Assimilation

At some point or another, it becomes a writer's main purpose to just get over writer's block.  I mean, we want to come up with an excuse that some how makes us sound good despite the fact that we've essentially been failing at what we set out to do. I of course am not here to convince you that I've gotten over my writer's block. But I will share with you some things I've realized while trying to figure out why I have it.

Simply put: I've gotten used to the place. Now usually when people say that, it means they've gotten bored of it. But its the complete opposite. Because I've gotten used to things, I don't feel like an outsider anymore. I don't feel this need to tell the world what us weirdos are doing out here all the time. We're weird, we're doing stuff, all the time – alright? Maybe we don't want you to know.  Don't worry, I'm just kidding Mum, really we're fine. *Rides off into the sunset with my gun not wearing a seat belt.*

Full Assimilation:  Got me a real cowgirl hat. 

Really, despite my decline in writing about life out here - its fantastic. Everyday we do something I could write a novel about. So summing it up in a blog post or a Facebook status is just too difficult.

I have learned though, that if you stop cataloging and recording everything you do, you wind up having some pretty wonderful experiences because you're paying attention to the situation instead of thinking what's going to happen next or how you're going describe it afterwards. Yeah, it makes it hard to share with everyone else. But, you'll share it with the people who you did it with, and I'm beginning to realize that's enough. It's more than enough.  A few simple moments with the people you care about are what your lasting memories will be made of.  Dancing in the kitchen, exploring on a hike, looking at the stars, talking by a fire.

So, it isn't really writer's block I'm suffering from.  I'm suffering from just having too good a time.  And what a privilege to have such an affliction. 

What was I saying about not recording everything? This video is actually a bit old now, old news to any of you following me on Facebook, but I wanted to put it up here now because it just shows exactly what I'm saying here – too many amazing times to keep track of and I'm lucky enough to have them every day.  

10 Things That Have Happened Since I Last Posted Here

Well, sometimes this thing just sort of gets away from me. Its been a busy few weeks since I last posted, and with all the running around we've been doing there has rarely been a moment where I have the free time and the internet connection to post something. Lots to catch you all up on, so let's get to it.

1. On our way from Lake Tinaroo to Townsville we stopped at Milla Milla Falls. No one should be surprised by this point that I convinced the girls to swim out underneath them.
   

   
2. We stayed at Baygal Beach just outside of Townsville at the girls' grandmother's house. It was absolutely lovely, and we ended up staying an extra week so we had to start school on the road! Also, saved some sea turtles!
   

   

   Can't you see we're struggling?  It really isn't the best work environment.

   
3. With three adults riding abreast in the front of the car, you better believe we got up to some hilarious antics (be proud of me that I didn't draw on any sleeping people until the last day). This is how I was taught to navigate T-intersections:

Chris: Anything your way mate?
Kaitlyn: *flawless Aussie accent* Naw mate, she's alright, get up 'er!

Every.  Single.  Intersection. 

Unrelated road stop: "Bit high don't ya think?" We definitely didn't lack for entertainment on the road.

4. After the two day journey back to Carnarvon, we were welcomed home by a few A-list guests. Bob Brown (former senator, leader of the Australian Green Party, and founder of Bush Heritage) and his partner Paul were visiting and we had a few great nights round the campfire. Lovely blokes!
   

   
5. I started a bush fire! Planned burning, so its controlled, but still very exciting. I've never really been a pyromaniac but...there is something very alluring and thrilling about lighting a fire that big, I've never seen anything like it to be honest. To me, controlling fire is one of those basic fundamental adaptations that made us human, so the whole idea of controlling those flames just stirs something primal in me I suppose.
   

   

   Casually light everything on fire on the way home.

   

   Honestly, how could you not be amazed?

6. We went to mini-school again! A few more foreign govies like myself this time. Favorite moment of the whole trip of course came when an Aussie, Canadian, Brit, Irish, and an American (with Scottish influences) all had go at each other about vocabulary and accents, truly an international panel!
   

   

   The Outstation, swag and a bag is all you need!

7. We came back from mini-school, had a weekend off and then a mob of Bush Heritage folks came out to Carnarvon for a week of 4WD courses, barbeques, and beer as far as I can tell. They were great fun and I loved having some folks around the cottage (especially bacon and egg breakfasts everyday) and some great nights around the fire having a chat, howling at the dingoes, drinking too much, singing songs, playing guitar, making fun of each other – ahhh, bliss.
   

   
8. Learned lots of things and made lots of friends that week, but some of my favorites were learning to drive the quad, shooting the pig hunting gun, and learning how to properly chop wood and start a fire for the soon to come chilly Carnarvon nights.
   

   

   That's a big bullet.  But more than anything, I've discovered its a loud bullet.

