USA | Friday, 14 Mar 2008 | Views [159]
For many years, thirteen years to be more precise, I’d heard about an uncommon visitor on the California coast. To my disappointment Al B’s visits to Point Arena started one year after I finished my studies at Pacific Union College. It took over ... Read more >
Tags: the great outdoors, surfing, birdwatching
AUSTRALIA | Tuesday, 18 Dec 2007 | Views [325] | Comments [1]
Sunday was opening ceremony for the Montana Special Olympics Winter Games at Big Mountain, Montana. . . . As my Australian odyssey as Wanderer, Ambassador, and Nomad comes to an end, people – new friends from along the road – repeatedly ask, ... Read more >
Tags: The Great Outdoors
AUSTRALIA | Saturday, 15 Dec 2007 | Views [340]
Sandstone Cliffs I spent my final night in Kalbarri at Red Cliff Caravan Park. It is just far enough out of town to ensure a peaceful nights rest. It is the dividing point between the beaches to the north and magnificent cliffs to the ... Read more >
Tags: The Great Outdoors
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 10 Dec 2007 | Views [272] | Comments [1]
After mending my sheet and repairing a pair of shorts – excuses to stay at Ellendale Pool a little longer – I left. The last place I enjoyed this much was Ningaloo Reef – now a distant memory. My destination . . . the Pinnacles. As ... Read more >
Tags: The Great Outdoors
AUSTRALIA | Thursday, 29 Nov 2007 | Views [343]
I arrived at the Graham Overlook a few hours ago at the must see attraction, Kalbarri National Park. Saying I was unimpressed is an understatement. Just a shallow canyon with stagnant water below. I’m here, I might ... Read more >
Tags: the great outdoors
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 26 Nov 2007 | Views [349]
Broome The name itself conjured up idealic images of some far off place on the other side of the continent. At the same time it typified the real Australia – remote and hot with beautiful beaches. It took three visits but ... Read more >
Tags: The Great Outdoors
AUSTRALIA | Thursday, 22 Nov 2007 | Views [284]
Jenolyn Caves – 20 % off coupon Blue Mountain World Heritage Area. Kanagra – Boyd National Park. Anybody who reads this and visits Jenolyn Caves can get a 20% discount as a friend referral. Quote: STMG.... Read more >
Tags: The Great Outdoors
AUSTRALIA | Tuesday, 20 Nov 2007 | Views [263]
Concert in the Crags. . . . with Kate Cerberano, Stiff Gills and Didjeridu Dingo Warrambungle National Park. This morning I woke up early in Gardens of Stone. The kookaburras were again laughing at daybreak – 5:23. Currawongs soon ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
AUSTRALIA | Saturday, 17 Nov 2007 | Views [343]
Who Has the Next Dance? Camped on the dance floor. The fog has been drifting through the trees all day long. An occasional shower followed shortly by a torrential downpour made the day a bust for extended outdoor activities. It is really ... Read more >
Tags: Mountains
CANADA | Thursday, 15 Nov 2007 | Views [504] | Comments [2]
Decision Time Locks of Love or not . . . Can you imagine the struggles a young girl, or any child, might have should they suddenly start going bald? Only a couple times a week am I forced to consider this situation. The ... Read more >
Tags: Doctors, hospitals & health
AUSTRALIA | Tuesday, 13 Nov 2007 | Views [185]
Bungonia State Conservation Area Sunday afternoon. The Ambassador camper must be returned tomorrow, 5 Nov 2007. Earlier today I stopped in Canberra to do my final blogging and finalize my return to Perth – less than $200 to fly from Sydney ... Read more >
Tags: the great outdoors, ambassador van
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 12 Nov 2007 | Views [384]
Back on the Road Monday I relinquished the World Nomads campervan. Losing Ambassador status I’m again relegated to the lowly Nomad, Wanderer and Backpacker. It comes with a cost. No pots and pans, no running water, no bowl, no stove – ... Read more >
Tags: lost!, ambassador van
AUSTRALIA | Saturday, 10 Nov 2007 | Views [507] | Comments [1]
Wilsons Promontory Rocky ocean cliffs, no introduced fish, penguins, kangaroos, wallabies . . . The Prom is one of the few natural areas I had heard about before coming to Australia the first time. Two visits later I finally arrived. ... Read more >
Tags: the great outdoors
AUSTRALIA | Saturday, 10 Nov 2007 | Views [295]
