Melbourne

Our last trip before Clint starts work was to Melbourne. As usual, we landed in the rain. I'm sure you've heard about all the floods happening here. Luckily we are safe and actually still in drought in Port Augusta so the rain was welcome! Once again we had a nap and when we woke up it was sunny and beautiful. So, off we went to explore! We hopped on the free tram that went along the outside of the downtown area. We got off at the harbour and found a great outlet shopping area that was empty, Costco was there too! Too bad we forgot to bring our Costco cards!

On Saturday we thought we better try to figure out how to get to the tennis grounds before the tournament started. Amazingly, it was open and it was kids tennis day. Miles and Isabella both got a goody bag with a water bottle, keychain and something else that I forgot. Miles also got a free tennis racket and we got a family shot with the Australian Open trophies, how cool!

Miles was so excited about his racket that he bugged his dad for the next 2 days to play in the courts across from the apartment we were staying in!
On Sunday we took a bus tour to Ballarat Wildlife Park where we got to feed kangaroos pet a koala and wombat. Izzy couldn't get enough of feeding the kangaroos, would you believe that roo is one of Izzy's clearest words! Here are some great shots!

Koala's are only awake for about 4 minutes at a time and then they go back to sleep!

Had to finish the day with ice cream!
On Monday we headed back to the tennis grounds to take in the first day of the Australian Open. It was cloudy, windy and cold for summer. Thank goodness we put sweaters on the kids before we left. They both had a nap during one of the afternoon games so Clint and I could watch a game without interuptions! Headed back to the apartment around 4 and Clint went back on his own to watch some tennis under the lights. He also went back on Tuesday on his own and scored cheap tickets to Rod Laver Arena so he got to watch Nadal take out another player easily. Apparently Nadal is very superstious and has to have his drink bottles just so, labels out and in a certain order but who cares when you are that good!
We loved Melbourne, so easy to get around, beautiful to see, lots of grass and parks and some great shopping, did I mention Izzy got some Uggs! Hope to get back before we leave, maybe take in a musical.

Tumby Bay- Beautiful

We took a short road trip down to Tumby Bay. It is about 3 hours south along the coast from where we are living. I guarantee we will return! It is a small little beach town with some beautiful beaches split by a pier type boardwalk. On one side is a windy wavy beach, great for windsurfing and kite boarding which Clint still wants to try! On the other side was a quiet, calm cove that was perfect for the kids to play in. Some beaches along the way looked nice except for the huge amounts of seaweed that was washed onto the shore. We were told the winds were to blame and aren't usually that strong and long lasting. Here are a few shots of our short stay!

The picture on the left is from the windy side. Clint and Miles were watching two people on their kite boards. The picture on the right is the quieter side of the beach. The birds in the background are Australian pelicans, they are huge! One caught and ate a fish right in front of us.

These kids love the beach!

Welcome to Port Augusta

Lots of people have been wondering what Port Augusta looks like so I took a few pictures around town. Think small town meets the desert and you'll have a bit of an idea of our little town.

This is a playground by the beach in Port Augusta that the kids had fun with.

The main road in Port Augusta with the shops, I think it was a holiday, it's not usually that quiet!!

Flinders Ranges which is close by and basically the landscape you see as you drive anywhere in this area of the country. Kinda reminds us of the pictures you see of Africa.

This is our house for the year. The blinds are all down because it is so hot that the house air conditioning can't keep up with the sun shining in. it feels a bit like a cave until 1 when the sun is over the house so we can open the front window up. Originally the house was only one story and they added on the second story a few years ago for three very large bedrooms. Plenty of room for visitors!

We've been in the pool everyday. Izzy loves it and Miles is getting very brave. Time to get him in swim lessons as the pool noodle he usually uses slipped away from him once and scared him a bit. The local pool is beautiful and only a five minute walk away so shouldn't be too hard to get him swimming on his own soon enough.

After 5 days without a car Clint and I decided on a 2001 Toyota Camry. The boot (trunk) is huge and it easily fits the family and pram (stoller)! One interesting feature is the shuroo which I took a picture of. It lets out a whistle that is supposed to scare away kangaroos. We haven't been on the highways at night yet but I'll let you know if it works!

Sydney

December 24th at 8:30 pm we got on the plane for a 14 hour flight. Both kids fell asleep soon after takeoff and slept Getting through customs and immigration was easier than coming home from the States, we actually asked where to go after getting our bags since it was so easy. Here is a break down of what we did each day with a few pictures to go along.

