I love staying in unique Airbnbs! I found a converted truck at a homestead and was thrilled to sleep there. I even got to pet the mini-goats! I spent two days driving around Tasmania, being treated to incredible views. I even saw Wineglass bay.
I took a boat tour to Hell’s Gates and Sarah Island, aka, Devil’s Island. The convict history was fascinating and alarming. If the convicts survived, they could leave as skilled tradesman. Others were cannibalized.
Tasmania has some beautiful landscape! I stayed in a cabin at a distillery, then drove to Leven Canyon and Preston Falls. When I arrived at my motel in Strahan, the woman said “I knew you’d be a problem.” Do I look like I’m problematic?
I thought hiking at the end of winter would be fine, but it was cold and foggy at Cradle Mountain! The park was still incredible with amazing views! Some of the trails were steep rocks with chains to hold on to.
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.
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!
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.
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.
I picked up the campervan that I was relocating from Darwin to Cairns for $1 a day from Imoova. On the way, I stopped in Kakadu National Park to explore the rock art, Yellow Water Billabong filled with crocs, and hiked to a natural pool.
It was time for two nights of bush camping in the dusty Australian Outback. I decided to sleep in my swag so that I could enjoy the starts above. Unfortunately, creatures lurked all around us!
I had never rock climbed or rappelled, but this experience going into the center of the earth was once in a lifetime! We went all of the way into a class six gorge in Western Australia. This was in the top three things I’ve ever done.
I took the Peak to Peak gondola up to the top of the mountain and then across on the world’s longest continuous lift. The views were awesome. Then I met up with the musician that I met earlier on Tinder.
Hiking in Anchorage turned out to be pretty crazy, with fog and steep inclines. Thankfully, I met some military guys who helped me to the top.
I went on a ten-mile hike, enjoying the beautiful sights around Klamath Falls, Oregon. Hiking has a way of relieving stress for me. Being in nature is crucial for me.
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.”
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From Readers Favorite: “... a compelling non-fiction adventure story of finding strength in the face of adversity and learning how to believe in yourself.”