Whitewater Rafting Mitchell River National Park. Leaving Wilson’s Promontory I had set my hopes on a night near The Lakes National Park. Shortly after leaving Wilsons Prom I arrived in Yarram to restock on groceries for the next few ... Read more >
Tags: Mountains
AUSTRALIA | Saturday, 10 Nov 2007 | Views [446]
Dove Lake I almost didn’t make it. This morning I woke up and checked the map. It clearly indicated a paved road to Walls of Jerusalem. The name itself evoked a sense of awe. I couldn’t resist. I drove twenty kilometres south towards the ... Read more >
Tags: Mountains
AUSTRALIA | Saturday, 10 Nov 2007 | Views [321] | Comments [1]
Central Highlands It was over two weeks ago I passed through the highlands from west to east while searching for respite from the rain. Today I crossed through the highlands again – this time from south to north. There is something captivating ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
AUSTRALIA | Friday, 9 Nov 2007 | Views [209]
Mt Field National Park I’m not sure where the morning went. I was up early. It was just a few minutes drive to the park. It was still nearly 10:30 when I started walking. Just a short 10 minute stroll to the first falls. I was hoping ... Read more >
Tags: Adventures
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 5 Nov 2007 | Views [565] | Comments [1]
I Have a Date For the last few days I’ve been making my north to meet the Spirit of Tasmania, starting with Monday. I finally woke up in a caravan park. Desperation overtook me the afternoon before. A shower would be good but clean ... Read more >
Tags: Adventures
AUSTRALIA | Saturday, 3 Nov 2007 | Views [453]
Blood-sucking invertebrates. Small red letters on my map – Montezuma Falls. On the map it was dirt track straight up the mountain’s side – switchbacks. On my way in to Rosebery I saw the road – narrow but paved – ... Read more >
Tags: the great outdoors, ambassador van
AUSTRALIA | Wednesday, 31 Oct 2007 | Views [230]
Driving through sheets of rain I just barely made out a sign on the roads left, “Nelson Falls.” I stopped. Through the windshield I saw a rushing stream. After a few minutes debating I decided on walking to the falls. ... Read more >
Tags: The Great Outdoors
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 29 Oct 2007 | Views [773]
Calling the Dolphins: It seems the closer I get to Perth the further behind I get. The plan – stop at Hamelin Pool to see the stromatolites, a quick trip to Monkey Mia then back to somewhere near Hamelin Pool for the night. That ... Read more >
Tags: Beaches & sunshine
AUSTRALIA | Saturday, 27 Oct 2007 | Views [680]
Penguins The price was a little better here then at Freycinet National Park. $12.00 for a campsite with a long drop pit at Tasman National Park. After a day of battling the winds I almost gave in before my sensibilities returned. One ... Read more >
Tags: mountains, ambassador van
AUSTRALIA | Thursday, 25 Oct 2007 | Views [228]
River of Rocks Reserve . . . . a Beach Covered with Crabs It was not what I wanted to do – leave. I enjoyed my night on the granite cliffs above Shoal Reef in Bay of Fires. I took a last look at the lichen covered boulders – it was still as bright ... Read more >
Tags: Mountains
AUSTRALIA | Wednesday, 24 Oct 2007 | Views [388]
Yes, that is my current predicament. Stuck in Perth for a few days awaiting the beginning of the next leg of the trip – a drive from Perth to Sydney courtesy of Traveler’s Auto Barn, World Nomads and Lonely Planet. What to do? Rottnest ... Read more >
Tags: Beaches & sunshine
AUSTRALIA | Wednesday, 24 Oct 2007 | Views [659] | Comments [21]
How to experience Rottnest Island? First, a day trip is not even a courteous gesture to the Island! In all fairness to yourself and the Island, a minimum stay must be two nights. My first stop was at the Visitor Centre to book into ... Read more >
Tags: beaches & sunshine
AUSTRALIA | Tuesday, 23 Oct 2007 | Views [303]
Stepping Back in Time I opened the door. The room was dark. Antique tools lined the wall. Hand hewn cabinets displayed the town’s treasures. I had stepped back 150 years in the history of Tasmania. Captain Tobia Furneaux an explorer ... Read more >
Tags: Mountains
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 15 Oct 2007 | Views [396] | Comments [2]
Soaked and Saturated – I’m a Prune! Stop seeding the clouds. I’m fleeing. I Surrender. St Helens here I come. I left Cradle Mountain because of the storm. I should have known – head east. No I headed southwest. Yesterday ... Read more >
Tags: i should have known better!