December 26th- We got to the hotel and had a quick shower before setting out in the rain to explore Sydney. Unfortunately we went the wrong way and really didn't see anything! At noon we got into our hotel room and had a short nap and when we woke up it beautiful and sunny so again we headed out, this time we followed the crowds and ended up at Darling Harbour. The kids really enjoyed all the water ponds and fountains. We also checked out the boats and had some food at a mall there.

December 27th- Woke up early (4 am)and had a nap by 8 am! It was rainy and gloomy but we thought it may be like the day before and clear up so we decided to try Taronga Zoo. That meant a 15 minute walk down to Cicular Quay. (Note to self, time is apparently estimated differently as it was more like a 35 minute walk) Did I mention it was raining? Anyway, got down to the piers and changed opur minds as the skies still looked very gray. Instead we checked out the Opera House next door and then went shopping at Paddy's market (kinda like a huge flea market). Went back to the hotel early for a swim and then relaxed.

December 28th- Woke up early again (4 am)kids were having some time change adjustments! Everyone had a nap at 7:30 because the day looked much better and we were going to the zoo. Walked down to Circular Quay again, felt like a 45 minute walk this time! Got on the ferry and lined up for a gondola ride up to the entrance but changed our minds since the line-up was so long. A worker took pity on us and brought us up the lift (elevator in Canadian) and we were able to skip in front of the line. What a great bonus, no dirty looks either! Would you belive we only saw 2 kangaroos in the whole zoo? Maybe we missed a section. At 1:00 there was a seal show that we sat and watched, very entertaining and a nice break from all the walking. Miles got a hold of the map at the end of our visit and that was the highlight for him. I swear the next two days he checked his map constantly (probably because Clint and I were always looking at the map too!). Got back to the Quay and walked through the Rocks, the oldest part of Sydney before returning to the hotel for another swim.

December 29th- Everyone finally slept in, and by slept in I mean 7:30! It was a sunny warm day so we were heading to the beach. Once again we walked down to Circular Quay to catch the ferry to Manly Beach. The beach was packed and the kids had a blast! Miles loved jumping over the waves as they rolled in and Izzy had lots of fun digging in the sand. Took the ferry back to the Opera House and walked through the Botanical gardens which were quiet and beautiful, a nice break from all the crowds we'd been in the last few days. It was also pretty cool to see all the flying foxes sleeping in the trees.

December 30th- Our last day in Sydney. We started out with a morning trip to the Aqurium which has huge lines by 10 am. There was a Lego promotion going on so throughout the aquarium there were huge statues made out of Lego that Miles thought were great. He also got a mini figure of a cowboy as we entered which was his highlight! There were two underground tunnels were stingrays and sharks and turtles swim above you which were very cool. Izzy loved pointing at all the fish and she really enjoyed herself too! Went back to the hotel for a nap and then checked out an art gallery before having dinner. The kids were great travellers and were very tired by the time it was bed time.
On December 31st we got up early and flew to Adelaids where a co-worker of Clint's picked us up for the three hour drive to out new home. The temperature was hot, the car themometer red 46 degrees Celcius at one point. The house is huge, Miles and Izzy love the pool and Clint and I are getting used to the different appliances and taking care of the pool and yard. Another co-worker dropped off a car for us to borrow for a few days as we have been house bound for 3 days and we were going a bit stir crazy. Clint is going car shopping tomorrow with Simon and hopefully we can have our own wheels soon. Happy New Year!

San Francisco



The kids at Fisherman's Wharf

 

We started out our adventure with a 4 day stop in San Francisco. It rained the first two days but we still saw Fisherman's Wharf and toured the city on a bus which was perfect because both kids were able to have a nap on the comfy seats, which is why we don't have any family pictures right beside the Golden Gate Bridge, Miles was sleeping during the stop! We visited Alcatraz which Clint thought was great and Miles kept asking if the bad guys were dead now. We also spent a day riding on the cable cars and checking out Golden Gate Park which was beautiful. Didn't do much shopping as the baggage was tight to begin with and it was Christmas Eve so the stores were packed. All in all a great start to our year of travel! Enjoy the picture of us on the cable car, I know it's a tourist trap but it really was enjoyable! Sorry about the sideways picture, can't figure out how to get it to rotate!

Our first ride on the cable car



Getting ready to enter the prison and take the audio tour.