2018 brings on my third year of studying Marine Biology at the University of Adelaide. I am thoroughly enjoying life in Adelaide. The effect of the changing seasons is still a novelty to me, having grown up in the tropics. Being able to enjoy a fire and red wine in winter is fantastic. The chill immediately set on after a shower is, however, less enjoyable. I began by solely catching public transport when I moved here but after being caught in the rain in winter, on my way to/from uni, one to many times - I bought a reliable little Holden Astra. Now when it is to cold or hot for public transport I can attend my classes with much less hassle.
My degree is taking a path based on evolution, geology, and marine organisms. The common focus for my colleagues is conservation, botany, and chemistry, but I've found little interest in these areas. Over the winter break I am taking on an intensive course which takes us camping at Kangaroo Island, and inland to underground limestone caves where extensive research is taking place.
I went snorkelling in southern waters for the first time last weekend. The water is stunningly clear at the beaches here, and the lack of seaweed on the beaches deceived me to think that it was mostly rocks off the coast. The dark patches off my beach do seem to be mostly seaweed however. There were some small jellyfish that looked suspiciously like Irukandji - which do not occur this far south. However the Olindias jellyfish sting is a similar sensation to that of sea lice, annoying but not serious.
Monday 5 February 2018
Friday 15 April 2016
Catch Up
Well, I have a whole year and a bit to catch you up on... this may take a while. My road trip ended in early Jan of 2015, when I was running out of money and on the hunt for a job in the fruit picking areas of Victoria. I had applied for a few jobs in Cairns, and was slowly making my way back up north - job searching along the way. I was about a week away when I received a call about a job interview with a company called Genesis Fitness who were looking for a receptionist for one of their gyms. I agreed to be there on Tuesday(it was Thursday when I got the call) and made a beeline for home.
I made it back to Cairns on Monday night, arrived for the interview, got the job, and started the following week. Then followed a year of driving my van to and from work. Towards the end of the year I decided to go back to uni, Cairns didn't have the Marine Biology course that I wanted to do, but our neighboring town did. Townsville was a 4 hour drive away, and the rent was quite high if I wanted to live there. I started looking for alternative options. I could live in my van again...
It's always been a dream of mine to buy a boat, and I've always got one eye on the market. One weekend I was in Townsville searching for a Graduation Dress with a friend, who was finishing high school that year, when we happened to walk past a somewhat sad looking catamaran in the creek. It was large enough to live on, but small enough it shouldn't be out of my price range. There was a 'for sale' sign and a phone number. I gave the number a call on the spot.
Not long after, I had arranged to view the boat. So one day I drove down to view Auberge. A lady, not much older then myself, was selling the boat that was her fathers, he had recently passed away and hadn't used the boat for the past few years because he was sick. Auberge needed a lot of love and work. There was no front netting - it had disintegrated away, everything was covered in dirt and grime and bird poo. The main sail cover needed replacing, the headsail probably needed replacing too. The rudders and back deck needed work and the boat needed some serious antifouling.
I loved it. There was room for a 6ft person to stand in the hulls, three bunks, toliet/shower, galley with gas stove and an area for a fridge(that was missing the electrics). After having a chat with the owner, we agreed on a price. I drove back to Cairns in ecstasy and shock, hardly believing that I just bought a boat. The plan was to sail her back to Cairns, do her up, and take her back to Townsville to live on her as I go to uni.
Each weekend from then on I would drive down by myself to Townsville and work on her, to get her ship shape to sail to Cairns. My dad would give me guidance and help me when I brought things back, like the worm eaten rudders. I met a guy while I was in Townsville, he lived close to the marina and gave me a hand on the boat occasionally(as well as took me out for ice cream). After a few months, when she was finally ready, dad came down and we sailed her to Cairns over a weekend. However, I would still head to Townsville every second weekend...
My boat is still in Cairns to this day. I still work on her, with the help of my family. These uni holidays I plan to fly home and spend a week out on the reef exploring the islands, by myself most likely.
I ended up going to Japan over Christmas with the guy I met in Townsville. He had just completed his Masters degree in civil engineering, and had bought a uni that year. He was renovating his unit while I was doing up the boat. When he got a job offer to good to refuse, he had to move to Adelaide and invited me to eventually move down with him. I've never been to Adelaide, but there is a good uni there...
