One of the most amazing parts of traveling can sometimes be the people you meet...
 |
| And we're off on another adventure! |
 |
| getting to know the locals |
While we were traveling through the red sea last year we met up with a family from Australia, who were similar to us in many ways, not least of which is that our kids are just about the same age. Somewhere between experiencing the Bedouin of Petra and the great haggling sessions of Cairo we became friends.
So when some cheap-as flights to Sydney popped up on my computer this summer it seemed only natural to jump across the ditch for a catch up.
As we drove north out of Sydney towards their home the kids worked themselves up into an almost frenzy like condition of excitement. Not just for the excitement of seeing our friends, but the experience of getting to know a new continent. The excitement of travel runs deep in all of us now. And it seemed that in every tree a koala was spotted, or some rare snake and of course they saw heaps of kangaroos.... well, neither of us grown ups were lucky enough to see them, but you know, maybe we've just lost some of the imagination of childhood!
But within about oh, ten seconds of arrival the kids had all forgotten about the wildlife and were busy re-established their earlier friendships and happily exploring the farm-let that our friends live on just north of Newcastle, NSW.
We knew it was going to be warm traveling to OZ in the summertime. But what we didn't plan for was the extreme heat wave that we collided with. And yes, I mean collide with! The heat was building like a vast wave of oppression as we drove north and our friends looked a bit nervous when they imparted the weather forecast for the next day. Luckily they live close to the beautiful Port Stevens peninsula and the next day we were beach bound and heading out for a ride with the dolphins.
 |
| On the dolphin boat in Port Stevens |
The blue water of Port Stevens is dubbed Australia's dolphin spotting paradise and the commercially minded companies keep the dolphin cruises go non stop all day long. Which on a hot day like this is such a blessing! After only a few moments of being on board the captain lets down the nets on the side of the boat and everyone pops in. Cool and refreshing, the water was better than mana from heaven, with the added bonus of being right next to the dolphins, who are swimming around us. What better way to beat the heat!?
That night as the thunder and lightning light up the sky, and the oppressive heat has us sweating out all the sunscreen of the day we heard on the news that today had been a record breaking day - 47 degrees centigrade (117 Fahrenheit)!!! And no air con. That's much hotter than Egypt by far! Thank god for the ocean!
As the temperatures lessened over the next few days we hauled ourselves out of the farm's billabong (complete with pretend croc!) and found the time and energy to hike the Tomaree headland, take in the views around and even try our hand on the quad bikes. Liam got his testosterone buzz by being allowed to get on the motor bike and whiz around the farm, having the time of his life, even if it didn't impress the jaded hot cows looking on from the shade of the trees!
 |
| Looking down from the top of Mt. Tomaree |
 |
| Vegetarians avert your eyes! |
Too soon it was time to say good bye and head south to the second phase of our discover New South Wales trip. Not that you could even scratch the surface of the old land in a mere ten days. But we'll give it our best shot!
More about Katoomba and the Blue Mountains next time!
We knew it was going to be warm traveling to OZ in the summertime. But what we didn't plan for was the extreme heat wave that we collided with. And yes, I mean collide with! The heat was building like a vast wave of oppression as we drove north and our friends looked a bit nervous when they imparted the weather forecast for the next day. Luckily they live close to the beautiful Port Stevens peninsula and the next day we were beach bound and heading out for a ride with the dolphins.
The blue water of Port Stevens is dubbed Australia's dolphin spotting paradise and the commercially minded companies keep the dolphin cruises go non stop all day long. Which on a hot day like this is such a blessing! After only a few moments of being on board the captain lets down the nets on the side of the boat and everyone pops in. Cool and refreshing, the water was better than mana from heaven, with the added bonus of being right next to the dolphins, who are swimming around us. What better way to beat the heat!?
As the temperatures lessened over the next few days we hauled ourselves out of the farm's billabong (complete with pretend croc!) and found the time and energy to hike the Tomaree headland, take in the views around and even try our hand on the quad bikes. Liam got his testosterone buzz by being allowed to get on the motor bike and whiz around the farm, having the time of his life, even if it didn't impress the jaded hot cows looking on from the shade of the trees!
