Drastic change has occurred since the last email. Quickly covering ground from Melbourne through Canberra back to Sydney, anticipation grew because the TRUCKS were due in. Part of the premise of The World by Road is that the same trucks will be driven through 96 countries to demonstrate the durability of the Toyota name. The trucks are a 2007 Tundra and Sequoia. Australia has never seen a Tundra before and a UFO rolling down the street would probably draw as many stares. People actually stop in their tracks and point.



Coogee beach became our home as we anxiously awaited the arrival of the vehicles. Easter holiday in Australia encompasses four days which meant a lot of beach time as well as ultimately delaying acquisition of the Toyotas for four more days. On top of the delay frustration, there were a number of hidden fees that the Steve's dealt with. Our patience, a necessity when travelling or when dealing with bureaucracy, eventually paid off but not before Steve Bouey almost went crazy. After passing through customs inspection, we hit the roads of Sydney with smiles wide and the beats of the snatch soundtrack blaring from the sound system. The World by Road officially began.



Leaving Brian (Chappy) and Kira in Coogee beach due to differing traveling philosophies, we picked up Jimmy Swift, an LA producer, and hit the road for the Blue Mountains.



The numerous Eucalpytus plants cause a blue haze to cover the mountains. As dark descended, we followed vague directions a couple miles down a narrow 4 wheel drive track to our campsite, a clearing with a firepit. The Tundra contained a literal treasure trove of camping, climbing, and scuba gear. In the middle of a remote clearing, we dug through the gear with the excitement of kids on Christmas morning. The luxury of our live out of the trucks lifestyle lies in plush air mattresses, new marmot tents, and a fancy Coleman stove that we saw for. Australian food generally consists of fried meat product and fried potato product so being able to cook is key. Steve cooked up a nice chicken and rice dish and we all fell asleep content in our new makeshift home. The dinosaur-like screeches of the birds woke us up and we drove to Katoomba to find some canyoning maps.



Canyoning means you become one with the water and follow the path it does. In order to start canyoning you have to find the access point. These are usually not well trodden which was why the maps were necessary. Unfortunately, we left the maps in the truck and ended up hiking all over the park before settling on the one that we "thought" was the one the guy in the gear shop suggested. Quite randomly it ended up being the correct river, we just ended up entering it a mile further upstream than suggested. Starting out slow we walked alongside the river. Then we started walking in the river which then progressed to wading. The murmur of the river grew louder and suddenly there was a drop off, cannonball! Swimming, diving, and jumping through pools and small waterfalls, we made our way to the exhilarating finale a 100 meter abseil down a large waterfall.



Taking leave of the mountains, we set off for Byron Bay, a self-described "hippy" community an hour out of Brisbane. Although hippy had now become more of a selling point than a reality, my first ocean scuba dive definitely made it a worthwhile stop. The St. Criox river (the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin where I've spent most of the time in the water) does not compare to sea turtles, eels, pools of colorful fish, sharks, and great visibility. The personnel at the dive shop thought our group of misfit divers a bit odd. I have the most experience but none of it in the ocean, the Steves have all the expensive gear but have only gone out 7 times, and Swift nearly floated away mid dive.



Chilling on the beach, disc in hand, helped to pass the time before we headed for the outback.



Stay tuned for more gripping details about the life and times of Elena in forthcoming emails!



Cheers,

Elena