You are a Tasmanian Devil...

Another train trip. Crossing beautiful countryside, striking up intrigueing conversation.

And one more wonderful day in Melbourne, again leaving me wanting more: stumbled upon the city's sustainability festival, was impressed by their well organized and popular bicycle valet, oh, and achem, the amazing local foods, envrionmental NGOs, and interesting workshops and talks, all for free. Next I met checked out the CERES centre (click that link!!) an amazing space for environmental education, and so much more.

I met Otesha Australia there! Weee! They are a great bunch of folks...

And after a day long (really super cool) ferry ride, I'm in Tasmania! Staying with a couple Tasmanians! Oh, and a nice dutch cycle tourist that I chatted with a bunch on the ferry.

And I saw Penguins tonight!

Too many exclamation points for one blog post. It must be time to sleep. Tomorrow - poppy and I hit the road for real!

The wheels of inspiration have been turning for 10 glorious years

To the organization - no, to the community - that I hold near and dear to my heart, I wish you a happy 10th anniversary.

I just can't wait to see what the future holds for this wonderful community that Otesha has created.

Wedding time

Scenery on the Great Ocean Road just outside Melbourne

Aussie sheep crossing the highway in South Australia

An Echidna

Swimming at Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island

Like a shadow

As fast as they came, they went! I can hardly believe that it's been a month since Canadian family had arrived, a month since I last wrote a blog post. So much has been experienced in this time...

During the days before the wedding, all sights were set on it - getting prepared, helping transport goodies to Canberra, gathering our flower selections, picking up dresses and suits, stamping place cards, making sure that everything was just so. Suddenly, the day was upon us. We woke early, had a nice breakfast got our hair done by Krista's friend, and got gussied up in our outfits. Next, all the other guests were on the charter bus being whisked away to Gundaroo, while Krista, Kelly, Mom, Dad and I were left in one apartment style hotel room, taking photos, being excited, hopeful, anxious, before we piled into the rental minivan (the same colour as Krista's beautiful dress - it was our limo!) and Dad drove us country bound. We beat the bus to the venue, so we hunkered down in the nearby playing field, sneakily hoping the grey sky wouldn't open up. And it didn't.

Everything was beautiful. From the special words and celebratory ceremonies that Krista and Tua chose to have a part of their commitment ceremony, to the weather being just perfect, to the wonderful music, food, dancing and friendships. The ceremony had two readings, personally written vows, bride money paid to Uncle Jim through tradition from Tua's father (a ritual from his Papa New Guinean culture), a hand binding ceremony, and a passing of the rings so each guest could well wish and pray upon the rings. It all happened outside, with a vegetable garden in the background, and gum trees on either side. It was followed by canapes in the garden, photos, violin music, a delicious three course meal, entertaining and genuine speeches, and so much fun dancing with a live band that got everyone up on their feet bopping around to fantastic covers. The end of the night had all the guests encircling Krista and Tua on the dance floor, sending them well wishes to the last song, and a sleepy bus ride back to the hotel in Canberra. All in all, a super amazing day - a day like no other I've been involved with in the past.

More fun followed, as myself, Krista, Tua, Jet, Aunt Ruth, Uncle Jim, Aunt Dianne, Uncle Rick, Mom, Dad and Kelly headed down to Bermegui, where Tua's Mom and Stepdad live. We stayed for just under a week, enjoying the beach, fairy parties (hosted by the lovely Jetamia), neighbouring towns, barbecues, leftover wedding cheese'cake', sailing and cycling. We had a ball of a time, and were sad to say goodbye when we loaded up (to the freakin' roof) the rental van with Mom, Dad, Aunt Di, Uncle Rick, Uncle Jim and Aunt Ruth, for our epic trek from Bermegui all the way to Adelaide (some 1600 kilometers - can you say rooooooad trip!) And an epic journey it was. From the country towns of Gippsland County, to the toasty and warm welcome that we received from Tua's Aunt Maureen in Melbourne, the first day was a long road travellin' day, and we were excited to be eating a nice meal with Maureen and exploring Melbourne (even if briefly) the next day with her. Then onward we pushed, taking in the sunshine as we drove leisurely toward the Queenscliff ferry shortening our drive towards the much anticipated Great Ocean Road. That night we stayed in Anglesea, just barely finding a place to lay our brains on the last public holiday of the Aussie summer before kiddo's head back to school.

Another somewhat more leisurely travel day commenced the next sunny and hot day, as we worked our way along the Great Ocean Road, a geological and scenery natural wonder of Australia. Quicker then we knew it, silly jokes were forming in our unique group of people in the car. We played games, laughed with each other, and sometimes at each other, nibbled on copious amounts Nobby's peanuts, disagreed on issues and directions, and agreed on issues and directions. Oh, it was a blast really. One beautiful day was topped off by my Mom, lovingly referred to as the "furball finder" located a wild koala, as she notoriously was looking up whenever we stopped for a brake, or whenever looking up out the window didn't make her car sick. In following days, we cruised into South Australia, meeting and chatting with a live Jackaroo on his motorbike herding thousands of sheep across the highway in the middle of the wild Aussie outback. We were bemused by the mirage of a lake in the middle of very dry flat country scenery, only to find out that it was part of massive dried up salt lakes. As we drew closer to Adelaide, we realized that the famed Murray River Salt that you can buy in stores, was some of the pink potent sea salt that Dad had harvested from one salt flat. Trula some neat sights.

Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jim shared one last meal with us all, as we met up with Krista and Tua, whom were on the first part of their honeymoon in the Borassa Valley. After we bid a 'see ya soon' to Uncle Jim and Aunt Ruth, the remaining Canadians stayed for two nights in a beautiful country cottage down a dirt road, surrounded by sheep, kangaroos, and wine vines. We visited some wineries, went on some walks, cooked and ate some delicious meals, and visited a few super quaint country towns. After saying see ya to a couple other Canadians, next came Kangaroo Island - another quintessential Aussie location to visit - these few nights were characterized by hiking, oodles of wildlife, beautiful emu bay, and epic little Sahara. Topped off by a day on my own in Adelaide (where I got out on a bike ride) and a fantastic train journey on the Indian Pacific back to Sydney, and a few more days in Sydney with the troupe of visiting Canadians, it was time for them to head back to Southern Ontario. It just felt all too short, but oh so full at the same time.

It's so nice having family around. I mean, sure everyone has their differences, disagreements, and intense conversations, but when it comes down to it, family is familiar, comfortable, and often hilarious. I really appreciate the opportunity I had to travel with them all. It was super special, and I'm glad they came all the way here to spend some time in Krista's world that is Australia, and, I'll see them all again soon when I'm in Canada for my other sisters marriage ceremony in the summer. I'm excited that I'll be able to enjoy more laughs, oddities, quirks and hilarity's with all of my family and friends then.

Next up: Tasmania! I'll be heading there via Melbourne with my bicycle hopefully in a week or two, to cycle right the way around this Aussie island state. Yipeeee!