9. Chris is now realizing that I'm “like having a four year old boy around”. While probably meant as an exasperated shot at me somewhere between “can we play with the welder” and “can we go push over burning trees”, I'm choosing to take it as a compliment. Safety first of course, but if you're not exploring and having fun, what's the point? And I mean, I only wanted to push over the ones that were going to fall over anyway.
   

   

   
   

10. It only took until about noon time the day everyone left for Katie and I to proclaim our boredom, whereupon we decided we had nothing better to do so we might as well hike to the top of Mt. Lambert. As far as I can tell, my adventurous kindred spirit Katie is the only kid that's ever done it properly, and we had a jolly good time. Tough hour and a half climb, but some beautiful views and we slid on our bottoms most of the way down so we made it back in a third of the time.

That just about brings us up to the present, a crazy few weeks for sure!

(Wow, I've just reread what I've written and seen the number of times I talk about fire and I think maybe I do have pyromania problem.  Send help.  Or fire extinguishers.)

Atherton Tablelands

From Karumba we've headed east towards Cairns and are relaxing around Lake Tinaroo and the Atherton Tablelands.  The area is gorgeous, shaped by many now extinct volcanoes, and lush with subtropical rainforests. 

Highlights include Dinner Falls (where I got the girls in trouble for running off-trail for a dip in the waterfall), Lake Eachum (where I got the girls in trouble for jumping off the viewing platform into the lake), and the massive Cathedral and Curtain fig trees (where I got no one in trouble because now they've caught onto my ways and endeavor to keep me away from the call of the water).  Also spotted some a giant croc (made as a to size model of one shot in the area), lovely wind turbines (made by Germans) and The Crater (made by escaping volcanic gasses).

All this camping and beach and lake is bringing back fond memories from childhood - Longport shore days (41N. Pelham still home to the best outdoor showers known to man), mass camping/skiing trips with the Pittsburghers, and my mum cuddling me to death in the Adirondacks because she feared me freezing or getting eaten by a bear.  With all the international travel I've done/am doing I forget sometimes where the travel bug first bit me.  I sometimes fear returning to the Motherland, but these memories do give me something to I can fondly look forward to revisiting and rediscovering again.

Leave me some comments, tell me when and where I should visit you!

Karumba

So I'm with the Watson's now, and we are in Karumba!  Exciting!  Well, a bit.  Karumba is essentially an extremely hot fishing town on the northern gulf coast of Queensland.  Fishing is literally all there is, you can't even swim in the ocean because there are crocodiles. So we've been mostly passing the time swimming at the campground pool, a little fishing (with handlines!  Classic!), and eating Barramundi and chips for every meal.  We're heading to the Atherton tablelands tomorrow, hopefully its cooler there!

Sydney

Sydney is a lovely city.  More than many others I've known, its very in touch and integrated with nature and the natural surroundings (though the flash architecture doesn't hurt).  You never feel lost, there is always something interesting on, its hard to go a block without an amazing huge tree or park, lots of fun bookstores, and you can get seafood wherever you want.  My kinda place.

Cumberday!

Arrived in Sydney Saturday night, and with our nerves all jazzed up we went on a 3 hour walk all through the city and across the Harbour Bridge and back again, which was actually lovely and beautiful and highly suggested.  Got a few hours sleep and then got up for Oz Comic Con!

It was really pretty fun, got autographs, photos, met lots of cool people and had some funny times.  Benedict was very sweet to everyone, smelled good, had oddly proportioned limbs, and showcased his dancing 'skills' at the Q+A. 

The first con sort of thing I've ever gone to, it was...interesting!  I wouldn't say the cliche 'never meet your heroes' applies,  but there was something off during the whole experience for me.  As a trained evolutionary biologist, I love wildlife and nature, just beautiful fantastic things to observe.  But I've found that I'd rather sit in a forest everyday and never see a koala than go see a bunch of caged up sad  looking ones at the zoo.  It was a big event, things were rushed and a bit impersonal.  I guess what I'm saying is, humans aren't much different,  know when you're going to the zoo.

Nonetheless, we're really pleased with how the practice wedding photos turned out!

Are we in a Western?

Should this work and get posted, it shall be the first mobile post from my comfy spot packed in the Bush Heritage truck!  Not sure how the pictures will turn out, but the first are American university t-shirts which I found at a petrol station in a tiny town on the road.  Of course.  Typical Australian souvenir.

We spent about 9 hours driving yesterday from Carnarvon to a town called Cooyar (pop. 65), where like cowboys of old, we strolled into the  local pub and inquired about renting some rooms for the night.  Had a lovely dinner and breakfast and we're off again this morning for the big Brissy. 

Catch you guys later!