What’s top of my mind: My 7th continent!
Yes, in a few more days I’ll get the set! Megs and I leave on Sunday.
I can’t tell you how incredibly lucky I feel to be one of the few people in human history who will be able to say that I’ve set foot on all 7 continents. We live in an amazing time, that’s for sure.
Where I’m going: Canada and Alaska.
I’ve yet to meet someone who hasn’t enjoyed this trip. Everyone raves about it, so even though I’m pretty much going inblind, I’m pretty sure I’ll have a good time.
We’re meeting Martha (a blog reader) on our free day in Vancouver. I’m looking forward to this. 🙂
Where I’ve been: in denial.
I’ve done no research, no packing, no real garden prep for winter… Honestly, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I have 3 days to get my shit together.
What I’m reading: SO MANY BOOKS.
But I don’t have the time to back-track through Goodreads for you.
Sorry.
What I’m watching: ‘The Gentlemen’ on Netflix.
I finished this last night and I loved it. As soon as my sister told me it was a Guy Ritchie series, I was in.
What I’m listening to: Jeffrey snoring.
Apparently, I’ll be swapping this for Megs snoring…
I’ve already bought some earplugs, but to be honest I’m not fond of the idea of earplugs. It’s a safety thing. Still, I’m going to give them a red hot go.
What I’m eating: Food.
Nothing of note.
What I’m planning: Liga’s road trip in Australia.
Remember my Antarctica trip and how we ended up being a tight friendship group? I stayed with Corinna last year in London and now Liga from Latvia is coming to Australia in November! I’m so excited.
She said that she wants to see 4 things while she’s here: 1. Me. 2. The Opera House. 3. Uluru. 4. The Great Barrier Reef.
Fortunately, she has around 3 weeks up her sleeve, so her wishes are do-able. It’s going to be tight, though. Latvia is a country the size of Tasmania, so I’m not sure Liga’s got her head around precisely how big Australia is.
I’ve spent far more time working on this trip than I have on Canada/Alaska. This will be Liga’s 7th continent so I want to make sure that she sees as much as possible.
She and her friend (also called Liga) will land in Sydney and spend 3 or 4 days there. They’ll then fly down to me. On the first day, I’ll take them to Healesville Sanctuary to see all the Aussie animals. Then – the road trip starts.
Melbourne – Halls Gap – The Great Ocean Road to Warrnambool – Adelaide – Port Augusta – Coober Pedy – Uluru.
I leave them there, and after a couple of days, they fly out to Cairns to the rainforests and the Reef. Then home.
They’ll see the bush, the desert and the rainforests. Cities and the Outback.
I was going to drop them off at Adelaide, but Liga said that she wanted to drive in the desert with the red sands stretching away on either side. I thought that sounded cool, so once I found out that the Ligas were going to be charged $ 900 USD extra for hiring a car in Adelaide and leaving it at Uluru, I decided to just drive up there with them.
The drive to Uluru and back isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Who deserves a thumbs-up: The travel money people.
As I was typing, I got a text to say that my CAD and USD money is now available. Off I got to Mornington to pick it up!
What has made me smile: our early Mother’s Day.
Megs and I are flying out early in Mothers Day, so the kids gathered here on Sunday for an early MD. Jenna couldn’t make it as she wasn’t feeling well, but everyone else was here. It was lovely to see the two quiet girls, Izzy and Sophie, get to know each other better.
Tom32 took me out to dinner a few days before, so we had a lovely evening just chilling. He lives in Frankston and the council there has invested heavily in street art, so he took me on a little walking tour before we grabbed dinner. Just up my alley! (No pun intended.)
Evan27 gave me some flowers with a card that read:
“Hey Mum, Happy Mothers Day.
I adore you and have such a privileged life with you as my mother. Even if it was a lot of smoke and mirrors in the early years and times were tougher than I realised. It was a delight.
Now, even if we don’t see or even talk to each other every day, it’s nice knowing you’re always there when I need you.
It’s been great becoming friends as adults on top of mother and son. I’m thrilled for you, with all these travels and can’t wait to read all about it.”
Do you know what this means?????
I finished reading it, turned to him and said, “Does this mean you’re going to READ MY BLOG???”
He laughed and said, “Well, I’m going to try!”
Dreams do come true!
So yes. Starting from now – the travel posts will be back on both blogs.
Dad joke of the day:
Just wondering how long ago you booked your Alaska trip and who you went with? We are looking at September next year and there are so many different options – it’s a bit confusing to be honest! Hope you have a wonderful time – looking forward to seeing photos ????
https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-au/expeditions/cruises/alaska-and-british-columbia-wilderness-glaciers-and-culture-southbound/
Thank you! That looks like a great trip.
Bindi – I live in southeast Alaska, and I highly recommend that you aim for June if you can. September and October are very likely to be wet and windy. Good luck!
You are going to love this trip! Also it looks like you’ve timed it right weather wise – right now the sun is shining in Vancouver and we are expecting sunshine right through to the weekend. It’s been a very rainy spring. Can’t wait to read your observation of the Province I call home.
Oh boy! The pressure’s on now, haha!
Oh yay, you will be down my way in November! Enjoy your trip/s!!
(Posting from Exeter in Devon on my month long UK trip).
Lovely! I think my father’s family originated in Devon.