When the uni offer round came through, I got accepted into my first preference: Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) in the University of Adelaide. The only uni in Townsville is James Cook University, and although they do have the reef on their doorstep, the quality of teaching and the status of Uni of Adelaide is more appealing. In early 2016 I decided to quit my job, and move to Adelaide to commence full time study.
We are half way through the first semester now and I'm loving it. The weather, the lack of mosquitoes, and even living with someone is better then I expected. We set up a fish tank so there is a bit of the ocean with me. I'm looking forward to heading back to Cairns and taking my boat out for the holidays.
I made it back to Cairns on Monday night, arrived for the interview, got the job, and started the following week. Then followed a year of driving my van to and from work. Towards the end of the year I decided to go back to uni, Cairns didn't have the Marine Biology course that I wanted to do, but our neighboring town did. Townsville was a 4 hour drive away, and the rent was quite high if I wanted to live there. I started looking for alternative options. I could live in my van again...
It's always been a dream of mine to buy a boat, and I've always got one eye on the market. One weekend I was in Townsville searching for a Graduation Dress with a friend, who was finishing high school that year, when we happened to walk past a somewhat sad looking catamaran in the creek. It was large enough to live on, but small enough it shouldn't be out of my price range. There was a 'for sale' sign and a phone number. I gave the number a call on the spot.
Not long after, I had arranged to view the boat. So one day I drove down to view Auberge. A lady, not much older then myself, was selling the boat that was her fathers, he had recently passed away and hadn't used the boat for the past few years because he was sick. Auberge needed a lot of love and work. There was no front netting - it had disintegrated away, everything was covered in dirt and grime and bird poo. The main sail cover needed replacing, the headsail probably needed replacing too. The rudders and back deck needed work and the boat needed some serious antifouling.
I loved it. There was room for a 6ft person to stand in the hulls, three bunks, toliet/shower, galley with gas stove and an area for a fridge(that was missing the electrics). After having a chat with the owner, we agreed on a price. I drove back to Cairns in ecstasy and shock, hardly believing that I just bought a boat. The plan was to sail her back to Cairns, do her up, and take her back to Townsville to live on her as I go to uni.
Each weekend from then on I would drive down by myself to Townsville and work on her, to get her ship shape to sail to Cairns. My dad would give me guidance and help me when I brought things back, like the worm eaten rudders. I met a guy while I was in Townsville, he lived close to the marina and gave me a hand on the boat occasionally(as well as took me out for ice cream). After a few months, when she was finally ready, dad came down and we sailed her to Cairns over a weekend. However, I would still head to Townsville every second weekend...
My boat is still in Cairns to this day. I still work on her, with the help of my family. These uni holidays I plan to fly home and spend a week out on the reef exploring the islands, by myself most likely.
I ended up going to Japan over Christmas with the guy I met in Townsville. He had just completed his Masters degree in civil engineering, and had bought a uni that year. He was renovating his unit while I was doing up the boat. When he got a job offer to good to refuse, he had to move to Adelaide and invited me to eventually move down with him. I've never been to Adelaide, but there is a good uni there...
When the uni offer round came through, I got accepted into my first preference: Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) in the University of Adelaide. The only uni in Townsville is James Cook University, and although they do have the reef on their doorstep, the quality of teaching and the status of Uni of Adelaide is more appealing. In early 2016 I decided to quit my job, and move to Adelaide to commence full time study.
We are half way through the first semester now and I'm loving it. The weather, the lack of mosquitoes, and even living with someone is better then I expected. We set up a fish tank so there is a bit of the ocean with me. I'm looking forward to heading back to Cairns and taking my boat out for the holidays.
Wednesday 24 September 2014
Do you ever run conversations in your head to see how they sound? I'm sure we've all gone over the past and thought "I should have said ...... instead". I was thinking about a possible future conversation with my friend, who is a bit sick at the moment but said if she's better by the weekend then we can go to one of her friends place for a bbq and booze sesh. I've only met the person once, but I was surprised by myself at the conversation in my head..
