Exploring Sydney by Bridge Walk & Bar Tour
I finally arrived to Sydney! I spent the day climbing the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge overlooking the Sydney Opera House. That evening, I went on a bar tour, where I met people from around the world.
Category: Travel
No Place Is Perfect
The fires in Australia started early and it was becoming clearer that this was going to be one of the worst fire seasons on record. I checked into a motel in Newcastle, Australia, and was treated so poorly by the man at the front, he even sent me a nasty email while I watched T.V. in my room.
Hippy Beach Town
I drove from the Gold Coast to Byron Bay, stopping at places along the coast. There are lots of quick hikes that provide outstanding views. Byron Bay is a hippy town with an eclectic vibe.
Outback Friends in the Gold Coast
I saw glowworms inside of a cave and then drove to the Gold Coast. I met some fellow travelers in the Australian outback and randomly ran into them a few times in the Northwest. While in the Gold Coast, I met up with them again – at the perfect time!
Consequences of Long-Term Travel
I had been traveling full-time for nearly 15 months. One thing I didn’t expect was to lose close friends as the distance between us grew each day. Friends who suddenly felt they couldn’t relate to me any longer.
Exploring Brisbane by Rope, Bike, and Ghost Tour
I went on an abseiling tour at Kangaroo Point Cliffs, a bike tour of the city, and a ghost tour at a prison. On the ghost tour, I met a guy who said he used to be possessed when an exorcism went wrong.
Crikey! The Australia Zoo
After exploring an outdoor market, I went to the Australia Zoo – home of Steve Irwin. The crocodile hunter’s reputation still lives on. I watched a crocodile lunge out of the water to eat some prey in a zookeeper’s hand. The beast was enormous and only inches from the man holding the bird.
Fellow Pet-Sitters
I met up with a couple who were house and pet sitting too. They were from London and had completed several sits in the U.K. and Australia. We went on a hike together, and enjoyed the beach town of Noosa.
Swimming with Humpback Whales
On the way to Fraser Island, we came across around 20 humpback whales. They were massive and graceful! When four males surrounded our boat, I had the opportunity to jump into the water and use my snorkel to swim with them. The whales were so close, I could almost touch them!
Traveling is Work
People don’t always realize that traveling is work – and that work was starting to catch up to me. It’s constant research, doing, seeing, experiencing, driving, and in my case, writing. It’s why I’ve gotten so behind in my blog. At least I was able to go on a tour of a rum distillery and met some fellow travelers who also house and pet-sit!
The Sailboat is on Fire!
On a sailing tour of the Whitsunday islands, our engine suddenly caught fire! The captain shouted for the fire extinguisher as massive black clouds of smoke filled the sky.
Living the High Life on Land and Underwater
I enjoyed the fancy resort at Airlie Beach and the infinity pool. Then I took a large boat from Airlie Beach to The Great Barrier Reef for some more diving. Airlie Beach is incredible and so is the reef! The underwater current was powerful though and swept me away!
Road Tripping on Australia’s East Coast
I drove from Cairns to Airlie Beach, stopping at a sugar museum, Cardwell, Townsville (stayed the night) and then on to Airlie Beach. The scenery was beautiful and I instantly wanted to stay in Airlie Beach for a long time! I found a steal at an incredible resort.
Crocodiles and Box Jellyfish
I explored the northern area around Cairns and couldn’t help but notice all of the warning signs about crocodiles and box jellyfish. It didn’t help that I had a nightmare about a crocodile eating a man. I also went for a hike in the rainforest at Mossman Gorge. Then, I drove to Cape Tribulation.
Snorkeling and Diving at The Great Barrier Reef
I was a new diver and recently certified. It was my first time at The Great Barrier Reef. I had a wonderful guide and it was a clear day! I got to see many brightly colored fish and coral!
Hiking and Swimming in the Tropics
I went on a day-tour that took us on several hikes in the Tablelands near Cairns. The waterfalls and scenery were amazing! We swam, hiked, and saw the largest tree that I’ve ever seen!
The Oldest Tropical Rainforest in the World
I took a tour of the Daintree Rainforest which allowed me on the 100-year-old train through the mountains and the Skyrail back to Cairns. The forest was used as inspiration for the movie Avatar. I also toured the wildlife park and rode in a duck boat through the forest and in some water.
Are We Living in a Matrix?
I decided to see what a tarot card reader would say to me, which freaked me out. Then, I went to a food and wine festival in Cairns, realizing that humans do the same things all over the world. Is it because we’re living in the Matrix?
Throughout her wild 3-week journey backpacking 220+ miles in the California Sierra Mountains, Christy encountered freezing temperatures, pelting hail storms, and losing her way, but found trail family, incredible views, and experiences that would change her life forever. Hiking up and over ten different mountain passes gave Christy a lot of time to think about why her nine-year marriage was falling apart, gave her the chance to truly embody her individualism, time to make new friends, and the strength she would need on and off the trail. Her life could never again be the same.
This is one woman’s account of the three weeks she spent on the iconic trail.
From Readers Favorite: “... a compelling non-fiction adventure story of finding strength in the face of adversity and learning how to believe in yourself.”
