hills. A highlight was the crystal clear night sky, jammed packed with stars and solar systems. Most of us do not get to see the skys like this because of light pollution in and near cities. It was humbling to sit under such a sky.

I recently read that President Theodore Roosevelt had a routine habit of stepping outside at dark to look at the night sky. He would find the faint spot of light near the lower left-hand corner of Pegasus and would recite: "That is the Spiral Galaxy of Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It is seven hundred and fifty thousand light years away. It consists of one hundred billion suns, each larger than our own sun." Then he would say that he now felt small enough. What a good way to induce humility. Earth is certainly a speck in this vast universe.

Under the star filled sky we had fun roasting kebabs for dinner and staying warm by the outdoor fire pit. We also took a day trip to the island where we saw penguins and kangaroos. We capped off the day enjoying an ice cream beachside.

Home Sweet Home

Here is where we are living or at least sleeping while in Melbourne. Each evening a large black possum walks across the tin awning. I will try to take a photo of him and post it to the blog. The awning protected the camper from the crazy hail storm last week. The hail shattered the tiles on peoples houses and shattered car windows. It was "haila" crazy. : )

Hello Susan...

Susan, today we met with your good friend Ann. We had a cuppa in your honor. It was a great delight to converse with her over coffee and lunch. You are blessed to have such a friend. Thank you for connecting us.

From Australia, Melbourne Anne

Fowl Footage