The conversation stopped when I realized I said something along the lines of: "but I'm dying to be social, lets go somewhere where we can chat to others"
"I'm dying to be social"....SOCIAL?! What is wrong with me. I mean sure, I don't get anxious when I'm in big crowds at the shopping center anymore, and I no longer have that constant pull of wanting to go home. I chat and ask questions to people I meet on the beach, where as I use to not even look up when I walked past.
But this feeling of actually WANTING to meet people, to learn their stories, to go places and have new adventures, is completely foreign to me. It was something I did because I was I had to. The "I have to" feeling had gotten stronger due to my road trip - I didn't have a choice when I was traveling alone. The "I don't wanna do this" feeling had gotten weaker, because the possibility of lying in bed doing nothing and seeing no one wasn't an option.
You know what? I like it. This was exactly what I was hoping for by traveling. I'm still not exactly what you would call confident. But I'm defiantly on the right track.
The conversation stopped when I realized I said something along the lines of: "but I'm dying to be social, lets go somewhere where we can chat to others"
"I'm dying to be social"....SOCIAL?! What is wrong with me. I mean sure, I don't get anxious when I'm in big crowds at the shopping center anymore, and I no longer have that constant pull of wanting to go home. I chat and ask questions to people I meet on the beach, where as I use to not even look up when I walked past.
But this feeling of actually WANTING to meet people, to learn their stories, to go places and have new adventures, is completely foreign to me. It was something I did because I was I had to. The "I have to" feeling had gotten stronger due to my road trip - I didn't have a choice when I was traveling alone. The "I don't wanna do this" feeling had gotten weaker, because the possibility of lying in bed doing nothing and seeing no one wasn't an option.
You know what? I like it. This was exactly what I was hoping for by traveling. I'm still not exactly what you would call confident. But I'm defiantly on the right track.
Sunday 17 August 2014
Alice Springs to Kings Canyon
Yesterday I drove from Alice Springs to the Kings Canyon Resort. I enjoyed Alice Springs. It had a unique beauty, being a very westernized city, in the middle of rocks, in the middle of nowhere. I got lost and ended up driving around the suburban areas, and discovered that a few houses had large boulders in their front yard or the nature strip out the front. I presumed that it was simply because the rocks were to big to move.
The Caravan park that I stayed in had the best check in lady, so far. She was a lovely grandmotherly lady, who asked where I'd been, where I was going, and how impressed she was I was doing it all by myself. I was able to top up my supplies the following morning in Alice Springs, after a very unexpected splattering of dawn rain!
The drive from Alice Springs to the Kings Canyon resort was absolutely horrible. I like to call it "the devil road". 150km of high winds and horrible dirt corrugation, and I'm somewhat experienced in off road driving. I had a couple of goes at trying to pick up speed on the dirt, which ended in my failing miserably. The entire plastic dash on my van would shake and wobble like you wouldn't believe. My hands where so sore by the time I reached the end, which was a good couple of hours as I could only go up to 20kph for most of the corrugation.
There was a beautiful look out and free camp spot just before the dirt road. I stopped for the look, and would have considered staying there the night if there were other people around. There were stunningly red hills, that were part of a larger mountain which had the appearance of a set of rolling waves.
According to my list of "Big Things" the Big Echidna was only a short detour off the road to Kings Canyon. So off I went, down another dirt corrugation road. I came across a herd of donkeys, and a water tank covered in graffiti, with the sides blown out like windows. When I got to the end of the road, it was a tiny aboriginal village with only one street. I slowly drove through, looking for the Big Echidna, and feeling slightly like a I look crazy. White girl by herself, in a hippy van covered in yellow spots. I didn't want to cement any of the stares I was getting, by asking if there was a giant echidna statue near by.
When I finally arrived at the Kings Canyon Resort, I booked in to a powered site(which was all they had). As I found my site, there was already someone in it! It was almost dark by this point, and the car was over to the one side, so I thought that maybe I was mistaken and there are supposed to be two cars per site. However, my power outlet was being used so I realized that it must have been a reception stuff up.
I was agitated and exhausted from the dirt road, and now slightly pissed off that they mucked it up this booking. After decided that I couldn't be stuffed trying to sort it out, and there was no one in the car next door, I just turned in for an early night. I stayed in bed until the people next door had unplugged and left, and I was able to have a few hours of charging my necessities - like my toothbrush.