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 15 Oct 2007 | Views [373]
The icon of Tasmania – Cradle Mountain mirrored by the still surface of Dove Lake. January 1997: My brother David and his girlfriend Naomi along with myself flew to Launceston earlier in the day. The night before we gave a concert at Wabarton.... Read more >
Tags: mountains, ambassador van
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 15 Oct 2007 | Views [222]
On my way to Tasmania I stopped in at the tourist bureau office on the Ferry. I learned that a day pass to the natural areas was $20 per day but a 2 month pass was $50. I purchased a pass. Along with the pass I was given a booklet about the ... Read more >
Tags: Sightseeing
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 15 Oct 2007 | Views [312]
What has backpacking come to? I’d like to think I’m traveling with a near minimum then I look at my gear: I feel like I'm a walking electronic gadget. To keep connected I’ve had to find internet cafes along the way. Some ... Read more >
Tags: Budgets & money
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 15 Oct 2007 | Views [332]
The Great Ocean Road. One of the few things I’d heard about Australia before my first visit was, “You must see the Twelve Apostles.” After three trips and eight months of wandering I finally happened upon the Great Ocean Road. ... Read more >
Tags: Beaches & sunshine
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 15 Oct 2007 | Views [312]
If there had been snow this morning that is what I would have left. There was a definite chill in the air as clouds settled atop the Grampians. Last night I arrived. I felt a breathe of fresh air leaving the open plains behind and entering ... Read more >
Tags: Mountains
USA | Monday, 15 Oct 2007 | Views [164]
Where do I go next? It is a question I often ask myself. So far – no problem. The entire trip has fallen together without planning. There hasn’t been a day without something interesting to do. Lonely Planet’s Australia guide ... Read more >
Tags: the planning phase, ambassador van
AUSTRALIA | Monday, 15 Oct 2007 | Views [607]
Is this something I should be worrying about? It has been going on for days now. No, weeks. What to do about it? Visit the doctor . . . “Son, if you like bushwalking go to Tassy” heard on ... Read more >
Tags: adventures, ambassador van
AUSTRALIA | Friday, 5 Oct 2007 | Views [370] | Comments [1]
In late July I was driving the road between Derby and Broome. For the first time in weeks I had radio reception that lasted more then a couple kilometres each side of town. The interview was midstream before I realized the magnitude of the story.... Read more >
Tags: adventures, ambassador van
AUSTRALIA | Friday, 5 Oct 2007 | Views [591] | Comments [2]
One of the routine questions nomads ask each other as we wander Australia is, “Which direction are you going?” For a couple months I could say, “South.” That covered everything from Darwin to Perth. Reaching Perth I started ... Read more >
Tags: adventures, ambassador van
AUSTRALIA | Friday, 5 Oct 2007 | Views [647] | Comments [1]
I’ve been robbed. The pricing of fuel across Australia varies. Near the major centres the price is a reasonable $1.26 to $1.34 per litre. Getting to the remote and rural areas I saw the price of fuel as high ... Read more >
Tags: Scams & Robberies
AUSTRALIA | Friday, 5 Oct 2007 | Views [156]
Last Friday afternoon I rolled into Exmouth in search of the best possible place to settle my saddle weary body. I had left my cow camp early in the morning with plans of finding a place to stay in the park. Everything was filled to overflowing ... Read more >
Tags: Adventures
AUSTRALIA | Friday, 5 Oct 2007 | Views [219]
While snorkeling yesterday I found a hair elastic with a heart on it. Today I gave my watch to the reef at South Mandu Beach. The currents were much stronger today so drifting was the way to see the reef. Walk up the beach drift down ... Read more >
Tags: Adventures
AUSTRALIA | Friday, 5 Oct 2007 | Views [146]
Today (Thursday) was a slow start. High tide was about 12:30. It could be the slowness was recovery from the gale overnight. Even with the fly on I woke up with grit throughout the house. There was a beach on the top of the tent ... Read more >
Tags: Adventures
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