The Caravan park that I stayed in had the best check in lady, so far. She was a lovely grandmotherly lady, who asked where I'd been, where I was going, and how impressed she was I was doing it all by myself. I was able to top up my supplies the following morning in Alice Springs, after a very unexpected splattering of dawn rain!
The drive from Alice Springs to the Kings Canyon resort was absolutely horrible. I like to call it "the devil road". 150km of high winds and horrible dirt corrugation, and I'm somewhat experienced in off road driving. I had a couple of goes at trying to pick up speed on the dirt, which ended in my failing miserably. The entire plastic dash on my van would shake and wobble like you wouldn't believe. My hands where so sore by the time I reached the end, which was a good couple of hours as I could only go up to 20kph for most of the corrugation.
There was a beautiful look out and free camp spot just before the dirt road. I stopped for the look, and would have considered staying there the night if there were other people around. There were stunningly red hills, that were part of a larger mountain which had the appearance of a set of rolling waves.
According to my list of "Big Things" the Big Echidna was only a short detour off the road to Kings Canyon. So off I went, down another dirt corrugation road. I came across a herd of donkeys, and a water tank covered in graffiti, with the sides blown out like windows. When I got to the end of the road, it was a tiny aboriginal village with only one street. I slowly drove through, looking for the Big Echidna, and feeling slightly like a I look crazy. White girl by herself, in a hippy van covered in yellow spots. I didn't want to cement any of the stares I was getting, by asking if there was a giant echidna statue near by.
When I finally arrived at the Kings Canyon Resort, I booked in to a powered site(which was all they had). As I found my site, there was already someone in it! It was almost dark by this point, and the car was over to the one side, so I thought that maybe I was mistaken and there are supposed to be two cars per site. However, my power outlet was being used so I realized that it must have been a reception stuff up.
I was agitated and exhausted from the dirt road, and now slightly pissed off that they mucked it up this booking. After decided that I couldn't be stuffed trying to sort it out, and there was no one in the car next door, I just turned in for an early night. I stayed in bed until the people next door had unplugged and left, and I was able to have a few hours of charging my necessities - like my toothbrush.
Saturday 16 August 2014
Cairns to Tennant Creek
Alas, I have neglected all my avid followers.. My apologies. I write from Tennant Creek, in the Northern Territory. I left Cairns on Thursday morning, and spent the night at Undara. Driving away from my slightly teary goodbyes, I felt like my stomach was full of heavy, twisting snakes. And I couldn't tell if it was a laugh or a sob that was threatening to burst from my throat. I really felt a jumble of mixed emotions.
It got better once I was on the highway. I did long days of driving each day, and each night I went to bed early. Only now have I truly stopped and had time to read or write. Part of me only just realised that I may have subconsciously been driving such long hours and large distances, because I was worried I'd chicken out and turn back home. Whereas now, I'm so far from Cairns that even if I wanted to head back – it would be more then a days drive away. And I would have to undo all the hard work it took me to get here!
Undara was one of my favourite caravan sites(admittedly I've only been to 4 so far..), it was affordable, and beautifully surrounded with big old trees. The check in process was very easy, and the receptionist explained all about the camp without me having to ask. In the morning there were excited patrons gathering outside the toilet block to get photos of the wild kangaroos that had popped in for a visit.
I headed from Undara to Normanton, where the first of my “Big Things” awaited me. Normanton was a small dusty town, with a big purple pub. I stayed in a equally dusty caravan site, with friendly owners who looked at me twice when I said I was traveling alone. All of the caravan parks I have stayed in(except Undara with was in a National Park) have allowed pets. I wish I could have brought my dog, Calypso, but it would have gotten tricky with her when I eventually get to the cities.
I have set up a system where I can stick my camera on any of my car windows, like a GoPro suction mount, and set the self timer so I can get a picture with the Big Thing. I took a picture with the replica of the worlds biggest crocodile ever shot, and the Big Barramundi(Normanton is known for its Barra tournaments) before heading on the drive to Mount Isa.
During my drives I saw a huge Goanna, and a couple enormous eagles(these got more plentiful the further inland I went) all were feeding on road kill. A flock of wild blue and green budgies flew next to the car for a few moments while I was driving, which was really special because things like budgies and big birds of prey are things that you don't normally see in the wild – unless you travel or live in their natural habitat. If you live on the coast or such, budgies are commonly known as pets. Seeing them in the wild was really exciting for me.
It was interesting to see Mount Isa. According to one particular billboard I drove past - “you're not a true aussie until you've visited Mount Isa”. It was a large town in the middle of nowhere. All the caravan sites were more expensive, and I was able to use my Coles voucher to fuel up at a Shell. I set off from Mt Isa very early. I woke up at 4am, maybe having something to do with the fact it was 6 degrees and I only had one thickish blanket, and waited until dawn began to lighten the camp grounds at 6.30am before leaving. I still feel terribly bad for the guy sleeping in his swag directly behind my car..
Driving into sunrise was beautiful. Once I got to Camooweal, I had to fuel up again as it is the last stop before you get to Barkley Homestead in the NT. But the drive between the two is amazing, truly otherworldly. Knee length wheat coloured grass is the only thing to see, meeting up with the horizon uninterrupted. The road is straight for ages, and the speed limit is 130kms per hr. My van maxes out at 160, so the best I could do was 120, but I mostly just sat on 100 for the drive. There were a few cars going in the other direction, but only one came up behind(and over took) me.
Eventually I arrived at Tennant Creek. Another dusty but cute campsite, in a small town. But there are beautiful red hills, and I have never become bored during my driving so far – as there is forever changing scenery.
I decided to stay here for two nights, as it is the cheapest campsite so far and it allows me to catch up on things(like writing a blog entry). Tomorrow, my plan is to get up early and do another long run down through Alice Springs and straight to Uluru.
It got better once I was on the highway. I did long days of driving each day, and each night I went to bed early. Only now have I truly stopped and had time to read or write. Part of me only just realised that I may have subconsciously been driving such long hours and large distances, because I was worried I'd chicken out and turn back home. Whereas now, I'm so far from Cairns that even if I wanted to head back – it would be more then a days drive away. And I would have to undo all the hard work it took me to get here!
Undara was one of my favourite caravan sites(admittedly I've only been to 4 so far..), it was affordable, and beautifully surrounded with big old trees. The check in process was very easy, and the receptionist explained all about the camp without me having to ask. In the morning there were excited patrons gathering outside the toilet block to get photos of the wild kangaroos that had popped in for a visit.
I headed from Undara to Normanton, where the first of my “Big Things” awaited me. Normanton was a small dusty town, with a big purple pub. I stayed in a equally dusty caravan site, with friendly owners who looked at me twice when I said I was traveling alone. All of the caravan parks I have stayed in(except Undara with was in a National Park) have allowed pets. I wish I could have brought my dog, Calypso, but it would have gotten tricky with her when I eventually get to the cities.
I have set up a system where I can stick my camera on any of my car windows, like a GoPro suction mount, and set the self timer so I can get a picture with the Big Thing. I took a picture with the replica of the worlds biggest crocodile ever shot, and the Big Barramundi(Normanton is known for its Barra tournaments) before heading on the drive to Mount Isa.
During my drives I saw a huge Goanna, and a couple enormous eagles(these got more plentiful the further inland I went) all were feeding on road kill. A flock of wild blue and green budgies flew next to the car for a few moments while I was driving, which was really special because things like budgies and big birds of prey are things that you don't normally see in the wild – unless you travel or live in their natural habitat. If you live on the coast or such, budgies are commonly known as pets. Seeing them in the wild was really exciting for me.
It was interesting to see Mount Isa. According to one particular billboard I drove past - “you're not a true aussie until you've visited Mount Isa”. It was a large town in the middle of nowhere. All the caravan sites were more expensive, and I was able to use my Coles voucher to fuel up at a Shell. I set off from Mt Isa very early. I woke up at 4am, maybe having something to do with the fact it was 6 degrees and I only had one thickish blanket, and waited until dawn began to lighten the camp grounds at 6.30am before leaving. I still feel terribly bad for the guy sleeping in his swag directly behind my car..
Driving into sunrise was beautiful. Once I got to Camooweal, I had to fuel up again as it is the last stop before you get to Barkley Homestead in the NT. But the drive between the two is amazing, truly otherworldly. Knee length wheat coloured grass is the only thing to see, meeting up with the horizon uninterrupted. The road is straight for ages, and the speed limit is 130kms per hr. My van maxes out at 160, so the best I could do was 120, but I mostly just sat on 100 for the drive. There were a few cars going in the other direction, but only one came up behind(and over took) me.
Eventually I arrived at Tennant Creek. Another dusty but cute campsite, in a small town. But there are beautiful red hills, and I have never become bored during my driving so far – as there is forever changing scenery.
I decided to stay here for two nights, as it is the cheapest campsite so far and it allows me to catch up on things(like writing a blog entry). Tomorrow, my plan is to get up early and do another long run down through Alice Springs and straight to Uluru.
Sunday 13 July 2014
Pre- trip nerves
So I am supposed to be heading off tomorrow(Monday the 14th), and today I am ever so slightly shitting myself haha. The van is packed and ready. I have moved out of my unit and everything is in boxes. I've even done a test run up to Elim Beach and back - through deep puddles and dirt 4wd tracks.
I head to Normanton first. By my calculations I'm guessing it's going to take me about 3 days to get there from here.
What if something happens? What if I can't get help? What if, what if, what if. I have a million things running through my head!
Today is the final run of things I need to do - finish changing the window rubbers, get a tyre repair kit and pump. Try and figure out a way to fit my Blokart on.
Then tomorrow I need to renew my passport and wax my legs and I'm ready...
Or as ready as you can be, travelling solo in a 20 year old van.
I am excited. And terrified. And nervous. And anxious. And curious. And..
I've got so many emotions coursing through me that I can not even begin to tell them apart.
Thursday 15 May 2014
The Smiley Van
Phase One: Find the right Campervan: CHECK
Meet the Smiley Van. A 1997 Ford Spectron with less then 200 000km on the clock.
I filtered through a million "Backpacker leaving town - need to sell ASAP" ads. It turns out Cairns is quite a convenient spot to buy a campervan, as all the backpackers leave here to hop to Asia.
Phase Two: Bring the van up to speed - make sure it is mechanically sound for a long road trip. - IN PROGRESS
The first thing I did to the van was take apart the makeshift bed inside. The sink setup is still currently there, but I plan on implementing my own layout once I get the van back from the mechanics. Lucky for me, my builder and van extraordinaire cousin, Adam, is up here working. It's times like this I'm grateful that my family has a serious "I can build that at home" mental attitude. Between Adam and my brother Baden, guiding me, I should be able to pull off a decent working layout.
The second thing I did, was replace all the tyres (they needed replacing), and drop it off to our family mechanics. It is currently still in the shop, getting all the needed doo hickies replaced and thingamijigs flushed.
I have been working on my design layout, currently have a "day seat, night bed" futon idea. The paint also needs some love. As much as the smiley faces are iconic, I'm thinking of painting over them and making it a bit more personal - maybe some geeky symbols, or a simple painting of each place I go.
The van is going to be home, and like a boat, is bigger on the inside. so the Smiley Van has been renamed to: The TARDIS. Which stands for:
Travelling
Automobile
Rediscovering
Destinations
In
Solitude
Phase Two: Bring the van up to speed - make sure it is mechanically sound for a long road trip. - IN PROGRESS
The first thing I did to the van was take apart the makeshift bed inside. The sink setup is still currently there, but I plan on implementing my own layout once I get the van back from the mechanics. Lucky for me, my builder and van extraordinaire cousin, Adam, is up here working. It's times like this I'm grateful that my family has a serious "I can build that at home" mental attitude. Between Adam and my brother Baden, guiding me, I should be able to pull off a decent working layout.
I have been working on my design layout, currently have a "day seat, night bed" futon idea. The paint also needs some love. As much as the smiley faces are iconic, I'm thinking of painting over them and making it a bit more personal - maybe some geeky symbols, or a simple painting of each place I go.
The van is going to be home, and like a boat, is bigger on the inside. so the Smiley Van has been renamed to: The TARDIS. Which stands for:
Travelling
Automobile
Rediscovering
Destinations
In
Solitude
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